Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-02-15
TROUBLE EXPECTED.
There May Be Great Times on the
Isthmus Before Long.
COLLAPSE OF THE COMPANY
When the Men Learn of II They VIII Be
Dssperate-obligations OF the United
States and It's Former Actions-Ab-
solutc Neutrality insisted Upon.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-Tne latest infor-
nation received by our naval officers is that
there is great danger Of trouble on the 18th
mus of Panama when the fun effect of the
collapse Of the De Lesseps canal scheme be-
comes known there The United States have
very important interests in Panama, which
would be put in jeopardy by an outbreak.
The Panama Railway company is largely
owned in America. The treaty with New
Granada gives the United States many rights
there.
A gentleman who recently crossed the
isthnus, and spent some time in inspecting
the work of the canal, gives some interesting
information as to the situation there when
this great enterprise was in a prosperous con-
ditiol. The labor population is of charac-
ter from which trouble may be expected.
Laborers in large numbers have been inn
ported from all the islands of the West Indies.
At that time there seemed to be an unlimited
supply of money, and waste in the use of it,
Laborers were paid III solas, which are worth
about 75 cents. Wages were from $3.50 to
81 per day.
The company has always had good deal
of trouble with its laboring men, particu-
larly with the negroes, for when they are
paid off they are very likely to be dissipated
When they discover that they will never be
paid anything more-and the company is un-
derstood to be considerably in arrears tomost
of them--they will be desperate. The diff
Guilty of the situation will he better Under
stood when IT is known that everything has
to be carried to Panama even the food. Beef
is almost the only food product that can be
obtained there. The climate is severe and the
hospitals are nearly always full.
The United States have obligations ON the
isthmus as web as interests. As long ago as
July 8, 1919, Mr.. Clayton, secretary of state,
in communication to Mr. Foote, said
"The obligations we have assumed the
guarantee of the neutrality of the isthmus)
give us the right to offer, unasl1ed, such adj
vice to the New Granadian government, in
regard to its relations with other powers, as
might tend to avert from that republic a rul-
ture with any nation which might covct the
Isthmus of Panama" One of the first acts
of the United States after the negotiation
of the original treaty was to notify
the government of New Granada that
the United States would not assent to a cap
itation tax on citizens of the United States
crossing the isthmus. The United States also
refused to permit New Granada to exact
passports from citizens intending to cross the
isthmus Mr.. Marcy notified the govern
ment of New Granada in 1856 that the United
States would resist by its naval forces at
Aspinwall and Panama any forcible attempt
by New Granada to lay a tonnage tax upon
vessels of the United States at those ports,
as such tax was in violation of treaty
obligations. Mr.. Cass, secretary of state,
informed Lord Napier on Sept 10, 1857,
that joint guarantee by the United
States, in common with other powers, of the
neutrality of the -Isthmus of Panama in its
position was the policy of the United States.
A few weeks later a similar notice was given
as to joint arrangement for the enforce
nlent of the neutrality law. The position of
the United States has been that ''under our
treaty with New Grenada OF Dac. ~ 1876,
we are bound to guarantee the neutrality OF
the istllmus, through which the Panama rail-
road passes. as well as the right to sovereignty
and property which New Grenada possesses
over her territory
Mr.. Cass, secretary of state. III letter of
instructions to Mr. Lamar, July 20. 1858. made
pretty vigorous expression of the Monroe
doctrine with respect to the Isthinus of Pana-
ma, saying:
THE establishment of political protector
ate by any of-the powers of Europe over any
offhe Independent states of this continent, or,
in other words, the introduction of scheme
Of policy carrying with it the right to inter-
fere in their concerns, is a. measure to which
the United States have long SINCE avowed
their opposition, and whiehg should the at
tempt be made, they viii resisrwitIr all the
means in their power. The progressof events
has asrenderedThe inter-oceanic route aeroSs the
narrow portion of Central America vastly inn
portant to the Commercial world, and especial
y, 70 the United States, whose possessions, ex-
tending along the Atlantic and Pacific coast,
.damandsa a speedy and convenient inode OF
communication. Whsle the iust-,rights of
sovereignty of the states vccupying zhis re-
Fgion should always be respected, we siiaTI ex-
Epect that these rights viii be exercised in a
spirit befitting the occasion and the wants
'and circumstances. which have arisen, Soy
ereignty has its duties as well as its rights.
and pons S< 5hese LOCAL severnahents, even if
administered with more regard for the Just
defnands of other nations than. they have
been, Epuid. be permitted IA sl,irit Of sreast-
egn isolation to close these gates Of intefcourse
on the great highways of the world "..-.sG