St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-20
DANGER ar PANAMA.
The Marines May be Kept There All
Summer.

The Marines May be Kept There All
Summer.
Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-The Sunday
Herald OF to-day contained the following:
IF the necessity for maintaining garrisons
along the line Of the Panama railroad and
at Colon and Aspinwall continues through
out the summer, where the troops shall come
from is question that is being discussed
with good deal of interest, even now
among military men. That the battalion
OF marines now there can't remain is evi-
dent. This portion Of our naval force is
about the only part of it that is equal 10 the
best similar organization of any other ma
ton. The marines are not intended to be
used as permanent garTiSOnS anywhere out
OF the country. Their real place is on ship
board. Once III while, III times OF
GREAT PUBLIC DANGER,
they are modified as part of the army, but
the only occasion III late years when this
was done occurred at the first battle OF Man
assas (or Bull Rum i'll July, 1861. The
navy yards are without their usual guards,
and there are vast naval stOrehOuses left al
most unprotected by the sudden necessity
OF the withdrawal Of nearly the entire
marine force authorized by law. Even the
marine guard at the naval academy has
gone with the rest to Central America. OF
course this can't continue. The marines
will come home either because there exists
no need for further occupation OF the 18TH
mus. or else they will be relieved by special
troops organized for that purpose. What
that force shall consist of is matter that
the military men are discussing among
themselves. Two ways Of obtaining it are
suggested. General opinion is current upon
one thing and that is that force for the
purpose named had better be made UP Of
CoLORED TROOPS
rather than white. They will stand the
peculiar climate of Central America better
than the whites could, and there are other
reasons why they would serve the govern
ment's purpose better than the others. [ !
has been suggested that the Twenty-fourth
infantry, which is at Forts Supply, Reno
and Sill, in the Indian territory,
with two companies at Ft. Elliott,
Tex, might be filled up to the maximum
allowed by law, and two companies added
to it by special order of the president, MAX
ing three-battaliOn regiment of thousand
rank and file This force could then be
sent to relieve tie marines and remain
along the line of that road we seem to have
determined to keep open, though it is 10
more of our business than England's, and
not as much as it is that of
France. The other alternative is
for the president to authorize
special body of colored volunteers is to be
raised and equipped for this particular
service, to be drawn mainly from the far
south states, where the climate is most nearly
like that of the country to be garrisOned.
The obstacle in the way of this plan is that,
if any troops are to go at all, time will be
required before
THE VOLUNTEERS
could be recruited, organized and taught
enough of their work to be of any use in
the case Of need. There seems to be no
doubt that the president could do this with
out legislation being required and also that
he would not hesitate if he believed there
was any occasion to take extraordinary
measures. The vigOr with which the adj
miniStratiOn has graSped the Central Amer
lean question makes it necessary for us to
hold on, for if we let go we shall be the
laughing-stock of the nations. 1t is proba-
bic that an extremely interesting question
will soon be presented to the department of
state for consideration and solution.
learn from reliable authority that the
French citizens of Colon and Panama in
tend to
PRESENT A CLAIM
to the Colombian government for damages
done their property in the cities named by
the recent burning of one place and the
plunder of another, and call ON France to
support it. 1t is presumed that the state of
Panama viii answer that it could not con-
4r,l fhn rnr,fc hot fhA ontn
Of destruction complained of were
the work of irresponsible persons
in armed insurrection against authorities,
etc. Suppose, however, that France an
swers Colombia and Panama as she did
Tunis, TOnquin and Madagascar. ''You
should control your people. The plea that
you are not responsible will not do. Our
interests are too great to be at the mercy of
mob of your own people, which you admit
you cannot restrain. We will furnish you
strong government, which you must pay the
cost of, and we mean to
LEVY AN INDEMNITY
on you and collect it by taking possession
of your custom houses, as the Americans
did those of Mexico in 1S47, and hold them
until the damages done our citizens are paid
in full. Suppose this happens; what will be
the course of our government? We will be
compelled to do something. for have we
not announced to the world that Central
America is under our special care by garri-
Soning the Isthmus and keeping open line
of railway belonging to France? Doubtless
some of the concentrating wisdom that con-
trolls portions of the American press will
say impossible At risk of
violating one of King Solomon's
soundest maxims Il mean that
which deprecates the answering of fool
according to his folly. might ask, Who
of you six weeks ago would have said the
country would have force of 600 men gar
ris0nmg the Isthmus this Sunday in April.
Modern difficulties are always unexpected
and wars come quickly. 1t is the i'm
possible that happens said La Rochefou
cauld.