Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-13

I This is malicious lie. When General
Castro explained his intentions to me
4 at Caracas not word was said about
future concessions on the part or COL
umbia. Such suggestion would have
| been a mortal insult.
| There are however, some open
promises and engagements to which
stand committed, together with all my
beloved countrymen in the field. First
of all, we have engaged ourselves in
case of success 10 do all in our power
to change the money standard of Col
umbia from its present debased paper
currency to a standard of silver and
gold. We shall not repudiate any ma
tional debts, but as soon as it can be
effected the wretched paper bills which
are now being turned out in Bogota by
the bushel shall be withdrawn from
lcirculation.
Next We shall try to effect definite
settlement of the isthmus canal ques-
ton and of the pending international
negotiations. We shall stand by all our
national treaties, as, for instance, the
treaty with the United States of 1876,
guaranteeing the neutrality of the 18th
mus railroad: but we shall put def
mite stop to the present underhand dick
erlng for our most valuable concessions
to European countries. Colombia g con-
cessions to France in regard to the 18th
mus, by the terms of the last treaty, eX-
pire in 1904.
French capitalists have obtained an
Illegal extension of these concessions.
our congress, when it last met in 1898,
refused to ratify these concessions. l,
myself, as the only liberal representa-
tive in congress. voted against such rat
ification. In defiance of the Colombian
constitution, President San Clemente,
after the dissolution of congress. arib-
trarily granted the concessions to
France. Now the French company is
trying to sell these same concession to
American capitalists for s70,000,000
"We have had enough of Panama
frauds. We do not want the French to
NEEDLE further with the canal. We
know, as all the world knows, that the
Americans can finish the canal in half
the time and for half the money. We
want Americans to undertake the COM
pletion of the canal, and we willingly
accept the protection of the great North
American republic at the isthmus. as
We nave &liCduS uOilC III lS6eAAo " ~ =
trans-isthmIs railroad.
Even at the present juncture we
have no objection to the landing of
American troops at the isthmus Come
what may between us and our conserv-
alive enemies, we know that the Amer
leans Will content themselves with pro-
tecting the railroad. 1 have implicit
trust that they will hold the balance
true Be it remembered in our favor
that our party was tie only body of
men in South America that sympa-
thized with the North Americans when
they undertook the deliverance Of Cuba
from Spain, and that was its spokes-
man in our congress.
''Other ideals that we hope to realize
when our turn shall come in Colombia
are the liberation of our political pris-
oners and of the muzzled press, an hon
est administration of affairs, the fur
therance of public works and a general
transformation of the present despotic
practices of the clerical government OF
Bogota to the healthy functions of a
more democratic government Colom-
bia at present suffers from worse CEN
tralization of governmental powers than
France. 1t shall no longer be said that
Colombia is under the thumb of small
clique at Bogota."