Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1888 — WATCHING THE FRENCH. [ARTICLE]

WATCHING THE FRENCH.

It Thty Seis* the Fan m» Coast Line th® Untied State* Must Step In. A Washington special save: The Panama canal crisis is beine watched with unusual interest by officials of this administration. During the term of President Cleveland he has not been called upon to take notice of what is going on at the isthmus, but he has, nevertheless, not been unmindful of possible contingencies in the progress of the work of building the canal. Mr. Hitt, of Illinois, who was Secretary of Legation at Paris from 1874 to 1881, and was Assistant Secretary of State under Mr. Biaine, said: “Our government will probably not do anything uitil we see what the French government is doing. w hether the interference of the French government is one that has a political side to it and aims to get control of the cost line, or whether it is merely with the business part of the affair, remains to be disclosed. The French government, I do not th ink, can do much without legislative action through the Chambers. There are many reasons why they should want to prevent disorder at home and take some step to keep the company from bankruptcy. But if they should undertake to seize the coast line 1 know what the action of our government ought to be and what it would be if its councils were actuated by a spirit like Mr. Blaine’s. I think all our public men would take the same view on such a question as that.” “Would not our insisting on the Monroe doctrine lead to war with France?” I asked. “It would lead to discussion,” replied Mr. Hitt “The French Constitution is a popular one and not under the control of o< e man. The French consider what should be done for the relief of the people without meddling in any way with the American system of politics, and our representations would undoubtedly be listened to.”