An American Isthmian Canal And The Choice Of Routes

Author : John T. Morgan
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781331319689
Total Pages : 72 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (196 download)

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Download or read book An American Isthmian Canal and the Choice of Routes written by John T. Morgan and published by . This book was released on 2015-07-13 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from An American Isthmian Canal and the Choice of Routes: Speech of Hon. John T. Morgan, of Alabama, in the Senate of the United States, April 17, 1902 In bringing the subject of an isthmian canal to the attention of the Senate in advance of the consideration of the subject by the vote of this body it is not my intention to discuss the merits of the measure passed by the House of Representatives and reported, without amendment, by the Committee on Interoceanic Canals, as a national or commercial question. I will assume that the Senate, without material division of opinion, is convinced that a canal is an indispensable, national necessity, and that the people, with almost complete accord, are demanding it for that reason and for the additional reason that it will remove the obstructions to industry and commerce that have so long chained the right arm of their strength in almost helpless paralysis. I also assume that the honest enthusiasm that moved the House of Representatives as one man to vote a second time for the Hepburn bill was not merely the result of thoughtless rejoicing that the Clayton-Bulwer treaty had been put aside and that the way was at last open to success, but that it was the result of long and mature study of the whole situation, and of a noble and patriotic impulse to accomplish a work that no other people could perform, for the benefit of the world. Blind zeal has never led in such toilsome work, where the dredge, the pick, and the shovel are the instruments of winning national honors, instead of the battle ship, the sword, and the rifle. It is only a choice of methods and a comparison of national advantages that we are left to decide; all questions of financial ability, of private interests and preferences, of political bias, and other influences and antagonism having been relegated to the rear by the command of a free, honest, and powerful people. The honor and the high duty of making this choice now belongs to Congress. In its performance, on my part, I will not permit any doubtful fact to sway my judgment, nor will I shrink from presenting the whole truth, as I believe it, under the pressure of any influence or the bias of preconceived opinions. It is to reach the logical results that should follow the actual merits of the claim of either canal route, in deciding the preference, that I will try to present an outline of the questions that now require discussion. In this endeavor I will not attempt to discuss exhaustively any point I may state, but I will present some of the leading points which control my judgment, leaving their more complete presentation to others who have studied them with greater care and will discuss them with greater ability than I could bring to their consideration. Certainty Of Success Is The True Foundation. The subject presents itself to my mind with conclusive force in the form stated in the six propositions I will now state: 1. We have reached the point where investigation is complete by observation, experience, scientific research and forecast, and these means of knowledge are as conclusive of the facts as we could hope to make them in another half century of delay. This knowledge of the controlling facts, as to the practicability of a canal through the American Isthmus, satisfies the people of the United States that the time for final action has come. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com