The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-02-11
THE CANAL OUTLOOK,

The favorable reporting Of the 18TH
mian canal treaty marks another stei
toward the fultilment OF the dream Of
centuries and the urgent need of many
years, says the New York Tribune. The
substance OF the treaty has already
been made public and its precise terms
may have leaked out, They seem to
be satisfactory to the interests of this
country and decidedly generous to CO.
Iomia. There is no good reason in
sight, therefore, why the treaty should
not be ratified promptly and work be
begun upon the canal itself. There is
ample reason to believe that if it is rat
ified it will be found effective for the
purposes for which it is designed, and
that If the work is thus begun it will be
carried to a successful conclusion.
There is, it is true, some talk of OPP
position to the treaty by a single SEN
ator. 1t is said that Senator Morgan,
who did not oppose the reporting of it.,
viii oppose the treaty on the floor of
the senate. Such rumors we sincerely
hope will prove to be unfounded. 1t Is
quite probable that Senator Morgan
feels a measure of disappointment at
the failure of the Nicaragua scheme,
after his many years of earnest advo-
cacy of II, and that he is inclined TO
regard the Panama project with crit
ical eye. More than that, we may say
that his opinions and judgment on the
matter of choice Of route are entitled
to courteous and serious consideration
as those of man -eminently we'll
informed upon the subject. But for
titS very ISdSoiiS tAoS he - ~ "S't A''
formed and has been for years the fore
most advocats. of an isthmian canal. it
is not to be believed that Senator Nor
gan will indulge in merely obstructive
opposition to the pending measure.
We take it that, while he earnestly de-
sired to see a canal constructed at Nj
caragua, he still more desired and de-
sires to see a canal constructed without
regard to site. He is not Nicaragua
or nothing" man. He wants canal
wherever ii can best be constructed.
Therefore when he sees, as he doubt
less now will see, that satisfactory
bargain has been made for its construc-
ton at Panama, and the Panama route
is, all things considered, the most prac-
ticable, he will accept the situation and
lend to the successful execution of the
Panama scheme the same intelligent
and powerful aid which he formerly
gave to the Nicaragua enterprise.
The chances are. then, that there will
be no protracted or obstructive oppo-
sition to the canal treaty, but that 1t
win soon be ratified and the United
States win enter upon the possession OF
the strip Of land at Panama which has
for SO long time engaged the specu-
lative attention of the world. Such
consummation will mean much to this
country and to others. 1t will mean,
of course, the completion in the near
future of one of the greatest public
works in the world. 1t will also mean
an eternal quietus to the 50 years dis
satisfaction over the old Clayton Bull |
wer treaty. It will mean the ending of
all menace of unpleasant compllca-
tions through alien attempts at canal
construction. 1t will mean marked
increase If United States prestige In
Central and South America and in the
whole commercial world. The name
of Panama has had hitherto varied
meanings, including one Of almost in
finite shame and disgrace. 1t bids fair
henceforth to have only one of honor
and beneficence to the world.