The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-10
SOLE CONTROL
PUBLIC SENTIMENT REGARDING THE
NICARAGUA CANAL.
Many Men Opposed to Dividing Re-
sDOnsibiIity with Great Britain
or Any other Nation.
IF BUILT BY THIS COUNTRY
TT SHOULD BE FOR TT USE ALONE IN
TIME OF WAR, THEY SAY.
England Anxious to Enter Into a New
Treaty Guaranteeing the Neu-
traIity OF the Canal.
PHILIPPINES NOT TO BE SOLD
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY DOES NOT FA-
VOR DIsPosING OF THEM.
A
Representative Overstreet to Make
Another Effort to Secure New POST
Office Building for Indianapolis.
England Anxious to Enter Into a New
Treaty Guaranteeing the Neu-
traIity of the Canal.
PHILIPPINES NOT TO BE SOLD
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY DOES NOT FA-
VOR DIsPosING OF THEM.
Representative Overstreet to Make
office Building for Indianapolis.
gpeclal to the IndianapoIla journal.

Oprcldi 10 the luQldudpOUS journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec 9.-The Nicaraguan
canal has the right Of way in the Senate
and will be debated next week. BY the end
Of the week it will be possible to form an
intelligent estimate of the fate Of the
measure this session. In spite of statements
to the contrary Great Britain has not pro-
tested against the construction of the Mica
ragua canal by the United States, but it
would be glad to enter into a new treaty
Jointly guaranteeing the neutrality Of such
q canal. A treaty making such provision
would be, in effect, reaffirmation of the
most important clause in the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty, and against such a proposition
there would be bitter opposition. The feel
ing in Congress towards England is kindly
In the extreme, but among public men the
sentiment is strong that the United States
should have sole control over an isthmian
canal. This feeling grows out of the con-
viction that the Nicaraguan canal, if built
by the United States, should be, in reality,
a military canal, and that, as such, no 9TH
er country on the face of the earth should
have anything to say about it. Take away
that idea, and there would be no hope for
governmental Endorsement of the project
Congress has never been enthusiastic over
a Nicaragua canal for the benefit of COM
of ship canal through which our war ves-
sells could pass was impressed on the peo-
pie last summer that the canal scheme had
sufficient support in Congress to insure its
Endorsement by the United States in a SUBJ
stantial way. AS sop to popular sentiment
Congress has, for fifteen years back, been
passing occasional appropriations for sur
veys and all that kind of thing, but 1t is
doubtful If there has been enough genuine
energy behind the movement to put the
project through as a national enterprise un-
til this winter.
The President has not said he favored
selling the Philippines, and the story that
Japan has offered the United States $780,
100000 for the Philippines or indicated
willingness to do so is the product of imagi-
nation. More or less speculation has been
indulged in as to the future of the islands
and their disposition by sale is one of the
things discussed. Beyond idle talk there is
nothing to the reports that this government
has any intention Of disposing of the islands
that way or any other way, or that any
Of the great commercial countries has the
slightest thought of acquiring them by pur-
chase. History shows that it has been fatal
for politicians to either antagonize terri
torial expansion or to favor plans for get
the so-called "anti-imperialists the idea
may be harbored that it would be a bright
thing for this country to get rid of the
Philippines by sale or otherwise at the
earliest possible moment, but there is not
the slightest Indication in any public quarter
in Washington that the thought has any
hold. **s
There Is small prospect OF the passage of
a river and harbor bill this session of Con-
gress, and almost no show for the passage
of public building bill or for bills author
izing the construction Of any buildings in
particular. Nevertheless, Mr.. Overstreet
will appear before the House committee on
buildings and grounds next week and pre-
sent the claims of Indianapolis for prefer.
ence. He will make an eloquent and power
full plea for the Hoosier capital, and has
hopes of prevailing on the committee to
make an exception of Indianapolis and
bring In a favorable report. The case is
recognized as urgent.