The times., 1899-03-01
Another Canal Argument.

The call of Admiral Dewey for the Ore
gon ought TO arouse serious reflections
among people who are now opposing the
construction of the Nicaragua Canal, but it
probably will not, because most of these
people are too sightsighted to reflect on
anything which is more than a foot or two
from their own noses.
Suppose that the Oregon had happened
to be on this side of the country instead OF
at Honolulu; suppose n sudden need
had arisen. calling for nearly the whole
strength of the American navy in the
Orient, and all our ships had had TO travel
around Cape Horn before they could get
to the scene of the fighting, How would
our psnny-wise and pound-foolish economy
look then? Such an emergency is By no
means impossible or unlikely. 1t is abso-
lutely certain that under the new condi-
tions created by our Oriental possessions
there will be at some time or other great
need for free passage across Central
America for ships of war and passenger
and freight steamers; and nobody knows
how soon that waterway will be wanted.
There is no reason, except the opposition
of certain strong corporations, and the in
difference of the American people to future
danger why the canal should not have
been dug years ago. In that case the
Oregon would have been saved two long
| journeys. and not only time but money
would have been economical. How much
longer are we to deprive ourselves of this
necessary and useful thing in order to
ha Of a
From merely commercial point of view,
until recent years, the need for the Nicara-
qua Canal was not so very glaring. Our
commerce with the Orient is still in its in
fancy, and lines of steamers plying be-
tween Japan and San Francisco can unload
their freight or passengers on our Western
Coast, to be transported by rail TO the
East There is also the Panama route,
though the isthmus is a dangerous place
for Caucasians. even during the brief
time of crossing, on account of the
malaria and fever in the air. But in time
of war the need for canal across Central
America is imperative. Troops can, OF
course, be transported across the continent
I by train. -unloaded TO steamers, and sent
by water from San Francisco to the Orient,
but there is nothing for warship to do
but 10 go all the way around Cape Horn.
Nobody can put battleship or a cruiser
on a freight train and haul her even across
the isthmus; and any war of the future
will be conducted on the sea. 1t is abso-
lutely certain that unless by some miracle
we are relieved from all possible danger
of international complications during the
next century, the Admiral in command of
our Oriental squadron will at some time
require help from the West, or vice versa.
Moreover, he is likely to call for it in a
| hurry; hostile powers are not SO polite as
to wait till re-enforcements arrive for the
enemy before they make their attack. The
! Nicaragua Canal would not only save us
much trouble in the event of possible
| trouble with foreign powers, but it would
| increase the strength and availability OF
our navy.
In short. the reasons why this great
waterway should be constructed without
! delay are SO plain that any child must see
them; they are strong enough TO compel its
| construction by any nation enlightened
enough TO look after its own interests with
| promptnesg and energy, and there is abso-
! lutely no reason against its construction
| except the interest which few very rich
men have in adding TO their already enor-
| nous fortunes by monopolizing the ma
tion's commerce.