Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-14
!, s 7---' |-ts-,sf - A.-- 80
"A Paeifjc Cable.

& a. y 4
1t must come. and the sooner the
better for this country. Puck's boast
OF "girdie round about the earth has
not yet been literally fulfilled, but the
day of its accomplishment 1t at hand.
AS one peaceful result of our war with
Spain and Its lesser sequel in the
Philippines a Pacific cable system is a
necessity.$ Its construction should
suffer no delay that can be avoided
President Mckinley is prompt to
recognize the imperative Importance of
message to Congress urging it's speedy
consideration.
He declares that 1.-The necessity for
speedy cable communication between
the United State and all these Pacific
islands has become imperative" The
ratification of the treaty of peace, he
points out will place the United States
in possession of the Philippines, which
should be connected by a cable laid via
|
which are United States territory. The
cable, moreover, should be wholly
within the control of the United States,
in peace or war.
The summary of the reasons for the
construction of such a liable is terse
and cogent. 1t ought to appeal in
stantly to the good Judgment and the
sterling patriotism of this Congress.
The subject has been thoroughly dis
cussed during several years, because
of the admitted desirability of cable
communication With Honolulu. Its
only new aspect is the extension of the
submarine line TO Manila, involving
further soundings. There is, therefore,
no reason for extended debate at this
juncture; and as at least two years
must elapse, assuming an Immediate
beginning of work, before a trans
Pacific cable can be in operation, the
Importance of prompt action is evil
dent.
An exclusive concession, which had
been conditionally granted for the con-
struction of the cable by private en-
terprise. has been revoked, in accord
ance with the authority vested in him,
by the secretary of state. The ques
ton, therefore. is open and freed from
complication, as to whether the cable
should be laid by the government of
the United States, or by a corporation.
The principal element lies in the speed
of construction. Under the induce
| ment of profit. private capital would
probably lay the cable more quickly
than would government enterprise; al
though the urgent public need of COM
munication with these distant possess
sions might stimulate official construc-
ton. BUT if the task be intrusted to 4
corporation its charter. should be care
fully restricted and the government
| should retain the right to take possess
sionsof the cable for it's own purposes,
| of course with just compensation to the
| private capital interested, at any time.
~ -
| With Chile's notification to Secretary
of State Hay. that it has decided to
give it's support to the Bureau OF
American Republics and that the
Chilean congress has appropriated the
iamount of that country's quota for the
current year, the bureau is made COM
| plete and all the republics on the
American continent are united in an
organization from which all will derive
benefit. When, in 1890, the Pam
American conference was held in
not represented. Chile was not par
| ticularly, friendly to the United States.
| Once within recent years it looked as if
there might be serious trouble. But
that is of the past now. Chile has
come in with the rest of the American
republics; Argentina came in some
down to Patagonia. all nations have
nominaliy at least, the same form Of
government and are united by a bond
which will become stronger as time
makes palmer to each that by con-
serving the interests Of all it promotes
it's own.
1 MI - a