The Saint Paul globe., 1898-08-13
The Nicaragua Canal,

The Nicaragua Canal.
Ever since the consummation Of the
Louisiana purchase in 1903, the idea Of
an interoceanic canal, connecting the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans at some
point On the isthmus linking the two
sections Of the American continent to-
gether, has been exploited. The mat
ter did not take practical form until
along in the SOS, and that was period
when the steam vessels of the iron or
steel type were gradually making their
way into commerce.
The completion of the Suez canal
afforded an impetus to a similar
scheme across the Isthmus of Panama,
engineered by the Con1te de Lesseps.
The world is cognizant of the results Of
that enterprise, in which the slender
fortunes of many of the poorer people
Of France were buried beyond resur-
rection.
1t was natural, during the period
prior to the extersion of transcontinen-
tai railway lines between the Atlantic
and the Pacific coasts of this country,
to conceive the advantage of some inlet
on the narrow neck of land connecting
North and South America which
should afford a channel for commerce
between the eastern and western coasts
OF the Urdted States. A great deal has
recently appeared in print concerning
the long voyage of the battleship Ore
gon from the waters Of San Francisco
around Cape Horn to join the South
Atlantic fleet of Sampson at Santiago
Many intelligent citizens believed that
they saw in the necessitous circuit by
the Oregon, Of the lower point Of the
American continent, the absolute need
OF some shorter method of maritime
connection between the eastern and
western coasts of the country. But all
this was fancy.
1t is, perhaps, one of the fortunate
escapes of this government that, in
spite of the persistent lobbying at
Washington, during the last twenty
five years, the common sense of the
ration, as represented in congress, was
not in favor Of the promotion of this
enterprise. Although there is no doubt
as to the honesty of the late Admiral
Annmen, who claimed a sort of father
hood over this scheme twenty
five years count for a great deal in
the history Of a country like this; and,
while his service was conscientiously
performed, in the light of conditions
existing at the time his enthusiasm
was kindled, there is equally no doubt
that the conditions have changed in
SO marked degree that even he, pat
riotic hero that he was, would readily
have assented, at the close of his long
and honorable life, to the proposition
that the dream of his most active years
Was unsuited for realization at last.
The construction of the Nicaragua
canal by private enterprise, and I'M
supported by governmental indorse-
ment, is wholly impracticable. The
idea Is conceived of selfishness and
in the hope Of individual reward
through the Endorsement of national
authority. To undertake the construc-
ton Of the canal. by the government,
and to provide for its maintenance aft
er construction, would be a violent as
sumption of constitutional power.
So much for the general proposition.
without regard to- it's national and
commercial service. Reducing the
proposition to the query as to the val
lie of the canal in a national sense.
there can be no question that the period
has passed when Its worth, either from
a commercial or a military stand
point, can be demonstrated. This
country has come to be a center Of
the greatest activity ON the face of
the earth. Our. resources are in the
lnrant stages of development, and the
importance OF our commerce with the
entire world has been reflected one
might almost say, with an unexpected
suddenness through the DEVELOPMENTS
of the past twenty-four months. Sineu
larly enough, however, the tremendous
force Of capital and confidence have al
ready provided the pathways for COM
merce across this continent which Will
prove to be In every way essential to
the future good Beyond the American
shores of the North Pacific ocean there
exist those great Asiatic communities
which only Within the last few years
have come into reciprocal communica-
ton with the people Of this country
The transcontinental lines or roadways
already exist, and across these high
ways must inevitably flow that great
current OF export trade which the
young republic, through it's industrial
forces, is destined to contribute to the
| Orient
The theorists advocating the con-
struction of the Nicaragua canal seem
| to look more to the realization of a pet
fancy than to the practicability of the
enterprise, from the standpoint Of prof
liable Investment. Nothing is present
ed by the promoters of the canal
Which justifies either the construction
or the Improvement or it's claims to
availability as commercial channel
when completed. According to the
statements of Joseph Nemmo. the Mica
ragua canal would involve number
ofns9ocks entailing great delay and
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