Page 118 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

The Isthmus and Sea Power. 99

preponderant influence at the Isthmus hereto-
fore has compelled respect, though reluctantly
conceded, it is assumed that no circumstances
can give rise to a persistent denial of it.
It appears to the writer — and to many
others with whom he agrees, though without
claim to represent them — that the true state
of the case is more nearly as follows : Since
our nation came into being, a century ago,
with the exception of a brief agitation about
the year 1850, — due to special causes, which,
though suggestive, were not adequate, and
summarized as to results in the paralyzing
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, — the importance of
the Central American Isthmus has been merely
potential and dormant. But, while thus tem-
porarily obscured, its intrinsic conditions of
position and conformation bestow upon it a
consequence in relation to the rest of the
world which is inalienable, and therefore, to
become operative, only awaits those changes
in external conditions that must come in the
fulness of time. The indications of such
changes are already sufficiently visible to chal-
lenge attention. The rapid peopling of our
territory entails at least two. The growth of