The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-22

en- route. The ship which conveyed MN
| TO his future home. having dlscna[ 8"
! him and hundreds OF his kind AT her
/ port OF entry fills up with part OIL tns
grain and lumber awaiting shipment, anu
with little delay returns over the saiho
quick and practicable route 10 denver NJ
cargo az n welcoming foreign market.
As a political factor in Increasing ','e
influence and power Of this country ~
the Pacific. the canal will be tar-re'l 49,.
ing. To-day, II the United states were
forced into a war with Japan over - -
session OF the Hawaiian Islands, Whlch
10 her are stepping stones to our con-
tinent, We should be placed at gTe".
disadvantage; for It Is n fact that az
this moment Japan's naval force u
greater than our own Pacific ana ASH
tic squadrOns combined To reinforce our
Pacific fleet We should be obliged 10
send ships from our Atlantic Squadron.
forcing them 10 make a voyage OF iz,VvV
miles. thus consuming many weeks,
whereas. with the canal In existence our
powerful North Atlantic Squadron conid
be put into the Pacific within a week
Thus would the canal enable us to more
than double our naval strength In the
Pacific.
From every point Of view, whether po-
ltlcal or commercial, 1t IS plain that tne
Nicaragua Canal IS a necessity 20 the
United States. II will build up our "a
cifc coast StItes, as they must be puilI
up. II we are 10 properly face the Orlehe I;
1t will add immeasurably 10 our haVai
mower. and II will increase our Influence
not only far out into the Pacific ocean
over the islands and waters or that vast
region. but also over the Caribbean sea
and adjacent waters.
Commission after commission has re-
ported favorably as 70 the feasibility Oh
the Nicaragua Canal Exhaustive sur
veys by our own Government, as Wen as
nv rrivate companies have been made. all
showing that this route is not only prac-
ticable but that IT possesses natural ad-
vantages far above all others. IL Is true
that estimates Of cost have varied but
ten or, even, twenty millions, more or
less. is not a matter worthy OF consid-
alton when compared with the import
ance Of the canal TO us.
It IS undoubtedly n fact not only that
the American people believe That any
canal that shall connect the Atlantic ana
Pacific shall he controlled by the United
States, but that OUT Government mas
given. upon more than one occasion, eN-
preston TO THE sentimeS&.
II has been truthfully stated by Nattel
thar nations Ike individuals. control
fldf WHICH lltN NMiis H. NAANA'i'trf
United States Government should con-
struct the canal, or should aid. by the
use Of its credit or guaranty in It's con-
st1tction. this country would then in the
eyes Of the world occupy very much
stronger position in the final settlement
of control than 81 does ~ present Ger
tainly no stronger argument In favor OF
control OF anything has ever been adj
vanced than ownership. FOR ownership
represents an interest so high and so
binding that control must necessarily be
conceded.
We should be wise in our generation.
and by legislation and such other steps
as may be necessary inaugurate without
further delay the work OF completing the
Nicaragua Canal. Let Us pierce the 18th
mus at the one spot which nature mas
already pointed out. and thus fulfill what
has been for centuries the hope Of com
merce and the dream Of navigators.
A. S. CROWNINSHlELD.