The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-02

canal. but, great as It's dement's to the
American people would be. there was one
question dearer TO the American heart
the Monroe doctrine No exigency should
compel us to depart from that doctrine
which would always be our shield against
foreign cncroachmcnt. II England was
10 have the benefits OF the canal why
should Il be built with American money {,
Mr.. Lowering tMass.) said the time for
discussion has passed The desire OF the
American people for tho canal was unani
nous. the feasibility OF the route was
proved and events showed the necessity
OF Immediate construction that we might
reach he 0O,ouVVu0 People IN The Orient
cheaply.
Mr.. Rarsde Q.a.) made general argu-
ment In favor OF the construction OF a
canal and was followed Ny Mr.. Fletcher
fMinn,, In opposition, The commissions
appointed ~ the last congress. he said,
had made an exhaustive Investigation, He
and hts constituents favored the canal
but premature action was nndesirahie'
At the next session, when the commits
slon's report was before congress. action
should be taken for the building OF an
American canal.
Mr.. Burton (ohio). who was one OF the
leaders OF the opposition, said u yield
to no one in my desire for the early con-
nection of the two oceans by an isThmian
canal. but this measure does not provide
the best method Of accomplishing II. 1t
ignores solemn treaties. II commits us 10
one route when the advantages Of all
routes should be considered and com
pared
He pointed out the advantages OF the
two routes: notably that the Panama was
shorter, while the Nicaragua rou,e had a
less sailing distance from the Atlantic
coast of North America and the gulf coast
to the Pacific coast II we were definitely
committed to the Nicaraguan route, Mica
ragua and Costa Rica would fix an extor-
tionate price for right of way and coaces-
sions He laid special stress upon the
arguments that the canal should be neu-
trial and said not only had our govern
ment always advocated neutral channels,
but had done so particularly With refer
cnce to an sthmian canal. Beginning with
Henry Clay. in 1926. We had until very re-
Gently favored equal privileges TO all ma
lions He maintained that the Clayton
Bulwer treaty was adopted rather upon
cur insistence than that OF Great Britain
and that It Is still as binding as any
treaty or statute Of the United States,
however much 1t might be assailed, As a
resolution OF the whole matter, he sug-
gested the making OF provisional treaties
with the governments through which the
different routes for canals may go. OBJ
tanning options on rights OF way and con-
cessions and the postponement of the Sc
lection of the route until next December
At a1.seA,r point, Mr.. Burton said:
Nothing else than neutral canal is i'll
accordance with the spirit OF this age
Nothing else is in accordance with the
safety with w'Ich it may be maintained.
We insisted on the naturalization of the
channel near Denmark, although they
were within a cannon shot of the shore.
We Insisted on the naturalization OF the
St Lawrence river in that part where IL
flows exclusively through Canadian terri
tory. We granted and received the neu-
trail and equal use of the great canals on
the Canadian border. which IL maintained
to this time. We have fought for this
principle. The triumph Of Decatur and
cambridge against the Barbary pirates
did not lnure 10 our benefit alone, but
TO the whole world. We can not afford to
lilo down upon this record. To-day the
administration has obtained from the pow
ers of Europe assurance of an open door
in China, a diplomatic triumph. Does no
one sec the humor that appears in asking
those concessions there and yet propos-
ing to close the waterway between the
two oceans to the other nations of the
world ?"
Mr. Hepburn insisted that this govern
ment specifically refused to participate IN
the series of the treaties which secured
the naturalization OF the Suez canal be.
ing the only nation that specifically did re
fuse to do that.
Mr. Burton responded that the refusal
was not al all because we were opposed tC
the principle of NATURALIZATION, but wa
because 1t involved an implication OF par
ticipation in the affairs OF the Eastern
hemisphere, In which we Gid moi wish &c
engage.
Mr., Hit Qll) opposed the bill on ac-
count of the provision for the oonstruc'
tion of the canal after obtaining from
Nicaragua and Costa Rico full control oye'
the territory through which 1t passed Thu
provision. he said was in contravention
of the Clayton Bulwer treaty, which h,
maintained was in force. The faith of the
Nation was pledged in that treaty. II
had been entered into largely at our owr
solicitation. He believed that we had the
right during tho fftIes, when Great Brit.
ain was encroachlng in Central America
to notify her that she was violating the
treaty. and that IL she persisted the treaty
was abrogated Instead OF that we refused
to abrogate. Great Britain yielding her
contention, and the treaty remained il
force.
Mr.. Freylinghuysen was the only secre
tary of state who had ever maintained tina
the treaty WIS mot void" but "voida
Pile"
Mr.. Hit used strong words in his denun
citation of the attempts TO violate the Clay
ton Bu1wer treaty. He STYLED it as a dis
regard for moral law, and an attempt Il
commit the American pecvtc TO open per.
jury.
Mr.. Cannon qll,) concluded the debate
OF the afternoon with brief but vigorous
speech against the bill. He was in favor
OF the canal but said It was his duty a
a representative TO see that the canal was
| constructed as economically and as early
as possible.
During the last session congress appro-
priated sl,000.000 for the investigation al
The various routes. One thousand engineers
had been at work, 800 on the Nicaragua
route 800 on the Panama and 200 on the
Darien route. Should congress go ahead
| and disregard that prodlgious work done
by the Walker commission?
Mr.. Cannon stated that an investigation
was being made now as to the adv!sability
| Of cutting off from twenty TO twenty-fy
miles OF The proposed route which II was
possible might save half the cost OF the
canal. Mr.. Cannon created something oil
sensation by quoting admiral Walker
chairman Of the isthmian Canal commits.
sion as saying I'VE are not prepared "a
say when the canal across the isthmus
/ should he constructed or which 4. Tho hss,