New-York tribune., 1901-11-30
THE Surrender OF COLON.

As was foreshadowed in our dispatches OF
yesterday morning. the city of Colon mas peeh
surrendered by the insurgents 10 the Colombian
Government, so that the latter'S authority Is
restored all the way across the isthmus Ihls
is beyond doubt an important incident. ana IS
especially gratifying as an indication that 'he
danger of complications between the tnlteu
States and the belligerents is diminishing III
will be well. however. not to estimate too
highly its effect upon the general course or 1he
conflict The capture of Colon by the insur-
gents did not overthrow the government. anu
the recapture of il by the government. or the
surrender of it by the reyolutionsts, VIII prop
ably not crush the insurrection- 1t is an act
in the drama, and important one; but 1t VIII
not necessarily bring down the final curtain.
The surrender of Colon appears TO have been
brought about chiefly through United states IN
teryention That is the most interesting feat
ure of the case to this country. We do not
mean that our forces there allied themselves
with either of the belligerents. They carefulS
refrained from so doing But they vigorously
maintained the rights OF the United States, ana
such action made it expedient for the two par
ties to cease hostilities at Colon and along the
line of the isthmian railroad. 1t will be re
memhered that the United States authorities
restrained the Colombian Government from
bombarding Colon and thus driving the insur-
gents ont Such bombardment would have IN
terfered with free transit across the lsiIllhus'
which the Colombian Government guarantees
10 us. and so was properly objected to by the
United States Similarly, the United states
would not permit either of the belligerents TO
use the railroad for the transportation OF troops
or contraband of war. Such prohibition was
necessary if the neutrality of the road was TO
be maintained. and the latter must be main
T. ined if the road is TO be respected and remain
uLdisturbed by the belligerentS.
The United States in brief, has been attend
ing strictly to its own business and doing It's
own duty with a successful combination OF
firmness and tact. II is pleasant 10 observe that
this is recognized by both parties on the lsth-
mus and that both of them show q n unmlstaka-
BILE disposition 10 respect American rights ana
TO maintain in letter and in spirit the treaty
obligations of Colombia toward this country.
The government of Colombia does not com
plain that we have hampered 1t in dealing with
the insurgents and the latter do not complain
that we have aided the government in suppress
ing them II is, of course, annoying for TINS
country to be compelled thus TO intervene for
its own protection in the TOO frequent disturb
ances in the Southern republics. Nevertheless.
this incident indicates, as others have DONE
the possibility of thus maintaining American
interests without involving this country in any
embarrassing complications or lncurrlng the en-
mitv of any neishboring State Whatever may
be the final outcome of the Colombian revolt,
the management of affairs the isthmus has
thus far been creditable to the United States
and benefcent TO all concerned.