Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-10

in the canal. At that time it was ex-
pected that the people who had con-
cession from Nicaragua would be able
to raise the money in England for the
construction of the canal, but that
hope faded away.
OUR PACIFIC POSSESSIONS.
Shortly after that we commenced to
extend our Pacific possessions. We
became the owner of Alaska. We have
since become the owner of Hawaii, of
the Island of Guam. of the island OF
Page Page in the Tutuila Islands, of
the Midway Islands, and of the Philip
pine Islands. Controlling as we do
every strategic point in the North
Pacific Ocean, every principal line OF
transit across that ocean, with our
Alaska coast almost reaching to Asia.
with the Hawaiian Islands In the cen
ter, with the Philippine Islands on the
other side, we are the masters of the
Pacific ocean for all the future. if We
keep our judgment and maintain our
rights in the Panama Canal. CAP
plause)
THE AMERICAN POSITION IN
THE CLAYTON BULWER TREATY.
In a letter from Secretary of State
Frelinghuysen to the American am
bassador to Great Britain, Mr.. Lowell,
dated May s, 1882, it was said:
The President believes that the forma-
ton of a proteetorate by European ma
tions over the isthmus transit would be
In conflict with a doctrine which mas
been for many years asserted by the
United States. This sentiment is prop
erly termed doctrine, as it has no pre-
scribed sanction and its assertion is left
to the exigency which may invoke it. II
has been repeatedly announced by the
executive department of this Govern
ment and through the utterances of dis
tinguished citizens; it is cherished by the
American people and has been approved
by the Government of Great Britain.
When the Clayton Buwer treaty was
concluded it was contemplated that the
Nicaragua Canal TO which the treaty
principally had relation, would be at
once commenced and finished with all
possible speed by American and British
capital under the impulse of the joint
protectorate This appears not only from
the context of the treaty, but also from
the history of negotiations which lead
to the treaty, and the relations which
then existed between this Government
and the Central American states.
The Clayton Bulwer treaty was con-
cluded to secure thing which did not
exist and which now never can exist. IT
was to secure the construction of canal
under the grant of 1S49 from Nicaragua
that the United States consented to
waive the exclusive and valuable rights
which have been given to them; that
they consented to agree with Great BRIT
ain that they would not occupy, fortlfy,
colonize, or assume dominion over any
part of Central America, and that they
consented to admit Her Majestys Gov
eminent at some future day to share
In the protection which they have eNef-
cised over the Isthmus Of Panama.
The Government and people OF the
United States, though rich in land and
industry, were poor IN money ana noat-
ing capital in 1850. The scheme for a
canal. even without the complication of
the Mosquito protectorate, was too vast
for the means of the Americans of that
day who numbered then considerably
less than one-half of their numbers to-
day. They went to England, which had
what they had not, surrendered their eN-
elusive privileges, offered an equal share
of all they had in those regions in order,
as expressed In the seventh article or the
treaty. that no time should be unnec-
essarily lost in commencing and con-
structing the said canal Through no
fault of theirs time was unnecessarily
lost, the work was never begun, ana the
concession failed.
In his report in 1900 on his bill Mr.
Hepburn said:
The last 50 years has wrought a re-
lmarkable change in our relations to a
waterway crossing the lsthmus-lo50 was
only four years removed from our first
occupation of California. 1t was only
four years later than the passage of the
first party of emigrants from the Mis-
sissppi river under the protection of a
military force to Oregon 1t was but two
years after the cession Of large landed
interests on the Pacific coast from Next
co. 1t was only three years after set
tlement Of the disputed boundary of our
northwest Pacific possessions.
In submitting views of the minority
on the Hepburn bill, reported to the
House in 1900 providing that the
United States should construct an
isthmian canal, Mr.. Shackleford said