The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-31

I'VE favor the immediate construction.
ownership, and control of the Nicaragua
Canal by the United States" declares the
Democratic national platform; while the
Republican platform adopted at Phiiadei-
phia mildly fayors an ''isthmian canal"
The issue is distinct One party favors the
immediate construction of definitely de-
termined and located canal. The other Is
for cropping about for an indefinite period.
pretending to make an examination of the
old d., Lesseps ditch, which was long ago
found by our engineers to be an imprac-
tieable undertaking. and which was the
source of one Of the greatest scandals OF
modem times.
Tco much time has already been occu-
pied in merely tentative examinations.
Careful and full reports on the project
have been made by our engineers on the
Nicaragua route. and the proposed canal
pronounced entirely feasible. A powerful
influence, however. prevents action by
Congress. The several trans-continental
railways fear consequences which they
think viii re suit TO these powerful monopo-
lies. from the competition of oceanic trans
portation which this canal would secure II
is no wonder that these corporations, in
their ignorance of the ultimate benefit
which the canal would be even to them,
should make desperate opposition TO this
competition. But are the interests of this
country TO be forever subservient to these
selfish purposes?
OF all the recipients of Congressional
favor these cormorants are entitled TO the
least consideration. Subsidized TO an ex-
tent far beyond their actual cost. having
alternate sections of the public land
granted to them as a bonus. having their
bonds guaranteed. and finally paid by the
Government. and then by dishonest de-
vices avoiding ultimate liability. these
railroads have yet the efrontery 10 seek
al the hands of the National Legislature
a perpetuation Of their monopoly. 1t is
true the House Of Representatives. passed
a bill for the construction of the canal.
but the powerful influences of the corpora
tions, by their agents in the Senate, pre-
vented even a consideration OF It by that
body.
In order to further embarrass the UNI
titdAs 70 1A}tSAth 4AAO tnt
Senate whereby it is proposed that the
Uuited States shall obligate itself TO Great
Britain not to fortify its own canal. This
Hay-Pauncefote agreement was an entire
ly gratuitous performance. The old Clay
ton-Bulwer Treaty, TO which IT proposed
TO give life and make still more offensive
to this country than ever, had from the
beginning been regarded as a nullity II
had been repeatedly violated by Great
Britain. and had been declared by secre-
tary Blaine and his predecessors to have
been obsolete and of no binding force. 1t
is made, however, the pretext of intro
ducing the British Government as a con-
trolling factor in our commercial Affairs.
With the Republican Secretary OF State
and Senate thus blocking the waterway OF
our commerce between the two oceans.
the railroads will continue their exclu-
sive monopoly of the transcontinental COM
merce which our operations in the Philip
pines and in China have so greatly in
creased.
vote for the Democratic ticket is a
vote for the canal vote for the Repub-
lican ticket is a vote for the perpetuation
Of this railway monopoly