The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-12-10
NICARAGUAN CANAL.
Some Definite Action on the Subjec,
Is Urged.


Is Urged.
The Nicaragua canal commission, under
the championship of Rear Admiral John q.
Walker, appointed July "a 1897, under the
authority of provision In the sundry civil
act of June OF that year has near
ly completed its labors, and the results OF
it's exhaustive inquiry into the proper
route, the feasibility and the cost of con-
struction of an interoceanic canal by Mic
araguan route will be laid before you. In
the performance of its task the commission
received all possible courtesy and assist
ance from the governments Of Nicaragua
and Costa Rica, which thus testified their
appreciation of the importancelof giving
speedy and practical outcome to the great
crossed the attention OF the respective
countries
AS the scope of recent inquiry embraced
the whole subject, with the aim of making
plans and surveys for canal by the most
convenient route, II necessarily included
review of the results of previous surveys
and plans. and In particular those adopted
by the Maritime Canal company under it's
existing concessions from Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, so that to this extent those
grants necessarily held an essential part
in the deliberations and conclusions of the
canal commission as they have held and
must needs hold in the discussion of the
matter by the congress Under these cir
cumstances and in view Of oyertures made
to the governments of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica by other parties for new
canal concession predicted on the as
Sufneu approaching lapse VI INC toHlIdtNS
of the Maritime Canal company with those
states. have not hesitated to express my
conviction that considerations of expedi-
ency and international policy, as between
the several governments interested in the
construction and control of an inter-
oceanic canal by this route require the
maintenance of the status quo until the
canal commission shall have reported and
the United States congress shall have had
the opportunity to pass finally upon the
whole matter during the present session,
without prejudice by reason of any change
in the existing conditions.
Nevertheless II appears that the govern
ment of Nicaragua, as one of its last sover-
eign acts before merging its powers in
those of the newly-formed United States
of Central America, has granted an option
al concession to another association, TO be-
come effective on the expiration of the
present grant. 1t does not appear what
surveys have been made, or what route is
proposed under this contingent granted, so
that an examination of the feasibility OF
its plans is necessarily not embraced in the
report OF the canal commission. All these
circumstances suggest the urgency of
some definite action by the congress at
this session, IL the abors of the past are to
be utilized and the linking of the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans by a practical water
tion of such a maritime highway is now
more than ever Indispensable to that init
mate and ready intercommunication be-
tween our eastern and western seaboardS
demanded by the annexation OF the Ha-
waiian islands and the prospective eX-
pansion of our influence and commerce to
Pacific, and that our national policy now
more imperatively than ever calls for its
control by. this government, are PROPOSE,
lions which doubt not the congress will
duly appreciate and wisely act upon.
A convention providing for the revival
OF the late United States and ,Chilian
claims commission and the consideration
of claims which were duly presented TO the
late commission but not considered because
of the expiration of the time limited for the
duration OF the commission, was signed
May "a, 1897, and has remained ENACTED
upon by the senate. The term therein fixed
for efcecting the exchange OF ratlhcations
having elapsed, the convention falls unless
the time be extended by amendment. which
I am .endeavorng to bring about, with the
friendly concurrence of the Gillian govern
Events in China.
The United States has not been an in
different spectator of the extraordinary
events Transporting in the Chinese empire.
whereby portions OF its maritime prov
inces are passing under the control OF vari,
Gus European powers; but the prospect
that the vast commerce which the energy
OF our citizens and the necessity OF our
staple productions for Chinese uses has
built up in those regions may not be preju
diced through any exclusive treatment by
the now occupants has obviated the need
OF our country becoming an actor In the
scene. Our position among nations, having
a large Pacific coast and constantly ex-
panding diTeSs t tfae bic claim to eon
sderation ard friendly treatment IN this
regard, and 1t will be my aim to subserve
means appropriate to the constant policy Of
our government The territories Of Kian
Chow, of Wei-Hai-Wei, and of Port Arthur
and fallen Wan. leased to Germany, Great
Britain and Russia respectively for terms
of years will. 1t is announced. be open,to
International commerce during such alien
occupation: and If no discriminating treat
ment OF American citizens and their trace
be found to exist. or be hereafter deyeioped
the desire Of this government would appear
to he realized.
In this relation, as showing the. volume
and value of our exchanges with CHINA ana
the peculiarly favorable conditions whlch
exist for their expansion In the normal
course OF trade, refer to the communica-
ton addressed to the speaker of the house
OF representatives by the secretary OF the
treasury on the 14th OF last June, with IT'S
accompanying letter OF the secretary OF
state. recommending an appropriation for
n commission to study the commercial ana
Industrial conditions in the Chinese en-
pire and report as to the opportunities LOT
and obstacles to the enlargement OF mar.
.kets in China for the raw products ana
manufactures OF the United states. &C
ton was not taken thereon during the
late session. cordially urge that the rec
ommendation receive at your hands the
consideration which It's Importance ana
timeliness merit.