The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-26

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CLAYTON Belwer Tressy. Ike modification u
which he SEEMS to sAiaS should awaken in
the citizens a. this country emily sentiments
Of qualification that they ara TO be unoh
strueted in carrying cut their enterprise.
Il is rot upon this point that he lays the
greatest emphasis. On the contrary, he
forecasts conditions incident to the estab-
lishment of this isthmian highway. the
very logic of which is that American con-
troll of the canal should be so absolute as
TO extend at least to the privilege of forth
fying it if necessary.
Indeed. it is the political and military,
rather than the commercial. aspect of the
question which chiefly engages his atten-
tiou. The unforeseen results of the Suez
project. and the contingencies which,
though not clearly anticipated now, may.
By comparison be regarded as possible
when our gateway is opened, constitute the
keynote of his utterances. He points out
that the intervention of 1882. which placed
Egypt under British control, almost Ger
tainly would not have occurred but for the
existence of the canal. land the notion that
England was bound by her own interests to
see to its safety" 1t has intensified the
rivalry between England and France. and
not only has it placed the former at
Khartoum and Fashoda, but her East
African ambitions are all due to the fact
that lie Lesseps pierced the Isthmus of
Suez. result of which neither he nor the
French; nor anyone else in the world, had
the smallest idea"
While events SO momentous and unex-
peeted justify many speculate as to the
Influence which the open gate may exert
en- our future there is one consequence
30 much in the line of historical develop
ment that Mr.. Bryce thinks it may be
deemed. ''if not certain. yet at any rate
highly probable" A canal constructed ami
policed by this Government-and it is sig
nificant that he parenthetically remarks,
"eyen assuming that authority does not go
further than policing naturally
draw large numbers of American officials
TO settle at each end and along the banks
The vast commerce would lead to the
growth of towns, the better class of whose
population would come from this country
and as the acquisitions of a superior race
gradually extended over the adjoining dis
tricts. the entire section would ultimately
become to all intents detached part of
United States territory, which we would
be bound to protect.
Mr.. Bryce might have substituted for the
slow process of assimilation the alleged
willingness of the Central American States
TO come now under the government of their
natural protector, but as il is, he has fur
nished us with an unanswerable argument
against any cession of our right to con-
struct, operate, and control the Nicaragua
Canal absolutely and forever