Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-08-20
The Danger in South America.

y an army on its borders all ready TO
5 its invasion and a hattie imminent
l Paste on Colombia soil. lack OF /
ell is a schem,, as announced e.
3 himself, on the part OF Gen Urioe
Cribe, the Colombian rebel--sinc'
! reported to have been killed in fight
ipg--to units all three countries in ont
republic, as they were under Bolivar
flor the first 20 years after winning
their Independence.
In the general mlxup it is hard to
make out who is fighting whom, but
it is at least ceratin that the sltua'
ton is one that is likely to involve
1.-THE United States because of its duty
to protect the Panama railroad, and
there is grave reason to fear what
will follow from the duty and des-
tiny" argument of our aroused
jingosm when once it gets involved
in such work. Under the treaty of
1876 negotiated by Secretary Buchanan
under the Polk administration with
New Granada which is still binding
upon Colombia as one Of the states
Into which New Granada was divided
and the one in which the lsthmus of
Panama is included, the right is
given and indeed the positive duty
imposed or our government Of Guaran-
teeing the perfect neutrality Of the
Isthmus, in order that free transit
may not be interrupted or embar-
raised. In return Colombia is bound
to give to United States vessels,
goods and passengers the same i'm
munities, rights and privileges that
are enjoyed by Colombian vessels,
goods and passengers. This, says
John W Foster in his Century of
American Diplomacy. is the nearest
approach to an alliance or guarantee
OF sovereignty made by the United
States since its release from the obi
cations of the treaty with France in
l77S. The revolutionary forces are
operating in the vicinity of the Pan
ANA and so under the treaty obliga-
ton, the administration has ordered
warships to Panama and to Colon,
the port on the other side.
There is no reason for critcising |
the administration for this action
Indeed it is only what has been twice
at least dore since the treaty has
been in force. The last time was 10
administration when
troops we're sent to the Isthmus for
the purpose of keeping the railroad
open. THE prompt and successful
fullment of its duty by this govern
ment," said Mr. Cleveland in his
annual message, was highly appre
lated by the government Of Colom-
oia, and has been followed by ex
oressions of its satisfaction. -
But can action be confined to its
reaty duty which does not include
my guarantee against change of
in Colombia?
Secretary Fish held in 1873 that 1t
vas regarded as the undoubted duty
# the Colombian government to
rots,t the road against attacks from
ocal insurgents. The discharge of o
his duty will be insisted upon and
be duty of the United States would
My arise in case Colombia proved ,
nable TO perform this duty. Difficult
5 it nay be, every effort should be r
lade to contiue our government :,
ithin the lines laid down by Grant
nd Fish. Beyond them is danger
nd trouble surely, and within them =
erbaps. =
Under the treaty the United States {,
required likewise to protect :,
lie Isthmus from foreign invasion =
hich might impair the neutrality of
he route. Suppose now that European
;vernments. whose citizens have -
rye interests there, conclude to O.
Ike hand for their protection, and -
r which plenty Of excuse can be -
und in such anarchic conditions.
OF only the treaty, but the Monroe
,ctrine would require summary &C. :,
Oh by the United States. If such a =.
arises we will surely be
ct by the claim, to which no fair ~
WISER can be really made, that by 20
mpiDg into Asiatic affairs and by
e Philippine job, we have ourselves
pudiated the essential idea of the
Onroe doctrine. But more imme-
ate danger is from our own lingo. :,
II without the prod of aggressive y.
ton from Europe. In Cuba and in -
e Philippines We have proclaimed
e doctrine that people incapable Of ~
verning themselves require be- A.
VIOLENT assimilation" and overload .'i'
ip from US, and that where we have
ce got hand in duty and des- ~
~ require Us to 90 ahead and :,
ablish our own rule, no matter ga :,
we have solemnly promised the
rid to the contrary. The present w.
ldition of affairs 10 these disturb. ~
republics, offers ten times the 'o''
use there ever was in the Philip
les for such a claim and action. u
e only hope of escape is that the 'oo
n nlStratlOn NAV he convinced VI"