Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-23
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tnS Necessity OF the Nicaragua
canal more evident than ever before
to the American people. We have
needed the canal Tor half a century;
we now need 1t more than ever, for the
annexation Of Hawaii and the capitu-
lation Of the Philippines and the La
drones will naturally enlarge our
sphere IN the PACING. even II we shall
not permanently retain. the entire
philippine group. 1t was natural and
well that the discussion of the canal
question should have been one of the
chief features Of the opening day of
the national conference at Saratoga
to discuss unofiicially our foreign
policy. A leading speaker was ex-
Senator Warner Miller of New York.
MIR. Miller is one OF the leading pro-
moters of the corporation which has
received the latest concession from the
Nicaraguan government and he is a
warm advocate of the proposition that
the United States shall take an active
interest in fostering If not controlling
the enterprise.
The Clayton Bulwer convention of
April 10. 1850, between the American
and British governments, with refer
ence to ship canal between the At
lantic and Pacific oceans. by way Of
the river San Juan de Nicaragua and
either or both of the lakes Of Nicaragua
or Managua, stipulated that neither
government should obtain or maintain
any exclusive control over the canal, or
colonixe or exercise any dominion over
any part of Central America; that the
United States and Great Britain would
protect any parties constructing the
canal having authority from the local
government, and would guarantee the
neutrality of the canal. BY the Dick
inson-Ayon treaty of June q, 1867
Nicaragua granted to the United
States and the citizens thereof the
right of transit on any route of COM
munication between the Atlantic and
the Pacific which might be constructed
under the authority of Nicaragua, the
latter reserving its rights of sovereign
ty. The Frelinghuysen-Z avala treaty
of December 1, 1884, which was not
ratified, however provided that a
canal should be built by the Unite1
States and owned by this country and
Nicaragua; that the United States
should protect the integrity of Nicara-
gua's territory, and that any privileges
of any third power for the construction
Of maintenance of inter-oceanic tram
sit. Incompatible with the terms Of the
present convention, should be alb
rogated.
In April. 1887. Nicaragua gave a con-
cession to the Nicaragua Canal ASsof
citation, and in February, 1889, the CAt-
gress of the United States chartered
the Maritime Canal Company to con-
struct a canal under the concession
given in 1887. Some progress has been
made on this work, and Congress re-
Gently authorized an inspection of the
proposed route by United States en-
gineers. which report will doubtless be
transmitted to Congress at the Deem
Der session
1t is contended that the Clayton Bull
wer treaty has expired by Limitation,
and that the United States is free,
either to take upon itself the RESPONSE
bility of the Maritime Canal Company
or to enter into fresh arrangements
with Nicaragua. There is. however, a
disturbing factor in Costa Rica, part
of whose territory may be required to
be entered upon, and Costa Rica is be-
lived to be under influences friendly 70
Great Britain rather than to the United
States. 1t is by no means improbable
that the friendly spirit shown by Great
Britain during the continuance of our
war with Spain. is based to some ex-
tent on the desire of Lord, Salisbury to
secure for British interests substantial
accommodate and protection in con-
nection with the Nicaraguan canal.
There have been proposed to Con-
gress bills to substitute the Maritime
Canal Company, to guarantee it's bonds
and, practically. to assume the entire
responsibility for the enterprise. II
the construction Of the. canal be prac-
ticable and feasible, and this point
seems well settled, and il it can be
shown that no jobbery is involved, "
is likely that strong sentiment will
develop in Congress for definite action
at once. The advantage to- American
commerce by the operation Of water
route from ocean to ocean would be
great, and the canal would be of I'M
told strategic Importance in time of
war; but the proposition involves
numerous serious problems Of engi-
neering, finances and international
politics, which Congress must meet with
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