The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-12-09

bounds. Our most active compcti
tors fear that the Panama canal will
soon make US the commercial masters
of the world.
There has been some opposition to
the canal in Colombia, based on re-
luctancc to make any concession Of
territory to a foreign power. The pre-
dominant element, however, is in fav
or Of encouraging the great project.
One OF the Colombian ministers in g
recent statement says: ct is a mat
ter of the greatest Importance to the
future well being of our country, as
we'll as to the rest Of the world 1t
is indeed matter Of great importance
to Colombia. When the world treads
the pathway across her territory she
will be benefited in more ways than
one. The history of canal building
shows That many great enterprises
which might otherwise have been neg
!ectc'i have sprung into existence on
scccun. of the opportunities the close
conmunication afforded. Environ
ment always plays an important part
in the life Of every people and the fu
ture will surely SHOW great improve
ment in the affairs of this indolent re-
public.
One of our great editors, in cnumo-
rating the probable causes Of war,
states that unless we maintain for
midable navy we will certai My get in
to trouble over the Monroe doctrine.
One Of the principal requirements Of
tho modern battle ship is speed, a
fighting ship must be able to get quick
ly where it is needed OF it is of little
account. The nations are all schem-
ing to increase the power of their ma
viea by speedy manipulation, and the
canal is the most important factor in
such maneuvers. The Russians are
again working up their plan for con-
Meeting the Black sea with the Baltic
sea. They intend to spend something
like 100000, 900 in constructing q
twolve.hundred-mile paseageway FOR
their feet, and calculate shat by 80
doing It's power will be doubled. The
French may put through @ similar
enterprise to give them aooess TO the
Mediterranean from the Boy OF Bis
cay. Germany has already construct.
ed the Kiel csnal and greatly edded
to her naval strength by so doing.
When IL 10 taken into confederation
chat England will spend in one year
almost ao much in improving her navy
as We will invest in the Pansma canal,
the Importance Of keeping step with
.ne general movement for stronger de-
fense can be easily appreciated.
On account of the saving in distance
by the construction IF our canal the
naval experts reckon tSst our power
of defense will be irrraaeed as much
as if we were to build one new shil
for every one we now have in opera.
tion. No better illustration Of this
saving in distance could be quoted
than the case Of the Oregon 8 long trip
just before the war with Spain, when
it consumed fifty-five days in sailing
around Cape Horn to Jupiter, Flori.
de, when, il our canal had been in
operation it could have reached the
same destination in about fifteen days.
Our navy now ranks with the best and
with its effectiveness doubled there 4.
little danger Of our rights being tres.
passed upon, or of our ability to take
care Of ourselves if the necessity fol
doing so arises. Building canal in
stead Of buying battle ships, when the
same result is obtained, is undoubted.
ly wise plan for the reason that it
will earn money in time Of peace,
while battle ships call for constant
expenditure and have no earning pow
er whatever.
It is not always safe to take man
at his own estimate of himself, and,
following the same line of argument,
it is wise to oonside. what represents.
tive men Of other nations think Of the
United States and its prospects for
figuring as q world power. A well
posted Engliehman recently told me:
''There are three reasons why the
Americans are destined to hold fret
place il the affairs of the world. First
must to named the wonderful resouro
es Of the United States. The average
European can have no idea of it's vast
distances, its untold riches, and its
wonderful people, until he traverses