The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-10
HOUSTON. MONDAY, NOV. 10, 1902.
PANAMA OR NICARAGUA

Ana now, after all the palaver about the
Panama canal route, and after President
Roosevelt has sent his attorney general
70 France TO investigate and report upon
me title the old controversy is opening up
again The New York Herald for instance,
urges TIE following reasons why It should
be a Nicaragua and not q Panama canal:
L As aine-tenths Of the commerce max
Iug use OF an isthmian canal viii be from
the North Atlantic aud North Pacihc' the
Nicaragua canal viii be several hundred
miles shorter than the one via Panama.
p There is no doubt about its water
supply, which Is ten times greater than
that required
Panama In fact, Il Is as good rs ans
tropical climate In the world.
4. The Nicaragua route passes over the
greatest depression IN the mountain range
that tIaverses the isthmus
s. canal at Nicaragua will be easier
TO maintain, as there Is no Chagrcs river I
with which TO contend
over the Nicars guam route which Colombia 4
Will never concede, thus avoiding conphca- |
tions hereafter.
Z. Nicaragua possesses country capable 1
Of being developed. and offers a hue ueld (
ror American enterprise The Panama I
route passes through region incapable OF
any Development whatever
s. Sailing vessels can make use OF me
Nicaragua route. They are practically
barred out OF l'duAua.
9. Nicaragua lake, covering an area OF
5000 miles, will furnish q magnificent 6ltua-
ton for an American naval station. our
ships could he there with clean bottoms
ready TO drop down either 90 the Atlantic
or the Pacific ID few hours aud always
In the hest condition Tor making speed
Commenting on the above the Memphis
CommerclaLAppeal says: At the time the
transcontinental railways succeeded IN nav
Ing Panama substituted for Nicaragua we
rentured 10 affirm that It was simply a
trick to confuse the situation and postpone
indefinitely the building Of any trans
lsthmian canal. Subsequent events nave
confirmed that impression. This is not
matter OF sentiment WITH US. The word
Nicaragua" sounds NOT one whit more
pleasing 70 our ears than the word pan.
ana" Our only interest IN the matter, OF
eourse 81 TO see a canal built We have
opposed Panama for several OF the reasons
advanced by the Herald. We have opposed
Panama because james }. Bin OF the Great
Northern was for It, until congress ap-
proved IT, We have opposed Panama be-
cause Of the obstacles 10 ITS way, when
render II an exceedingly dubious undertas-
ing; and finally we nave opposed It pc.
cause st has been a swlndle from the start
and its entire history has been saturated
With fraud, peculation, false pretense ana
bankruptcy.
Furthermore, In the negotiations now
going on IN Washington, otner obstacles
have developed which are hardly less than
insuperable. Attorney General KNOX Ia,
Investigated the title Of the French com
pany aud mas pronounced It all right. sc
FAR. SO good. hut we understand mat II,
valid transfer can be made without tnt
sanction OF Colombia. At present Colombo
Is the scene OF one Of the HveHest reyolu
tions that have ever danced the two.steI
over Central or South American soil a.
Is almost impossible 10 tell who is coci
Of the walk there.
But aside from the turmoil now prevail
ing in Colombia, there Is another hitch
The congress OF the United States ma
passed an act authorizing the purchase o
the Panama canal concern, aud providing
that the United States shall have per
petuaI control OF the canal strip. II w
can't have that, aud can't make It thor
oughly American enterprise permanently
It would be folly in this government to &
into the undertaking. Yet II the constitu
ton OF Colombia Is 10 be observed, It vii
be Impossible for US 70 obtain control 10
that instrument specifically prohibits sS
REIMBURSEMENT. Colombia Is unwilling L
surrender sovereignty over the canal STRIP
ana Of course she has some SAY" In IN
matter. We can not very we'll seize IN
strip abrcgate the Colombian constitution
and then go 70 work under title whic
could not be transferred without the cor
sent of the government, which we nav
Just suppressed
Colombia does not wish 20 surrender cor
tTul perpetuaily OF the canal strip; ca
not indeed, DO so without amending ne
constitution. Her proposition IS TO gran
canal concessions 20 the United states 10
fourteen years, not for ST,Oo0,O0. as an
nnce agreed 10 do. but Tor SlO,1DOUu.
requires no particular expenditure ,
mental energy 70 see that the whole Par
anna proposal is IN a dismal ness nm
constitution OF Colombia is In our wa
The attitude OF the COLOMBIAN goverumel
is hostile. We are apt TO be involved
bitter revolution. and we are asked
put up something ike si5OO0O,oOO for q
blessed privilege OF participating in IN
carnival Of fraud, insuTection ana rol
Tor a period OF fourteen years. It seen
10 Us that we can not too promptly rid on
selves OF the whole bewilderIng business.