New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-23
NICARAGUA AND PANAMA..
AN EXCITED FRENCHMANS VISION OF
THE DESIGNS OF THE UNITED
STATES ON THE LATTER.

The French are still cingng to their ideal Of
a Panama Canal. and the recent activity OF the
United States in the direction Of carrying
through the Nicaragua canal project has stirred
some Of them with Indignation and a vehemence
OF opposition characteristic OF the race. Witness
a writer in The Gaulois' Of Paris. Georges
Thiebaud. who ranges the Nicaragua menace
with the Fashoda incident promising
humiliation to the French nation, which Is
sinking visibly without apparent conscious
ness of it's decline" The writer says:
The building Of the Nicaragua Canal by the
United States will mean the definite abandon
rnent Of the Panama Canal so pusillanmously
ieft in the lurch by the French Government at
the time when only little energy was needed 10
finish this great work as was the case win
the Suez Canal. once in as bad way as the
Panama. The French Government always
hemmed around by its everlasting magistrates.
whose mission seems TO be solely 10 save the
Republican party abandoned the permanent in
terests Of France for the benefit Of this clientele.
Now the time often anticipated is at hand.
after swindles upon swndles always suppressed
or covered up by the Bench and Parliament.
subjects of the bankers. now our sole masters
when we must withdraw from Panama as we
had 10 withdraw from Fashoda.
The operation is easy TO imagine and to de-
scribe Readers who are In the least familiar
with this sort of strategy will gain clear idea
Of il in Eve minutes.
The project Of building a Nicaragua Canal is
simply piece Of Yankee bluff as they say at
poker. The Yankees have not the remoteSt
serious intention of applying themselves TO this
new undertaking. II is infinitely more diihcult
and uncertain than the finishing Of the Panama
Canal. which is more than half way toward lts
opening and has hand all that is necessary
10 complete the work. The reasons for this view
Of the Yankee intentions are peremptory and are
such as a ten year old child would grasp at first
sight.
The writer then goes on to give what he con-
slders convincing reasons. physical and geo
graphical and continues:
The installation of canal enterprise In the
isthmus Of Nicaragua. with all the material
that il will require. the houses. workshops and
storehouses 10 build. the railways 10 be laid. Will
use up az it did in the Isthmus Of Panama, the
greater part Of the capital; while at Panama all
is in readiness. 1t only needs to give the word
and to pay the price.
Why does the United States hesitate?
II does not hesitate and its plan is easy 10 see
through. II has had no other for seventeen
years.
1t consists in soaring off the French holders
by the threat Of competition in Nicaragua, in
order to get Panama from them then for a
song This would be done in conjunction with
financial organizations calling themselves
French which have legally undertaken the com
pletion of the Panama Canal with the mental
reservation. surreptitiously inserted IN the laws
passed on the subject, that It should never be
finished and should be handed over TO the
Americans at the first opportunity
The United States having driven Spain out OF
Central America thinks that there is no need
OF stopping in the good work and that there Is
no better moment than the presen: TO make
France let go her hold.
We are about 10 submit TO this yours to-day,
mine tomorrow policy announced by the
prophets, who have not seen without alarm Tor
their own country the indifference with which
we allowed the Spaniards 10 be crushed
AS long ago as 1885 when riot broke out
among the working force OF the canal over
question OF wages. the United States assumed
the right 10 interfere in our own territory ana
20 land troops at Panama. where a battery or
artillery stood aimed for several weeks to ngure
in the maintenance OF order. Ana IN 1888 the
prestige Of our country assuredly less
weakened. less scorned, alas. than II is to-day!
Does anybody think the United states VIII
restrain herself. act gingerly In this matter
when drunk with her triumph over Spain. she
sees the Latin world everywhere drawing back
before the Anglo Saxon. and the lamentable de
generation Of the French nation. head and 'front.'
OF the Latin races Of the two hemispheres?
Nevertheless. the fact that she puts up the
ironIcal bluff OF Nicaragua is relic Of the
consideration the great sister republic shows TO
ours. Before long some Congressman al WASH
ington elated by the spOliaton OF Cuba and the
Philippines will express the belief that IL Is
advisable to enter into negotiation with France
for the cession and evacuation of Panama.
And while We. our own worst detractors, are
stoning our unfortunate engineers who lost the
first battle In the attempt 10 plant the French
flag anew in the New World. the Americans are
calculating with the accuracy OF business men
the extent OF the immense work already accom-
plished. OF which they propose. at the right mo-
ment. 10 pluck the fruit
Is the moment at hand? Appearances seem 10
indicate IT, SO we have not hesitated to utter
serious warning Of what IL means If we do not
desire once for all TO sacrifice the fifteen hum
bred millions Of francs that France has invested
over there. together with her Industrial reputa-
ton and her initiative in behalf of civilization.
HARTARDYALE FOOTBALL DATE.