The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-17
OPPOSED TO MORE DELAY
The Senate Committees Report on
the Nicaragua Canal Bill.
QucstiOns Which Arc Prctcxts for
ProcrastinatfOn-Th True Line of
Congress of Means md HuthOr-
ity to Construct the Waterway.

Mr., Morgan, Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Inter- Oceanic Canals. yester-
day presented the report of that body on
the Nicaraguan Canal bill to the Senate.
The report contains the testimony of the
witnesses heard by the committee. and gives
the conclusions of the members with refer
ence to the routes suggested for the water
| way.
The report practically condemns the Pan
ANA route. 1t is held that it would be folly
TO pay for the work already done by that
| company. and the statement is made that
the Panama corporation is without assets
other than those included in the Panama
Railroad. The assets which the company
| has, valued at $50, 900. COO. cannot be relied
upon, the report says. An American canal
is demanded by the committee. and 1t Is
not deemed advisable to wait until the
Walker Commission reports before action
is taken.
American Control Necessary.
The American side of the canal ques-
tion." states the report. has been often
stated on the highest authority known to
our Government The world has been fully
and frequently notified Of It. and 1t Is
well understood. 1t is simply that any
be an American canal. under American
control II it is constructed by
the Government through whose ter
ritory- it Is established, with
out alliance with or subordinate to any
trans-oceanic power. 1t is an American
canal under American control. and that is
enough as to that feature of our policy,
But the principle of national self-preser-
walton which is the formulative principle
of the Monroe Doctrine, is put in peril by
an alliance with any trans-oceanic power
10 construct and control such a canal.
THE. United States, whatever was Its
former course. will contest such an alli
ance hereafter whether 1t is manifest or
avowed in the agreement Of the Govern
mentsf concerned or is conceded under a
pretence. of commercial dealing In canal
stock or the mortgage OF canal properties.
The control of the canal. as well as its
ownership, must be American. so that the
American State that owns the canal shall
be amenable to the United States for its
dealings with the vital questions OF the
freedom of our commerce. the military
sessions. and the security of our people
and their property. in the conduct Of their
intercourse and their trade between the
oceans. $500
@ These assertions OF right are forced
upon us by the physical geography of the
United States and by our right to provide
good government for our people. They rest,
broadly, upon the doctrine OF the freedom
of the seas. which the United States have
~ oil MIA IN, $ho
open ocean. II canal across the 18TH
mus was a natural strait, instead Of an
artificial channel, We could not fail to
apply to IL the doctrine OF the freedom OF
the seas. as we have never failed to do In
other notable cases at Shimonisak at the
Gut of Canso. at the Baltic Sound and
Belts. near Denmark: and as We will do or
a proper occasion at the Bosphorous and
in the Suez Canal. As 1t must be an ar
tifcfal strait. cut With the consent OF the
sovereign owner Of the soil. that power
must dedicate the canal to the freedom OF
the seas, SO far as We are concerned, or
il must submit to such power as We can
exert to compel such dedication.
whether the canal is built with their
money or ours the dedication must have
respect to a reasonable charge in the way
of tolls upon the transit Of ships to COM
pensate for the construction and mainte
i
differs from the straits or sounds about
Denmark II the United States provides
the money to build the canal the control
of 1t as property must be secured to US
for that additional and indisputable rea-
son. If We create this property without
money within the limits of another SOW
ereign Government and with its consent.
our ownership of the canal must be in
the nature OF a license or right to control
1t as property.
Right to Acquire and Control.
I'VE have the right to acquire and con-
troll such property IL We can make such |
a treaty with the power that owns the |
no other nation can object to our prop |
erty in the canal. Whether such a treaty |
would in its use be oppressive TO other |
States of this hemisphere or of the world |
as an unjust restraint OF the freedom of |
the seas IS question which is distinct |
from our property rights and depends |
upon the principles of the laws of nations.
This question Will in the end be con-
trolled by those principles as tneir en-
forcement shall be decreed by the ruling
powers Of the earth. It is question sep
arate. from, though not entirely discon-
nected with. the requirement OF the right
Isthmus of Darien.
"AIl the American Governments have an
immediate interest in this question Of the
Of the canal. as much so nearly.
as IL 1t was part of the high seas, and
also in its dedication as a sanctuary of
peace, and the European. Asiatic. and
African powers have an interest only a
little more remote. Europe and parts of
Asia and Africa have made a declaration
as an area in which war shall not exist;
and the broad sweep Of that decree IN
cludes all nations In Its benefits. and
pledges all nations to its maintenance
1t is the one great international act that
stands in front Of all others to mark the
real progress Of civilization.
An isthmian canal in America to con-
meet the same oceans has all the charac-
terlstics OF the Suez Canal and demands
like treatment. Whether We prefer 1t or
not. this European decree will impress its
Just authority. in time. upon the American
canal. and we will applaud the result.
Our children will assent to this though
We may refuse. The treatment Of this
great question should be broader than the
question of constructing. owning, and con-
trolling the isthInian canal for profit, or
for commercial advantage, or even for
the military protection Of our coasts. We
have better means than this for our
eoast defence. Under all conditions We
have living chance to take care of our
,wn country and we may be counted upon
o do this effectually. But We owe comfy.
good will, Justice. and respect especially
o all the American States in the natural
'ense OF good neighborship as well as for
he higher reason OF their dignity In the
amfly OF nations and their good will for
his Republic. 1t Is due to them that they
'hould be consulted as to any public act
" agreement corresponding In its purpose