New-York tribune., 1902-12-03

Atlantic and the Pacific even II forced 70 employ
the very inferior Nicaraguan route The mood Of
the people is demanding governmental canal and
any astute capitalist that the turning o, the
first spadefui of earth in Nicaragua by our govern
ment would render canal at Panama, owned BY
individuals not worth g dollar We are going into
the canal business TO develop commerce under the
Stars and Stripes. and TO tap markets IN manv
sections, especially the west coast OF South
America and in the Orient The Ievying Of tolls
after the manner of the Suez company. Is not 70
be the consideration Assuredly canal owned BY
individuals cannot hope to compete with a public
waterway owned by a powerful government. what
their relative physical merits for tolls the
governmental canal might be made trifinz that
competition would be strangled.
And. besides. government would probably not
be long in the business before its canal would be
thrown open 10 nohninally free navigation. the ex-
pense of operation being betrayed from the public
purse as rivers harbors and lighthouses main
tanned. Toll roads and bridges already
few months ago in THE North American Re
view 1 mentioned the likelihood Of or both Of
our political parties. tempting popular support.
incorporating a free canal plank in it's platform
before our canal is than completed
Colombia is too hard I'D 10 resort TO such spine
less bluff as that printed last Tuesdays journals
Nearly three years Of civil have reduced her
TO worse straits than any other land In this
hemisphere. A traveller may pass weeks there
without seeing coin OF gold, silver copper;
her white paper money has tangible security
behind it. Her public debt is enormou5-and day
of reckoning to government as to IN
dividuaL She cannot hope raise money by
bond issues by the pledgng of taxes and Gus
toms receipts
Logical and earnest discussion never retards wise
public action and national policies must have their
origin in individual minds mOdestly suggest
therefore: that our government take into consider
of the isthmian canal situation IN all its bearings
We have not conspired 10 this end-it Is the out
of i
Allow Colombia to ride her high horse as long
knocking at the portal of the Department OF State
70 inquire II our gover%n1eht % E Is WI wins g 70 egsgs
that we must commence operations next year For
and DELAY now of another year. years. for
that matter. is not going 10 hamper the material
When overtures come from Colombia, as they
s,,reIv will in will then be time for President
Rnosssvafr ard secretary Hay to stipuate broader
character for renewed negotiations namely, to
W6oie state of Panama for an equitable cash cor
sideration. We have been discussing the assign.
rent by Colombia OF what would be the equivalent
TO sovereignty over a six mile strip or Panama
sentiment that the United States has need 70
deal at any ones ribbon counter
STRIP eouId nave oIt S oi oon5 "a 70 BondaSiss
Ve1au2us ,,f W. I.rvs oS cur r-ssi1er
Dwellers in the State OF Panama have no affection
t6s advent Of American authority Colombian cur
rency is disavowed In Panama and postage stamps
no value. More than once petitions have been
cir the iSIhrnuS rnenOr1aIz1ng Cn9 wash
ington authorities to annex the region, while for
a long time it has been the custom Of sthnan
serting preference to be called "Panamaans"
The fact that our government Is G9pese PEI ,t5 ~
i'm the year has frequently sent armed land and
naval forces there, should greatly aid movement
looking to the ownership OF Panama by the United
States. Could any one oolect 20 tns transIer'
Would not every nation having regard for peace,
full stability indorse a movement Wnicn woaIe t,I1
bring to the isthmus-destined 70 oe turnst1IIs
between hennispheres-an administration that would
secure property and life and equal rights 70 every
dweller there. and every user OF the railroad ana
T@nSIer our control ularaudinE at Panama. whether
Porto Rico would be unlikely as n Philaaelphta
Public sentiment Is raTersois 20 e1psns1n piIo A F
iudicious purchase has ever been fortunate: Ir
support Of this I would advise a perusaI o. th'
literature Of the St Louis Exposition coulrne1noTa
tive Of the Louisiana Purchase. and % make
inquiry as to the present va!ue or = ses
nacessities but pay her a reasonable prtce-what-
ever the amount II would bring US somethinz
hundredfold more valuable than tne PlOPIl7tO-0N
TncfItantaiiy it would be only right for rs TO DC
,st vra ear to protect the French people in their
rights under existing Colombian concessions anc
agreements should the report that ene Colot.D-a
intend unjust treatment 70 tnea n 1lgs ,s any and
her citizens in the Panama Canal Company maze
US most liberal offer to transfer s,s % as fssr
we have practically announced we would accept
President EGosevsS PSeg Is S Ss national map
ilrt:an i' secretary HAYS triumph IN causing che
Treaty stamped him as great statesman. IJ Sg5
achevernsnt o. diplomacy tnaS ; i Wiz
to us OF the ownership Of the soil through winch
" build canal. -. ~ =, =
coruorated in the popular slogan and We sa9uL9
aspire 70 own, well as to construct ana conIrol-
an is1nIriFq iFRFbFRIc efb5i7RF COURTLASp PEXFTEL.D.
Manhattan Club, NeV-York- NOV 70 1871