The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-17

Canal. which had been in full operation TO
nearly twenty years before the Treaty o
Constantinople was concluded
"As the question of the building of tn,
canal was not dependent upon any doctrine
relating to the freedom OF the seas or II!
neutrality or its use as a feature of mill
tary strategy. delay in It's construction
which may be fatal to its success, shoult
not be the policy of Congress. Delay In
construction cannot possibly advance the
settlement of any question as to the use o
the canal after it is completed. Such ques-
tions are convenient pretexts for delay or
the part Of those who oppose the work OF
construction. ownership, and control Of the
canal by the United States because they
own competitive routes of inter-oceaniC
transportation. or by those who wish to
place the control of this vast source OF
power in the hands of syndicates of private
persons, but the duty of Congress. in re-
sponse to the will of the people. so univer-
sally expressed is that We shall provide
the means for instituting this great work
and that we shall enable the President, as
the chief executive. and as the head of the
diplomatic department, to proceed to dc
what is needful and proper to be done to
inaugurate the canal.
This bill provides such authority, yet II
makes the President subject to the future
power of Congress. or the Senate, as he
may find 1t best to proceed by agreement
or by treaty in its execution.
1.-The attitude of the American people as
It is presented in this bill Is at once proved
independent, self-reliant, and honorable.
while 1t is properly considerate of all in
ternational obligations that may be justly
demanded of our Government. 1t declares
the right that belongs to our great Repub-
lie to provide for the general welfare of
our people in the way that Congress shall
provide. without nervous apprehension
that any nation will find in our action any
great ground of complaint or any reason
able criticism of the decisive promptitude
Of our determination.
Line of Action Clear.
There is no actual cause for such ap-
prehensions, and the indulgence or express
sion of them does not comport with the
past history or the character Of our people.
Believing that all other nations will regard
our course in pursuing this vital duty to
our country with thes consideration that
is due the pressure OF this great subject
and self-respecting line Of action is clear.
1T is that Congress will now provide
the means and the authority for construct
ing ship canal In Nicaragua and Costa
Rica. with their consent, and leave it to
the President, under the Constitution, to
deal with any question of diplomatic sort
that may be made by other nations in the
progress OF his work.
"our plainest duty after this bill be-
comes law is to agree with Nicaragua
and Costa Rica as to the terms on which
they will concede to the United States the
right to build. own, and control canal
through their territories and to arrange
with them the terms aud conditions under
which the canal shall be used by the con-
tracing powers and by other nations.
When these conditions are thus settled by
the powers that have the first and best
right to settle them, a basis will be estab-
lished on which further negotiations can be
conducted with all other powers as to the
privileges they shall enjoy in the use Of
the canal. Until this is done, no such just
basis can exist"