New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-18
REPORT ON THE CANAL.
Continued from first page.

the right to object If Mexico on her own terri
tory constructed a canal across the Isthmus Of
Tehuantepec Nor vet, again. could any one
rightfuliy object 10 Nicaragua constructing a
canal on her own soil from the Caribbean Sea
Now, II this be true If these states would
have the right on their own territory. using
their own means. 10 provide for themselves
this great advantage to their commerce. could
not either one OF them grant to another State
upon terms entirely advantage and satisfac-
canal similar 20 the one under discussion? No
one would have the right TO quarrel with Mic
sragua in thus disposing 10 the United States
right that unquestiouably belongs to her
The fact that il would ena Die US in an erner-
gency and in certain directions TO increase the
enciency OF our Navy does not constitute such
state Of facts allows our rivals to object
70 our building this canal. Other nations are
making large additions 10 their naval
powers by the Use OF their shipyards We GER
Jsinly possess the right TO increase the eff
clency OF our Navy by increasing the number of
our ships When we have the ships we have
The right to send them wherever We choose and
the mere fact that the rapid transfer through
ne Nlearagua Canal Of our naval vessels to the
racine or rom the Pacific Ocean to the At
lantic, Increases the efficiency Of given squad
ron surely ought not 10 be regarded as an IN
due advantage that the United States would
have through this waterway.
INCREASE OF SEA POWER.
We want to increase our power upon the high
seas our people are intent upon having their
fuu snare OF the commerce of the world This
CaElda = an ala IN that direction. II
u VIII disturb the conditions of equality that
now exist but every effort that the successful
merchant makes is an effort TO disturb this
equality and to secure advantages for himself
Steamships instead OF sail vessels the huge YES
SCI OF to-day instead of the smaller one Of fifty
years ago: improvements in machinery in
manufacture-au Of these are efforts 10 disturb
the equality OF conditions that exist between
merchants. They are ali deemed iIs+iAabIe and
pralseworthy, and the securernent of this short
route is surely an effort OF greater magnitude
II TINS direction II viii save ten thousand
miles IN the passage TO China over the old route
~ way OF Cape Horn Our Government would
have precisely the same right 10 take offence
a. the use OF the Suez Canal by British mer-
chants as would the English Government at our
using the Nicaragua Canal
At al events, we want share Of the worlds
commerce and 10 secure il We must have all Of
The utilities that are possible Nor can we ex-
pet 20 get our share without fierce struggles
There is now the most intense rivalry for this
commerce on the part Of commercial nations
And our rivals viii use all political and com
mercial Influences and diplomacy with all OF
the field
THE CLAYTON-BULwER TREATY.
There are persons who say that we are bound
by treaty stipulations with the Government Of
Great Britain TO refrain from carrying out this
great enterprise. This statement we do not he
ago The United States and Great Britain entered
into an alliance 10 secure the building OF the
ately studies carefully that treaty must come TO
the conclusion that the primary stipuIations in
convention
immediate building OF & canal under the infu-
ences that might be exerted by the two govern
rnents. rather than TO a prohibition Of either to
build il
After quoting the treaty the report goes on:
No one can read that article without con-
Guiding that the Nicaragua Canal contemplated
vas an undertaking early to be completed
through the kindly aid Of the two Governments.
Great Britain has allowed fifty years to elapse
without any movement on her part 70 carry out
the provisions Of that article II has been dead
ietter rom the Gay the treaty was signed to the
present moment And the provisions OF the first
article were agreed 10 necessarily in connection
with the seventh. that neither Government shall
have exclusive control over said ship canal, be-
ing the ship canal that provided for in the
seventh article and which the two nations were
curing.
But suppose taiz Il not true and that we are
bound as was Great Britain bound not 10 Sc
cure the Nicaragua Canal This Nicara qua Canal
can properly be described IN other words by call
ing II the short route 70 the East And then
properly paraphrasing the sentence, "GreaL
Britain and the United States bound themselves
not 10 secure. against the other, the short
vas the only short route TO the East" that any
man had his thoughts, and the spirit Of the
agreement that Great Britain would not
secure the short route 70 the East without the
consent and cooperation Of the United States.
CONSIDERED No LONGER BINDING.
But in violation Of the spirit Of the contract
Great Britain has through her control over the
Suez Canal secured for herself short route TO
IL
pletely for all practical purposes as though II
was on the soil Of Ireland. that is COM
pletely under the control OF her guns at Gibral-
tar and the Islands il the Mediterranean and the
Red Sea and yet are bandly told that. not
outstanding the failure on her part 70 observe
the letter Of the seventh article and the spirit OF
ne first article. are bound by treaty OF
alliance entered into fifty years ago.
The last fifty years has wrought a remarka bic
change II our relations d waterway crossing
the isthnus. Ire year 1880 was only four years
removed from our first occupation Of California.
II was only four years later than the passage OF
the first party Of emigrants from the Mississippi
River under the protection OF a military force
70 Oregon II was but two years after the ces-
sion Of large landed interests on the Paclnc
Coast from Mexico II was only three years al
Ter the settlement Of the disputed boundary OF
our Northwest Pacific possessions In 1870 not
more than ten thousand inha bitants were on the
Pacific Coast Our coastwise trade with that
coast was Insignificant il value or amount
EXPANSION IN THE PACIFIC.
Now we have millions OF citizens living on
that coast We have hundreds OF millions OF
commerce, We nave thousands Of millions OF
wealth. We have acquired Alaska, HaWal. the
Philippine Islands. There = no comparison De
tween the rleagre interests OF fifty years ago
aai the colossal interests OF to-day. The sltud-
ton has 50 changed the interests OF our people
and then are so diverse, the necessity OF re-
spending 70 these changed conditions Is so over
wheiming that the most censorlous OF those
who lead in the formation Of the world Juos-