The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-12-09
The Nicaragua Canal.

This project which has been talked of
for number of years, appears to be
reaching focus, aud determined effort
will be made in the near future to accom-
plish this great work. The United States
increasing interest in the Pacific and
Asiatic countries is all incentive which
will press strongly for opening the 18TH
mus canal
The project, like all other great Amer.
lean works, was entered into by cor
poration, and the old policy attempted of
engaging the United States as endorser
for the company which was to have full
swing, issuing bonds and stealing the
money as was done in the construction of
the Pacific railroads This scheme failed,
the people having had surfeit of gov
eminent endorsing for little band of
spectators, in the Credit Mobiler
transaction.
Now the government is to be the sole
party in building and managing the canal.
All appear to have settled on that much
of the preliminary movement. This is
what should have been done in the con-
structon Of the Pacific railroads.
The government should have built the
railroads to the Pacific, owned and oper-
ated them and saved the hardy pioneers
who settled up the great western country
traversed by those roads, from the whole
sale robbing they were subject to by the
syndicates which plundered both people
and government
If the government builds and retains
possession of the Nicaragua Canal, it will
be dangerous object lesson for monop-
oily which is loud in protestation when
ever it is proposed to make the govern
ment the absolute owner of any natural
monopoly. 1t may be contended that if
government can construct, own and
operate such great work as an ocean
canal on foreign soil it can own and
operate railroads within its own borders
But the Nicaragua Canal is to be an
ocean highway for all nations, and why
should it not be the joint work of the
commercial nations of America aud
Europe? treaty guarantee making
entrance to- the canal neutral water for
say one hundred miles on the Atlantic
and Pacific ends where all vessels would
| be absolutely safe from interference in
times of war as we'll as peace. A treaty
between all nations having an interest in
the canal, would enforce absolute neu-
trality and safety, for no nation could
afford to violate such a treaty.
The tolls from the canal would be
divided among the governments prorata
according to the stock each nation held.
Such arrangement would open water
highway for the accommodation of the
commerce of all nations through the heart
of the continents of America with trifling
expense. But such project has never
been mooted, the fraternity among the
nations not having advanced to that
height of civilization YET, although the
Car of Russia proposes disbanding the
| great arulles OF Europe, and the British
people have been jollying Uncle Sam for
an alliance among the Anglo Saxon people
| for some time.
But let us have the Nicaragu Canal as a
government work and such an object
lesson will go great way in convincing
the American people that the government
can prosecute and manage such work far
more profitably to them than syndicates
of great capitalists with headquarters in
| Wall street.