The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-20
0uR FOREIGN POLIeY.


Eatlonai ConfsI enes OfDldiiiEHithsii men
In srasIon NJ snrnioEa-The inipoFtanes
ofiho Nicaragua Canal. III 5tt,,
SARATOGA, n. Y, Aug. 19--rhe ma
tional conference on the foreign policy
Of the United States was opened here
to-day with an address BY Henry Wade
Rogers. OF Chicago, chairman OF the
committee OF arrangements. Mr.. Rogers
said that the conference was called to
consider some OF the most momeutous
questions in the history Of the republic.
He spoke Of the war and returned
prayerful thanks for the peace now at
hard. While peace has arrived, he said,
there were many serious problems TO be
considered.
He referred to the close friendship be-
tween the Americans and British which
would, promptly lead to International
arbitration and finally to. universal
peace. The speaker spoke fayorably OF
the Nicaragua canal, which, he argued,
should be built and controlled by the
United States government. That canal
world shorten the distance by water TO
San Francisco by 10000 miles, refer
ence to the trip Of the battleship Oregon
elicited hearty applause. Mr.. Rogers
said that the principal problem before
the present conference was TINT OF ter
rltorial expansion, on which many dis
tlngulshed men Of rational reputation
hold widely divergent views. Indirectly
ne referred TO the positions respectively
held by the eXpanslonists and the anti
expanslonlsts. Whether we should an
mex the colonies that are lost to Spain
hoo,
ments is problem that has become the
most serious one TO Americans, who
shOuld pOn'der wisely over II In order to
not make a mistake. Commercial inter
ests urge that we adopt colonial sys-
tenn, said Mr.. Rogers. but business alone
ought not to control our conduct.
The question OF the Nicaragua canal
was taken up, and Warner Miller, OF
New York, took the platform, He briefly
spoke of his persistent advocacy of the
canal. Events Of the past three months
demanded dts immediate construction,
md he believed all Americans were now
universally in favor Of II, as is also all
Of Europe, He spoke Of the numerous
surveys made Of every proposed route
to pierce the isthmus, and said the route
by way OF the Nicaragua canal has re-
ceived the greatest consideration as
DOLn Ie1blDle dilu ueslEAglGs ALL tAAhtVA
gave the history Of the Nicaragua route,
beginning with the administration Of
General Grant and continuing down to
the present time. Had not the canal
treaty been blocked by antagonistic
legislation years ago the canal would
have already been built and now in ac-
tual operation.
Financial distress for q number OF
years also Numbered the work Distin-
grlshed senators have for years urged
the building Of the canal, but congress
did not act fayorably upon II. The Mica
raguan route Is looked upon as the most
feasible and far preferable TO that OF
Panama The canal can be built for
from 800. 900 900 TO $40, OO0. 900. as shown
by statements made by experts. Is the
canal desirable? That the canal would
reduce the distance between New York
and San Francisco 10000 miles Is alone
sufficient answer in the affirmative.
The railways and caDals Of the coun-
try have made all sections accessible
and Available and have increased the
wealth OF the United States. Railways
have been built in advance of the popu-
latton and have carried enigrantS to
the western lands, where there IL now
teeming population DEVELOPING the
broad acres.
Mr.. Miller referred to several canals
that have materially aided in opening
up the country. The Nicaragua canal
would alone save US 10000 miles and