Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-25
The Canal and Canada.

tIlOSS WIZ IOpcu lLldL SOioAhD'~~
recover it's senses before the expira'
ton of the eight months which were
allowed for ratification of the treaty
providing for construction OF the
Panama canal. That time limit ex-
pired on Tuesday, and although some
of the Colombian statesmen recognized
their mistake, it was too late to re-
verse the action taken some time ago.
Whether a new treaty will now be
drawn I'D and presented to our senate
and the Colombian congress, or wheth-
or Panama will secede from Colombia,
and allow us to deal with it regardless
Of the legislative body at Bogota, or
whether the friends of the Nicaraguan
ro,,te. headed by Senator Morgan will
now bring that project to the front; or
whether, still some other chapter will
he written in history of the present
Jsthmian waterway, remains to be
seen. One thing is sure, and that is,
that the canal will be built, and it is
firmly believed that it will be built by
the Panama route. The greed of Co
lombia, which resulted in holding up of
this treaty, which was fair and just to
that country in all it's provisions,
simply delays matters a little. 1t does
not stop the movement, and nothing
else can stop it.
We find in the Boston Advertiser, a
paper usually intensely loyal and all
together sane in it's Americanism. the
plea that this country now abandon
the Isthmian canal idea, entirely and
forevermore. We do not know of any
other paper of prominence which takes
this view of the matter, but the Ad-
vcrtiser's motive is not hard to find. 1t
goes on to say that the venture can
never hope to be profitable, and will
only take from the United States more
commerce than it draws. 1t holds
that such canal would simply injure
our present transcontinental railway
lines, and benefit the commerce of
Europe rather than our own. 1t says
that the real idea, in building the canal
is to afford short route in case of
war with any other country, pre-
sumably with England, and here we
get at the gst of the Advertisers
position. 1t is most consistent and
strenuous advocate of Canadian an
nexation, and points out that if we
fear England our best defence is to ac-
quire Canada, through which England
would operate against us. 1t urges that
the American destiny is northward
rather than southwark, and that our
duty is in the direction of the incor-
poration of the dominion of Canada,
rather than a step toward a climate
which is not suited to our national
temperament.
The Advertisers argument is, to say
the least, ingenious. but we cannot help
feeling that the canal will be a reality
long before the stars and stripes float
over Canada. The British possessions
of North America may sometime be-
come part of this country, but thi:
will not come about until the people of
these possessions desire the change,
and there is not now the least evidence
that they are dissatisfied with their
present conditions, or that they have
any desire to come under American
rule. The Isthman canal has been
dream of engineers, commercial men,
and naval leaders for centuries, and it
IS bound to be realized through Ameri-
can enterprise. The annexation of
Canada is wholly different matter.
Of a canal are seriously Influenced by
the idea that it will be useful in case
uses of the canal will be many and inn
portant, and there is always the posi-
of the future comes it is far more like
ly to find England and America on the
same side than opposed to each other.
Then England may transfer Canada to
Uncle Sam as an evidence of good will
and gratitude, provided the recipient is
willing to accept the transfer. Such a
happening as this or some other
peaceful development of the distant fu
ture may make Canada a part of the
Union. That is one story. The build
ing of the canal is another story. 1t is
something more important for i'm
mediate consideration. No attempt to
confuse the two matters can be sue
cessful.
We wonder if all those hunters who