The Van Buren press., 1902-07-26

conditions and that only the excessive
estimate of the French company barred
the way. The French company thought
its property worth 500, 900, 600. The
commission placed its value at $40, 0OO,-
900.
Then a remarkable thing happened.
A private citizen of the United States
sent a cablegram to friend in Paris
advising him that confidential informa-
ton from the commission and the senate
indicated that the American govern
ment would buy on the commission s
terms of $40, 200. 900. imperative no
higher-act quickly, read the cable
gram. Within AS hours the French
board had decided to offer their property
at $40. 0O0, 900. 1t was hard to come
down from $lO9, 900, 900 to $40 ZOO, 900.
and at that price sell property into
which their countrymen had sunk $3.50, :
900 900. but $40, 900, 900 is great deal
better than nothing. And nothing was
what they stood to get if they failed to
sell to the United States. With the
Americans once at work in Nicaragua,
the Panama property would not be
worth 40 cents.
Before this new offer of the Panama
company was officially received, the
house of representatives, urged on by
sentiment, passed the Nicaragua bill by
a nearly unanimous vote. But even
then the sentiment was not anywhere
near unanimous for the Nicaragua
route. A Panama amendment received
102 votes against 40.
Immediately the aspect Of the project
was changed. The canal commission
unanimously changed its recommends.
ton from Nicaragua to Panama. 1t
furnished ample data demonstrating the
superiority of the latter route. The
senate was asked TO amend the house
bill. AT once there arose great hue
and cry. The persistent power OF septi-
ment and prejudice was never better
illustrated. All the facts all the expert
testimony. were for Panama, but many
men would not or could not see them.
Their passionate devotion TO the old
route blinded their eyes. They could
not credit with sincerity anyone who
favored Panama. They were sure the
transcontinental railroads were using
this Panama scheme merely as device
for delay. They talked of lobby. OF
corruption; they saw ghosts. They
we're bitter at the outset and they were
bitter all the way through. They were
stubborn, too, and, under the leadership
of Senator Morgan they contested every
step of the ground.
But the American people are above
all things a practical people. They
know hawk from handsaw. Slowly
but surely the superiority Of the Panama
route made Roadway in the press, In the
public mind In congress. Mr.. Hanna
took the lead In the senate. This was
great business question, and he was a
business man. His unique personality
drew attention to the facts. and the
eloquence Of the facts did the rest. For
the first time In many years we saw
votes made In the senate by speeches.
Almost always speeches are absolutely
useleess so far as effect upon the senate
is concerned. They are intended to
exert influence elsewhere. But 1t Is
acknowledged BY everyone that Hanna's
speeches made votes. Last December
there were not more than dozen sena-
tors for Panama. When the vote was
finally taken it stood 40 for Panama to
"a for Nicaragua, and the whole senate
divided, including pairs. A TO 80, with
two men neither voting nor paired. BY
the overwhelming vote of 269 TO 8 the
house agreed. A canal law WAS enact.
ed The president signed 1t. There
will be canal
For this result Mr.. Hanna Is entitled
TO the chief credit. 1t could not have
been attained without him. Senator
Spooner gave invaluable aid to his bill,
which cleverly places the executive
power where It belongs, In the hands OF
the president. Panama Is named as
the first choice OF congress and the
president is empowered to secure the
necessary title and concessions; IT he