Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-12-04
THE PANAMA CANAL.
French Company Offers . Good Title
to Its Property.

The congress has wisely provided that
we shall build at once an lsthmian canal,
il possible at Panama. The attorney gen.
eral reports that we can undoubtedly ac-
uuire good title from the French Panama
Canal company. Negotiations are now
pending with Colombia to secure her assent
10 our building the canal. This canal will
be one OF the greatest engineering feats OF
the twentieth century; q greater engineer,
Ing feat than has yet been accomplished
during the history Of mankind. The work
should be carried out as continuing policy
without regard TO change Of adminlstra-
star stances Which WIN :" make s1ti Il matter Of
pride for all administrations to continue
the policy.
lea, and Of importance to all the world. IT
will be Of advantage to US lndustrially and
also a. improving our military position. II
will be- Of advantage TO the countries OF
hoped that all OF these countries will do as
some OF them have already done with Sig
nal success, and will invite TO their shores
commerce and improve their material con-
dltions by recognizing that stability and
order are the prerequisites. OF successful
development. No Independent nation In
America need have the slightest fear Of
aggression from the United States. II be-
hooves each one to maintain order within
Its own borders and to discharge Its Just
obligations to foreigners, When this Is
done, they can rest assured that, be they
strong or weak, they have nothing to dread
the increasing interdependence and COM
plexlty Of International political and eco
nomic relations render II incumbent on all
civilized and orderly powers to Insist on
the proper policing Of the world.
The Pacific Cable.
During the fall Of 1901 communication
was addressed to the secretary Of state,
asking whether permission would be
granted by the president to corpora
tlon to lay cable from a point on the
California coast to the Philippine Islands
by way Of Hawaii. A statement Of con-
ditions or terms upon which such cor
poratlon would undertake to lay and
operate cable was volunteered
1nasmuch as the congress was shortly
to convene, and Pacific cable legislation
had been the subject Of consideration by
the congress for several years, 1t seemed
to me wise to defer action upon the ap-
plication until the congress had first an
opportunity to act, The congress ad-
jourred without taking any action, leav-
Ing the matter In exactly the same con-
dItion In which 1t stood when the con-
gress convened
Meanwhile It appears that the Com
mercial Pacific Cable company had
promptly proceeded with preparations for
laying its cable. It also made appllca-
ton to the president for access to and
use of soundings taken by the U. 8. g.
Nero, for the purpose Of discovering a
practicable route for a trans-Paclfc
cable, the company urging that with ac-
cess to these soundngs It could complete
It's cable much sooner than II It were
required to take soundngs upon Its own
account. Pending consideration of this
subject, 1t appeared important and de-
slrable to attach certain conditions to
the permission to examine and use the
soundings. II 1t should be granted.
In consequence Of this solicitation Of
the cable company, certain conditions
were formulated, upon which the presi-
dent was willing to allow access to these
soundings and to consent to the landing
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