The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-05
FIGHT ON NICARAGUA CANAL.


usually large amount Of Influence against the Nicaragua
canal in evidence just Ever since the senate rati'
fed the Hay Paunceote treaty thus increasing the probab-
ity of the construction Of the canal, the pro-
notor Of the Panama and their friends have been
doing everything in their power to lay out campaign the
object OF which to block legislation in such way as to
ultimately bring about the abandonment of the Nicaragua
route and cause favorable attention be directed toward
the propositions Of the Panama company. The Panama
lobby aided by representatives. OF certain ransoontnenal
railway lines has been quite active during the past few days
and there good believe that its work has not
been altogether unsuccessful.
It will be remembered that only few days story
was circulated the effect that giving the e%-
elusive right navigate Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan
river had been given to German steamship company and
that on Of this concession would be impossible for
the United States get control Of the desired route without
ezpending great deal money than originally
empated This story had little effect for it was
shown that the United States would the right OF way
for the proposed canal from the Costa Rcan and Ncaaguan
governments and that those governments would deyove
the necessity of getting rid OF any entangng concessions II
any such really existed, The report started in the hope
that it would result in bringing about disagreement OF
greater less seriousness between the house and the senate
which might result in deadlock thus making it possible
the claims Of the Panama people be again brought
the front On OF the apparent lack Of success
OF the the allowed drop for the
time being at least and other tactics resored TO-
1t seems that these tactics as mas been said before
/
authority that senators who have heretofore offered
no objection the plan build canal Costa
RIGA and Nicaragua although they have not actively favored
it. making appear that they quite apprehen-
sive that the United States would be overlooking great
bargain in the that the offers OF the Panama company
entirely ignored This being only the first steps the
matter, does unreasonable believe that real
opposition the plans under consideration will be
forthcoming after congress and the matter is
lively gone into.
The senators who are locking the matter through
the coored spectacles OF the Panama acting
very cautiously 1t is least they would have the public
believe, very natural and easy transition from their
former passive acquecnce the position which they have
assumed The Panama company has reduced its price
they say; why, then, should not wait look into thc
further and take advantage OF possible future dc
veopments before committing ourselves finally the Mic
aragua project:'
This argument is insidous and all the specous
perhaps that very No who has given the
matter any thought believes that the Panama has
anything high priced international gold brick in its
possession that has genuine intention Of doing the
proper thing by this country if given the opportunity deal
with 1t is spending large money in attempts
influence legislators, and it has done nothing recently
show that any worthy confidence than it
been in the past The isthmiau canal commission which
worked the for long time and which certainly
had opportunity OF getting the real facts in the
case recommended the Ncaraguan With all due
respect to Mr. Morrison who prepared and signed the mi
be said that nothing has subsequently been developed in
support of his contentious In other words this commits
sion which represented the people the United States
told the president and the senate that the Nicaragua
the better OF the Until such time the reports
and recommendations the majority the commission are
shown to be not well founded would that the public
this side OF the do nothing better than accept
the commissions exactly representing the con-
dltons with reference to the canal.
However, there doubt that the Panama people and
OF the nteoceanc railroads preparing to make
hard tight Time alone tell the degree success which
will attend their efforts but this distance there
be for believing that the Nicaragua project is in
any real danger or that work the muchy wanted
will be delayed unduly 1t will the people of this
country something like $soooooooo build the canal and
because the matter of much importance the amount
Of money involved is great it behooyes congress to go
cautiously OF course, along the paths which be
fore the canal becomes assured fact But the matter has
reached that stage where active and tangible work needed
The period OF speculation has been passed thorough in
vestgation has been made the treaty which Mr. Hay and
others considered necessary has been signed ratified and
the thing TO do is SO ahead and build the canal
1t is interesting to note that the departure Of an agent of
the Panama for the United with authority to
offer the Panama canal figure lower than that for which
offered the canal commission 5y President Hptir
few weeks ago coincident with the appearance here Of
large amount Of literature the purpose which is to dis
credit the Nicaragua and point the alleged adj
yanages OF the Panama plan This literature" is not con-
hned TO circulars and personal letters great many CORE
spondents and editors appear have been bitten by the
Panama bug aud result they changing from posi-
ton oil passive acquesceuce to which counses DELAY
and Caution, just the senators heretofore re-
terred to have changed It plain that the influence"
which much in evidence potential in one wav if in no
other That is it is having effect the senators
correspondents and editors referred but remains to be
seen whether not they produce like reyulson Of
feeling among the people at large.
The references to trancontinenta railroad lines hereto
lore made must not be understood conveying the mean
ing that these railway lines and the Panama COMPANY are
working toward exactly the same end although OF course
there IS community OF interest between them The Par
anna people prevent the construction of the Mic
aragua canal knowing that unless they do their own pro
must necessarily be abandoned The railroads want to pre-
vent the construction Of canal and they are Joining the
Panama people in their fight against the Nicaragua project