The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-22
A NATIONAL MISFORTUNE.
Congressman Bowie Says Rejection of
 Treaty Was Fortunate.

Treaty Was Fortunate. Anniston, Aug. H.--tSpetial) )-Hon.
 Sydney J. Bowie. Congressman of the Fourth District of Alabama, is of the
 opinion that the Nicaragua Canal will
 now be built, since the Colombian Senate
 has turned down the Panama canal | treaty.
 In an interview with your representa- | tive, he said:
 q think that the country has every
 reason to rejoice that the Colombian Sem ate has refused to ratify the Panama Ca- nal Treaty. A favorable action of the Colombian Congress upon that treaty | would have been almost a national mis- \ fortune.
 Under the express provision of the act | of Congress, it Is now the duty of the | President to make arrangements with | Nicaragua and Costa Rica and proceed with the building of the Nicaragua route.
 But for this latter provision in the bill, | as it came from the Senate, it would never have been accepted by the House. A large majority of the House, includ- ing Colonel Hepburn, chairman of the House Committee, strongly favored the Nicaragua route, and they would have rejected the Senate amendment, giving preference to the Panama route, but for the provision making 1t mandatory upon the President to build the canal upon the Nicaragua route in the event a satis- factory title could not be obtained in a l reasonable time to the Panama route. A reasonable time has already elapsed
 and treaty giving us satisfactory title has already been rejected. There is noth- ing, therefore, in the way of an immedi-
 ate construction of the Nicaragua Canal,
 nor is any additional legislation requir- ed, except probably a treaty with Costa
 Rica and Nicaragua, which they stand ready and anxious to make.
 t-.a- Ev.1I vfr,.l4 An1 | tor Morgan's position on this question.
 He has all along maintained the proposi-
 ton that a satisfactory title could not
 be obtained from Colombia, and that therefore, the French Panama Company had nothing which it could sell. But for
 his pronounced belief upon this question, and his earnest insistence 1t is very doubtful whether the canal bill, as amended by the Senate would have pass ed the House at all at the last session. Tne Senator, however. was so deeply inl- pressed with the improbability of obtain Ing clear title through the Isthmus of Panama, and was so anxious to have
 final legislation that he urged upon the members of the House, both Democrats and Republicans, that the Senate amend ments be accepted.
 Tt has been suggested that the Presi- dent will find some means of evading the express mandate of the statutes requiring nlIn 10 proceed With the building or the Nicaragua Canal It is difficult to con ceive how such a result could be accom- plished. To do so would be both a breach of law and of faith. 1 believe the over whelming sentiment in this country is in favor of the canal, and that much the largest half of it prefers the Nicaragua route, and if there should be further, trouble on this question, the Republican party, which is responsible for the mat ter. would hear from it to their serious detriment in the next election. For this reason, have faith in the idea that they will be wise enough to carry out the law as 1t now stands. If they do not-it is likely to assume a national issue, fin which the position O fthe Republican party will be indefensible.
 For my own part, I have always pre- ferred the Nicaragua route. It will be of untold advantage to the people and the commerce of the South And 1t is time we were receiving at least some recogni- ton at the hands of the General Govern ment. Moreover, think it would be bet ter for the people of every section of the country.
 MT. Williams of Mississippi fully ex- pressed my convictions on the subject when he said he would rather pay five hundred million dollars for a canal through Nicaragua than to get one through Panama for nothing. It will not be necessary, however. to pay five hun dred millions for the Nicaragua route, nor could a Panama route be obtained for nothing. From every standpoint, it seems to me the former route is prefer able, and its building means much to the people of the South, as we'll as to the country at large"