The Washington times., 1901-08-20
The Colombian Question.

The Colombian Question.
AS we have endeavored to explain to
our readers from time to time. the Ad-
ministration is acutely interested in the
| current complications in Central and
South America. Especially is it ex-
cited if not alarmed by the latest de-
velopments, which appear to indicate
that the cause of freedom and constitu-
tional government in Colombia and
Venezuela is about to triumph over the
conspiracy of Andrade and the dicta-
tor at Bogota to crush liberalism in Co.
lombia and destroy the Liberal Gov
eminent of General Castro at Caracas.
AS previously we have stated, the
victory of President Castro over his
enemies at home, and the success of
General Tribe Tribe in re-establishing
the constitution and republican liberty
in Colombia, would affect American
interests" in both Venezuela and the
neighboring State in an important de-
gree. In the former, probably. the de-
sign of the Asphalt Trust to monopoliZe
the asphalt deposits of the country
would be defeated, while in Colombia
the downfall of the Marroquin dicta-
torship ard the substitution for it of a
representative liberal Government
might work to the detriment of the Sc
cret syndicate which is lying in wait
to finance and exploit the Panama Ca
nal project.
1t seems to be evident that unless the
Administration can find some excuse
for intervention in the interests of Mar
roquin and his regime of medieval des-
potism. both he and the reactionary
tendencies and system he represents
will be overthrow. and, should that
happen, the chances of Asphalt An
drade to seize power in Venezuela
would be small indeed. Therefore, we
are not surprised to observe, in the
columns of a leading New York con-
temporary. noted for its friendliness to
both the Asphalt Trust and the Admin
istration, a labored editorial argument
intended to show that it is the duty of
the United States. under the treaty of
1876 with New Granada, not only to
keep the Panama Railway open to traf-
fic, and to guarantee Colombian SOW
ereignty on the Isthmus, but, in addi-
ton, to save the present usurping Co.
lombian Government at Bogota from
destruction, whether ii be attacked
from within or without. A more base
less or foolish contention could not well
be imagined. In its leading editorial
article yesterday, the New York Her.
aid" called attention to the treaty of
1876 between the United States and the
Republic of New Granada, and quoted
the Article XXXV of that convention.
which reads as follows:
'sThe United States guarantees positively and
effcaciousiy to New Granada by the present
stipulation the perfect neutrality of the before
isthnus, with the view that the free
transit from the one TO the other sea may not
be interrupted or embarrassed in any future time
while this treaty exists.
"And in consequence the United States also
guarantees in the same manner the rights Of
sovereignty and property which New Granada
has and possesses over the said territory"
Discussing the above provisions, the
Herald" says:
at is to be noted that Che United States here
guarantees two thingsi-the neutrality OF the
isthmus and Colombian sovereignty over it. II
guarantees the first positively and efIicacionsly
and the second in the same manner 1t is
tees. Colombia is entitled to demand the nfsin-
tenance OF both.
The sovereignty guaranteed Is over the said
territory But sovereignty is not divsible
though its area extent may reduced. As a
matter OF fact any blow or menace to Colomba's
sovereignty In general IS blow or menace to her
sovereignty anywhere and everywhere. Hence. 10
protect her sovereign rights over the isthmus in
Of the guarantee II is necessary to
defend her sovereignty or existence as nation"
gency to arise, II would be the duty OF |
the United States to maintain Colon |
bian" sovereignty on the Isthmus, but |
that duty would not Involve any obli- |
CATION to guarantee the perpetuation |
Of the Marroquin dictatorship at b. |
gotta. Neither would this country have |
the remotest right to interfere were !
the Liberals in Venezuela, Colombia. |
and Ecuador to gain power and secure |
a federal union of the three States.
That would amount simply to the re-
of the old Republic of |
which Colombia is the successor as
far as the Isthmus of Panama Is con-
cerned.
1t always has been the policy and !
practice of this country to recognize
Governments de facto, and, IL General |
Tribe Tribe should succeed in restor-
ng Colombia TO its people, and resur-
rccting the constitution. and In again
erecting liberal institutions within it's
borders. presidents scattered over the
records of century would compel the
to accept the new order
IF things. much as 1t might dislike to
10 so. Marroquin is not necessarily
he Government and sovereignty of