The Elbert County tribune., 1903-12-10

~ three years before II Was GurNcds an
other for nearly year. In short. the
experience OF over half a century ha.
shown Colombia 10 be utterly Incapable
OF keeping order on the isthmus. only
the active Interference of the United
States has enabled her to preserve 30
much ns semblancc OF sovereignty. HAD
II not been for tho exercise by the United
States OF the police power In her Interest.
her connection with the iathmns would
have been sundercd long ago, In 1856 In
1860. In 1873. In 1856 In 1901. and again la
1865. sailors and marines from United
States war ships were forced to land in
order to patrol the isthmus. 10 protect
life and property. and TO that tho
transit across the isthmus was kept
open In 1861 In 1852. In iss5. and In 1901
the Colombian Government asked that tho
United States Government would land
troops to protect its interests and main
tain order on the isthmus. Perhaps tho
most extraordinary request Is that which
has Just been received and which runs
us follows;
''Knowing that revolution has already
commenced in Panama Ian eminent Co
lombianl says that II the Government OF
the United States will land troops to pre-
serve Colombian sovereignty. and tho
transit. n requested by Colombian charge
d'auaires. this Government Will declare
martial law. and. by virtue OF vested con
stltutonai authority. when public order
Is restored. Will approve by decree the
ratification Of the canal treaty as signed.
States prefers. win call extra session OF
the Congross-with new and friendly
reimbursement May TO approve tho
treaty. IAN eminent Colombianl has tho
perfect confidence OF Vice president, ho
says and IL It became necessary viii go
to the isthmus or send representative
there to adjust matters along above tines
to the satisfaction OF the people there"
This dispatch Is noteworthy from two
standpolnts. Its oner OF Immediately
guaranteeing the treaty 10 US II In sharp
contrast with the positive and contenp-
tuous refusal OF the Congress which hns
Just closed Its sessions to consider Ia
vorably such treaty; II shows that the
Government which made tho treaty really
hnd absolute control over the situation.
but did not choose to exercise this con-
troll. The dispatch further calls on ua
TO restore order and secure Colombian
supremacy IN the iathmus from which tho
Colombian Government has JUST by Its
action decided to bar us by preventing
the construction Of the canal.
importanec OF Peace in isthmus.
The control. In the interest OF the COM
mcrce and traffic OF the whole civilized
world. OF the means OF undisiurbcd tran
sit across the isthmus of Panama has
become OF transcendent Importance to
the United States We have repeatedly
excrciHcd .his control by Intervening In
tho course Of domestic dlssension. and
by protecting the territory from foreign
invasion. In 1868 MIR. Everett assured
not hesitate to maintain tho neutrality
Of tho isthmus In tho case of war be-
tween Peru and Colombia. In 1854 Co
lombla. which has always been vigilant
to avail itself Of Its privileges conferred
by the treaty. expressed It's expectation
that In the event OF war between Peru
and spain the United States would carry
Into effect the guaranty Of neutrality.
There have been few administrations OF
the State Department In which this
treaty has not, either by the one sldc
or the other been used as basis OF
more or loss important demands. IL WAS
raid by Mr. Fish In 1871 that tho Depart
mgnt of State had reason to believe that
an attack upon Colombian sovereignty
on tho isthmus had. on several occa=
slons. been avertcd by warning from this
Government. In 1855. when Colombia wns
under the menace OF hoHtilities from
Italy In the Cerruti rnen Mr.. nnsard ex,
pressed tho serlouH concern that tho
United States could not but feel. that
European power should resort TO force
against a sister republic OF this hcmls-
pherc. as to the sovereign and uninter-
ruptcd use OF part OF whose territory
we are giarantors under the solemn faith
OF treaty.
Treaty With Republic OF Panama.
Every effort has been made by tho Cow
ernment OF the United States 10 persuade
Colombia to follow n course which was
essentially not only to our interestn and
To the interests Of the world. but to the
interests OF Colombia Itself. These ef-
forts have failed. and Colombia. by her
persistence In repulslng the advances that
hive been made has forced us. for tho
snke OF our own honor. and OF the inter-
est and well-belng, not merely Of our own
people. hut OF the people OF the IHthmus
OF Panama and the people OF the civilized
countries OF the world. TO take decisive
steps TO bring to an end condition OF
Affairs which had become intolcrnbie.
The new Republic Of Panama Immediate
ly offered to negotiate a treaty with us.
This treaty herewith submit. BY It our
interests are better safeguardcd thnn In
the treaty with Colombia which was rati-
flcd by the Senate nt It's last session. II ~
better IN its terms than the treaties Of
ferod to us by the Republics of Nicara-
qua and Costa Rica At last tho right
to begin this great undertaking Is made
available. Panama has done her part
All that remains Is for the American Con-
gress to do Its part and forthwith this
Republic will enter upon the execution
of project colossal In Its size and OF
we'll -nig-. incalculnbIe possibilities for ths
good OF this country and the nations OF
mankind
Provisions Of Treaty.
By the provisions OF the trenty the
United States guarantees and Will main
tain the Independence OF the Republic OF
Panamn. There Is granted to the United
States In perpetulty the use. occupation.
and control OF n strip ten miles wide and
extending three nautical miles into tho
sea Mt either terminal. with all lands Iy-
Ing outside of the zone necessary for tho
construction OF the canal or for It's aux
Hilary works. and with the islands In tho
Bay OF Panama. The cities of Panama
and Colon are not embraced In the canal
zone, but the United States assumes
their sanitation and. In case OF need. tho
maintenance OF order therein. the United
States enjoys within the granted limits
all the rights, power and authority which
It would possess were II the sovereign OF
h0 tgffH In ha Fl Iafa f.f fltu4 -.
ercise of sovereign rights by the Republic.
All railway and canal property rights be-
longing TO Panama and needed for tho
canal pass to the United States. includ-
f.sr