The evening times., 1900-06-25
The Republican Platform and the
Nicaragua Canal.

The Republican Platform and the
Nicaragua Canal.
II he chose. the loquacious and spirited
Mr. Grosvenor might now have another
opportunity to declare that something of
Importance had been "driveled out" of the
Philadelphia platform "by driveler from
New York OF elsewhere. President Nc
Klnley's personal organ in Chicago, the
Times Herald, publishes a charge that
member OF the Committee on Resolutions in
the Republican National Convention was
paid fee Of FIVE thousand dollars for plac-
ing the word "Isthmiar" in place Of the
word Nicaragua" in the canal plank Of the
platform The article recites the facts
that the ST. Louis Convention of 1895 de-
ciared unequivoeally for the Nicaragua
proposition. and that its example has been
followed by most State conventions which
have had anything TO say on the subject.
The Inference from this charge is that
the Republican managers in Washington
and at Philadelphia intended to set the
party right before the country as to its at
titude toward the proposed fnteroceanic
waterway; but il is a wrong Inference. It
is quite possible, in view Of recognized Re
publican methods and practices. that good
money may have been paid 10 somebody to
see that the word Nicaragua " through
design or accident. should not be snug
gled into the plank. But the whole course
Of Senator Hanna and his anti-canal fol-
lowing in the recent session Of Congress. is
proof positive that they never intended to
favor the American scheme. OF allow the
party 10 longer stand committed to il. On
the contrary. they hardly attempted to
conceal their desire TO promote the designs
Of the Panama syndicarc, the members Of
which uotoriously are persons very close
20 the practical end Of the Administra-
tion.
The canal plank. the efora. as il was
adopted. is exactly in consonance with the
views and intentions Of the management.
in its veiled antagOnism 10 the Nicaragua
route. and its implied benignity 10 the
Panama gold brick project. Otherwise II
could not have been acceptable to those
liberal contributors. the de Lesseps ditch
jobbers and the transcontinental railway
magnates. There is every reason TO as
sumo that it was carefully studied and
passed upon if not actually written by
the attorneys for the two interests named.
which. in combination, dictate and direct
the canal p-licy of the present Admins
rration
We have repeatedly explained the logic
Of this alliance between a financial party
ostensibIy desirous Of connecting the
oceans. with another determined that no
such connection shall ever be established
II II can be prevented Il is 2aratoxisal
on its face but by no means so under
analysis Il amounts 10 simply this thar
the American people have demonstrated
their willingness TO support an appropria-
zion Of a hundred ana fifty million dol
lars. or even more. TO construct
the Nicaragua Canal The Panama
syndicate has succeeded in making a
ground floor deal for the control
of the shares and old junk assets
Of the Panama Company who's scheme
has long collapsed. and is regarded as a
hopeless one on physical and engineering
grounds. Even admitting il TO De theo-
reticaHv possible Of completion and opera
tion ;t could NOT be put in commission for
three times what the Nicaragua Canal
would cost Put IT is its very inpractica-
hiiity that charms both parties to the ALI
ance. IF the country can be switched of
from the american TO the European pr0po-
sitiou. the Panama syndicate would be de-
lighted 10 spend the millions incidental 70
their noble mission. and the trausconu-
mental maEHates would grin and cheer
them on fully convinced that no canal at
ell would De the result. and thar. after the
Government had sunk a hundred millions
OF so to 10 useful purpose. there would
not be any iujeroceaaje canal movement
again in the United States fer the next
generation al least
The canal plank Of the Philadelphia plat
form harmouizes exactly with that policy
and purpose. It could have been formuIat-
ed word for word as adopted. by any news
paper man in Washington. on the basis Of
the aati-canaI fight of Hanna and his lieu
tenants during the last three months Of
the late session. We do not regard its text
as open tr-he slightest question thar II is
exactly what it was always meant 10 be.
.r.L--.-t