The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-03
PANAxA.s OPPORTUNITY,
WAn TAst sssss Reemas selNaA faserssfs ~
neests - sQsil ~ Fuisres

WIN thai STATE eeeWae 0&eWqo sasefesas ~
nsssts - s0sii ~ Fuisre
To rus Eu,ros % Tns agx-Sir; Ever
since that September dAy IN ass when
Nasco Mules do Ralbaa looked down from
Tn sun.nit Of tho Andes on che Pacinc
Ocean and realised that Il wss separated
from the Atlantic by q narrow isthmus
only. the navisstors and merchants OF the
world have fully appreciated the Advan-
tags to b obtained by the construction
Of Q canal tnat would connect the waters
OF the two seAs.
For Centuries the immenaity OF the task
forbade its undertaking, but in recent
years engineering science has demonstrated
its feasibility. and the people Of the United
States now stand ready To furnish the CAPT
tai necessary to construct It and the power
to protect n,
Our last Congress- authorised the Presi-
dent 10 negotiate . treaty with the United
States Of Colombia providing for the oession
Of the territory through which Il Is proposed
the canal shall pass, and th~ commercial
world rejoiced In the bellsf that the great
work would soon BE- contaminated.
These expeCtations. how ever, have been
ssdiy disappointed by tho course OF the
Colombian Congress. and tho question 10
now presented whether the most eligible
route for an isthmian canal shall be aban-
doned because Of the inability Of that Con-
gross to appreciate the inestimable advan-
taSes that would accrue TO Colombia by it's
construction and the indifference mani
tested BY that body to the requirements OF
the outside world.
1t Il useless now to consider what mo-
tivss or influences operated at Bogota.
The Sun has suggested that II Ia possible
that the people Of Panama. one Of the
States forming the Colombian federation.
and the one most vitality interested in the
canal because the proposed route lies
within It's boundaries, may refuse to abide
by the decision Of the Federal Congress
and. rather than lose the great opportunity
now offered for insuring the prosperity Of
the community. may assert their indie
pendence. cut loose from the federation
and on their own behalf make us an offer
to comply with the terms rejected by the
Colombian Congress. The latest news
from Panama indicates that such move
ment ia at least contemplated, and it must
be admitted that there is ground for its
justification.
When the thirteen colonies threw of the
yoke Of George III they issued a Dec.
laration Of Independence, in which they
enumerated -the causes which led to theiI
separation The first Of these was
He has refused his assent to laws the most whole
some and necessary for the public good.
The Colombian Congress, in its refusa
to ratify the canal treaty which would Sc
cure to Panama a prosperity which it car
never attain without It has committed the
same offence against Panama that oul
forefathers charged against the British
King. and the people Of that State woulo
be but following an illustrious precedent
II they declared their Independence of Co
lombia.
The influx OF American capital anc
energy that would follow the Inauguration
Of the canal would soon convert the coun.
try through which it passed into land OF
plenty and health. What we should do FOL
Panama were we to construct the cana
there may he judged from what we have
done for Cuba. Contrast the condition o.
that island five years ago with what it Il
now. Yet our occupation OF 1t was bu
temporary and our interest in It indirect
But in Panama we propose to construct q
canal that shall be owned by the United
States and protected by Its sovereignty
for all time to come, and through which
the commerce Of tho world shall pass We
propose to pay to Its present owners $40,
OOO,0 and to expend $500 900 600. if neces
sary, to complete the work. OF that ex
| pendture large part will 60 directly t,
| the people Of Panama, to its real estat,
owners. TO its farmers, to its merchant
and to its laboring classes. In our own in
terest we shall look to the sanitation of tn
country, and do for Colon and the city o
Panama what we did for Havana and San
| tiago. Yellow fever and malarial disease
will disappear before American scenc
and American engineering in the isthmu
| az they did in Cuba. All this We stant
ready to do II we have the chance
Ii IL not the part of the United States I,
foment a revolution In Panama agains
| Colombia. nor is it its duty to discourage il
| II ia for the people OF Panama To decid
| whether they will consent to he deprived o
| an opportunity that will never again b.
presented to them.
There Is a tide IN the affairs of men
| Which. taken at the food. leads on 70 fortune:
Omitted. all the voyage of their life
| Is bound In shadows and In mserics"
WAsHINGToN, Sept ?. JS.T.