The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-03

ton to our country that the United
States and Mexico should have been
the first to use the good offices of The
Hague Court. This was done last
summer with most satisfactory results
in the case of a claim at issue between
us and our sister republic. 1t is ear.
nestly to be hoped that this first
case will serve as a precedent for 9TH
ers, in which not only the United States
but foreign nations may take advan-
tage or the machinery already in exist
ence at The Hague.
l commend to the favorable consid-
GRAFTON of Congress the Hawaiian fire
claims. which were the subject of care
full investigation during the last ses-
sion.
The Isthmian Canal
The Congress has wisely provided
that we shall build at once an isthrnian
canal. if possible at Panama. The At
torney General reports that we can
undoubtedly acquire good title from
the French Panama Canal Company.
Negotiations are now pending with
Colombia to secure her assent to our
building the canal. This canal will be
one of the greatest engineering feats
of the twentieth century; greater en-
cheering feat than has yet been ac-
complished during the history of man.
kind. The work should be carried out
as continuing policy without regard
to change of administration; and it
should be begun under circumstances
which will make it matter of pride
for all administrations to continue the
policy.
The canal will be of great benefit to
America, and of Importance to all the
world 1t will be of advantage to us
industrially and also as improving our
military position. It will be of advan-
tage to the countries of tropical Amer
lea. 1t is earnestly to be hoped that
all of these countries will do as some
of them have already done with signal
success, and will invite to their shores
commerce and improve their material
conditions by recognizing that stabil-
ity and order are the prerequisites of
successful development. No Independent
nat ton in America need have the
slightest fear of aggression from the
United States. 1t behooves each one
to maintain order within it's own bor-
ders and to discharge it's just obliga-
tons to foreigners. When this is done,
they can rest assured that, be
they strong or weak, they
have nothing to dread from
outside interference. More and more
the increasing interdependence and
complexity of International, political
anu eCOlOInlC TenQer II IN
cumbent pr all civilized and orderly
powers 10 ,nsist on rht propt- noli.-
ing of the World.
SOundings of the Nero.
During the fall of 1901 comn,u, l.
cation wa.s addressed L. the 5ccretary
of State, asking whether permission
would be granted by the President to
a corporation to lay a cable from a
point on the California coast to the
Philippine Islands by way of Hawaii.
"A statement of conditions or terms
upon which such corporation would I'M
dertake to lay and operate a cable was
volunteered.
Inasmuch as the Congress was short
ly to convene, and Pacific-cable legis-
lation had been the subject of con-
sideration by the Congress for several
years, it seemed to me wise to defer
action upon the application until the
Congress had first an opportunity to
act. The Congress adjourned without
taking any action, leaving the matter
in exactly the same condition in which
it stood when the Congress convened.
Meanwhile il appears that the Com
mercial Pacific Gable Company had
promptly proceeded with preparations
for laying its cable. 1t also made APP
plication to the President for access TO
and use of soundings taken by the u.
S. ship Nero, for the purpose of dis
covering n practicable route for a
trans-Pacific cable. the company urg-
ing that with access to these sound
ings it could complete it's cable much
sooner than II IL were required to take
soundings upon its own account Pend
ing consideration of this subject, Il
appeared important and desirable 10
attach certain conditions 10 the per-
mission 10 examine and use the sound
ings, II II should be granted.
In consequence OF this solicitation OF
the cable company. certain conditions
were formulated, upon which the
President was willing 10 allow access
20 these soundings and 10 consent 20
the landing and laying OF the cable.
subject 10 any alterations or additions
thereto imposed BY the Congress This
was deemed proper, especially AZ II was
clear that a cable connection Of some
kind with China. a foreign country,
Was a part ~ the company's plan
This course Was, moreover, ~ accord