The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-12-07

AS the scope of the recent Inquiry
embraced the whole subject With the
aim of making pans and surveys for
a canal by the most eonyenlent route,
necessarily included a zsfxieyR Of the re-
suits of previous sur tAys ard plars,
and in particular those adopted by the
Maritime Canal company under its ex-
Using concessions from sNicaraEua AID
Costa Rica, go that to this extent those
grants necessarily hold an essential
part, in the deliberations and conciu-
slons of the canal commission, as they
have held and must needs hold In the
discussion of the matter by the con-
grcSs.
view of overtures made to the govern
ments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica by
other parties for new canal conces-
preaching lapse or the contracts OF the
Maritime Canal company with those
states. have not hesitated to express
expediency and international policy
aS1 between the several governments
interested in the construction and con-
troll of an interoceanfc canal by this
route require the maintenance of the
status quo.2 until the canal commits
sion shall have reported and the Unit
ed States congress shall have had the
opportunit- to pass finally upon the
whole matter during the present ses-
sion, without prejudice, by reason of
any change in the existing conditions.
Nevertheless. it appears that the
government of Nicaragua, as one of
It's last sovereign acts before merging
its powers AZ these of the newly form
ed United States OF Central America,
has granted an optional concession to
another association. to become ehec-.
tive on the expiration of the present
grant.
It does rot appear what surveys have
been made or what route is proposed
under this contingent grant, so that an
exaniI alton of the feasibility of its
iS n
the report OF the canal commission.
All these circumstances suggest the
urgency of some definite action by the
congress at this session, if the labors
of the past are to be utilized and the
linking OF the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans by c practical water way is to
be realized.
That the construction Of such mar
thine highway is now more than ever
ready Accommodation between our
eastern and western seaboards de-
maEded H. the annexation of the Ha-
wai!an islands and the prospective ex-
pans on CT CIR influence and COM
Clelce in The Pacific, and that our ma
tor al policy now more imperatively
than ever calls for its control by this
doubt not the congress will duly appre-
ciate and wisely act upon.
Interested In China.
The United Stetes has not been an
Indifferent spectator of the eXtfaordin-
airy events JranSplrlnS IN Jne chinese
empire, whereby portions of its mari
time provinces are passing under the
control of various European powers:
but the prospect that the vast COM
mel ce which the energy of our citizens
ara the necessity of our staple produc-
lions for Chinese uses has built up IN
those regions may not be prejudtced
through any exclusive treatment by the
new occupants has obYiated the need
of our country becoming an actor In
the scene.
Our position among nations. having
a large Pacific coast AID constanty
expanding direct trade with the far
Their Orient, gives us the equitable
claim to consideration and friendly
treatment in this regard, and 1t viii
be my aim to subserve our large inter
ests in that quarter by all means ap-
lropriate TO the constant policy of our
government.
tt. Paris Exposition.
There is now every prospect that the
tae universal exposition to be held in
Paris in 1900 will be on scale com
mensurate wish the advanced position
held by our products and industries in
the worlds chief marts.
Our relations with Great Britain
have continued on the most friendly
footing.
Asserting to our request, the. pro-
lection of Americans and their inter-
ests in Spanish jurisdiction was as
sumed by the diplomatic and consular
representatives of rGeat Britain, who
fulfilled their delicate and arduous
trust with tact and zeal, eliciting high
commentator. 1 may be allowed to
make fitting allusion to the instance
of Mr.. Ran1sden, her majesty's consul
at Santiago de Cuba, whose untfmely
death after distinguished service and
untiring effort during the siege of that
city was sincerely lamented.
It will give me especial satisfaction
if I shall be authorized to communi-
cate to you favorable conclusion of
the pending negotiations with Great
Britain in respect to the Dominion of
Canada 1t is the earnest wish of the
government to remove all sources of
discord and irritation in our relations
with the nefghboring dominion. The
trade between the two countries is
constantly increasing, and it is import
ant to both countries that all reason
able facilities should be granted for
its development.