New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08
EEUTRALTzTNG THE TsTHMUT.

In forbidding the landing Of Colombian troops
at Porto Bello the United States government
has taken its most extreme step thus Tar IN
maintaining freedom Of transit on the lsthmus
of Panama, and the step, too. which most
arouses the ire OF its critics. 1t is said that
this country Is thus not only safeguarding the
railroad, but is also guaranteeing the whole
Panama territory to the revolutonists by for
bidding Colombian troops to enter it That is
8 statement Of the case which does not seem
to be warranted by the facts at hand.
The government has, we are informed, taken
stems 10 nrevent the landing of Colombian troops
st Porto Bello. Now. Porto Bello is about ff-
teen miles from Colon, and Is tributary to
md practically a suburb Of that city, and the
avoyved purpose Of the proposed landing of Co
lornbian troops there was to march upon Colon
and attack 1t from the landward side. Colon
is the Atlantic, or Caribbean, terminal of the
Panama Railroad, and the safeguarding of the
railroad requires that it shall be kept tranquil.
The United States forces would unquestionably
be justified in checking such fighting within
the CITY or such an attack upon the city as
would imperil the integrity Of the transit sys-
TEN. The present question seems to be, then,
whether we should wait for such an attack
TO be actually made, and then check it, prob
ably with difficulty and at heavy cost, or should
anticipate it by preventing the making Of
landing in the suburbs of the city for that very
purrose, when such prevention can be effected
with ease and at no cost If a commander were
instructed TO prevent the creation Of disturb
auce in New-York City, and he learned that
marty of fighting men was aiming to land ut
Yonkers. and thence march down into this city.
to create disturbance, it seems quite probable
that he would consider it his right and duty TO
prevent that landing, if he could.
No doubt there are some delicate and impor-
taDt considerations involved IN this action, but
it IS TO be assumed that the Washington gov
eminent has duly taken them into account II
il be said that our treaty rights and obligations
do not cover the whole State Of Panama, but
only the route of isthmian transit. the obvious
reply is that that route is the only part OF the
State Of Panama involved in the present pro-
ceedings. It is there that secession has been
proclaimed, and it is at that point, and that
alone. that the Colombian government is trying
to strike in its effort to suppress the revolution
1t may be awkward for Colombia that it is So
but that is not the fault of the United States
The treaty Of 1876, in the making of which
Colombia-or New-Granada-and the United
States were equal parties, not only gave to
this country certain rights and imposed upon
Il certain duties on the isthmus, but It also
established certain principles concerning the
neutrality Of the isthmus which we must re-
gard as lasting, and not TO be vtiated by local
disturbances or even changes Of local gov
eminent Those principles were maintained IN
tact when the government of New-Granada was
changed into that Of Colombia. They must now
be maintained, whether Colombia retains SOW
ereignty over the isthmus or that sovereignty
passes to the State Of Panama. 1t is for the
maintenance Of those principles, and for that
alone, that this action Of our government is
taken.