The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

The construction of a ship-canal oy which the channels of commerce tnat are now obstructed by the Isthmus or barren, might he opened to the whole world, nAs been for centuries, the subject of the earnest consideration of every great mlno which has addressed itself to the solution of commercial problems. Especially mas the subject been earnestly considered oy France. Great Britain, Germany and the United States. The result. of this consid- eration seems to have reduced the aues- lion of route to a choice between two, one of which Is known as the Nicaragua route and the other as the Panama. Some actual work has been done upon bith routes, and each, at least, has its merits and It's demerits. -
 There now hangs in the Library of the Department of State at Washington picture representing the officers of that foepartmsnt in February, 1see. It was taken to commemorate the signing or q treaty with Colombia for canal across the fsthmus of Darien, which was to be immediately constructed. The treaty, however, failed to receive the approval of the Senate of the United States and of the Congress of Colombia. The ground of objection to it, in each case. was not opposition to the canal. but belief that it would be better to make the treaty and dig the canal at some other time and In some other way.
 Tlsat was thirty-four years ago Eves since that time we have been trying to build 4 canal as we had been years prior thereto.
 Clayton Bulwer Treaty.
 Tt ie almost q matter of common knowi- edge that a treaty. known as the Clay. ton-Bulwer treaty, was concluded ai Washington (April ts), and ratified (Juiy q 1880. between Great Britain and the United States by which both parties pledged themselves to respect the neu- traiity of the proposed ship-canal across Central America. Article l of that treaty was as follows:
 'srhe Government of the United States and Great Britain hereby declare that neither the one nor the other will ever obtain or maintain for itself any exclu- sive control over the said ship-canal; agreeing that neither will ever erect Of maintain any fortifications commanding the same, or in the vicinity thereof. or occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or assume or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any part of Central America (nor will either make use of any protection which either affords or may afford. or any alliance which either has or may have to or with any state or people for the purpose of erecting or maintaining any such forti- ncations. or of occupying. fortifying. or coionixing Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast. or any part of Central America, or of assuming or exercising dominion over the same; nor will the United States or Great Britain take ad- vantage of any intimacy. or use any al- lianee connection, or influence that either may possess with any State or Government through whose territory the said canal may pass. for the purpose of acquiring or holding, directly or indirectly, for the citizens or subjects of the one any rights or advantages in regard to commerce or navigation through the said canal which shall not be offered on the same terms to the citizens or subjects of the other"
 Additional articles of the treaty stipu- lated for exemption from blockade, de- tention or capture by either of the bel hgerents of vessels of either of the con. tractinn parties in case of war between them: for the protection of the psrsoui employed in making the canal and theli property used or to be used for that ob feet: for the use of whatever influenct they respectively exercise with any gov