The times., 1898-12-14

An American Canal.
There are two points, at least, in rela-
tion to the Nicaragua Canal project,
about which American opinion is firmly
established. For years the sentiment in
favor of the earliest possible construc-
ton of the canal has been growing and
the recent war has brought 1t to fullness.
The people want the canal and want II
soon: and they want the American Gov
ernment to have fun and complete con-
troll of it. Probably the friendly feelings
SO often and warmly described by Mr..
Chamberlain and others as held by the
English people for America, are more
generally reciprocated than is thought
Republics may be ungrateful, but the IN
dividual citizens OF a republic are not. 1t
is known that We might have met with
more trouble in reaching a peace with
Spain if it had not been for the assur-
ances of sympathy which England took
pains the whole world should hear 1t
is conceivable that one, at least, OF the
European powers might have claimed
right to n voice in the disposal of the
Spanish colonies. Great Britain herself
might have found some ground for inter-
ference Yet she steadily urged us to
exact all we did OF Spain and stood ready
10 uphold our right to 1t. Americans are
not insensible to this or to the probable
future commercial and political advan-
tages OF a close friendship with England.
Yet IL to admit her into n share in the
ownership and control of the Nicaragua
Canal, as some of the London journals
urge, Is the price of her continued friend
ship, America must refuse.
Nobody knows better than England
that conditions change with the years
and relations must change with condi-
tons The Bulwer-Clayton treaty has
served its purpose and was wise in its
day. So was the British pledge to evacu-
ate Egypt when she should have restored
order and readjusted the financial sys-
lem Conditions have changed and Eng
land finds It injudicious to redeem her
pledge which was in the nature of
treaty. On the contrary, she has devised
means of strengthening her hold on that
country and contemplaTes the formality
Of declaring the protectorate which she
some part of the spirit of the Bulwer-
Clayton treaty may be disregarded so
far as 1t would interfere with the eXciu-
sive control OF the canal by this coun-
try Practically it can make little differ
- ence TO England. As the Spectator wise
~ observes, there are other enterprises
into which British capital may go with
direct benefit to the nation, while Amer
Jean capital gives TO England all the ad-
vantages of a short route from ocean TO
ocean. II is a matter of principle not
altogether free from pride that induces
the American nation to desire the undi-
Nided control of this enterprise. 1t is
highly improbable that any occasion
will ever arise for denying to the ships
of England, commercial and naval, the
same privileges they would enjoy if that
nation shared in the direction of the
canal. IL such an emergency should
srise. however, It would be impracticable
for England TO enjoy any benefit of her
canal interest, with American warships
guarding all the waters of Central
America.
when the treaty was made, this ma
tion did not own Porto Rico and had no
control of or interest in Cuba. 1t had no
such Pacific possessions as the Hawaiian
and the Philippine Islands. Our new ter
rit0rial acquisitions are so southern as to
American waterway.
They have increased its Importance
10 this country to such an extent that
no treaty made today would fail to con-
slider them They have made its con-
struction imperative. where before it was
- matter Of speculation. That intelligent
English statesmen will recognize the
force of the changes war has wrought
we may safely assume. The Spectator
has timely rebuke for the daily jour-
nails that insist on joint ownership and
control and the sensible opinions of that
influential periodical will finally win pop
ularity. The American people are now
concerned only about preserving the
franchises under which we expect to act.
The President has warned Congress that
we are not TO escape the efforts of spccu
lators who have interested persons of in
1luence in Nicaragua in their schemes. It
IL iot ~ pc siptn-t'i tIidl Il canal VIII
be dug except under aid of this Gov
crnment; but row that cur purpose is
clear, ii might seem profitable to adyen-
turers TO obtain privileges from Nicara-
qua 10 conflict with those already grant
ed, especially II the latter are allowed to
lapse. 1t Is to prevent the loss of these
that prompt action is urged on Congress.
The time remaining in which we are to
begin the work is short. considering all
that is necessary in the preliminary ar
rangements. II will be strange if we es-
cape all trouble from so inviting field
for speculative promoters-strange if our
legislators are not induced to interposc
obstacles that might threaten the loss of
franchises and compel us to purchase the
influence Of Nicaraguan politicians 1t is
this possibility that causes suspicion of