New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-12
PANAMA FIGHT In HOUSE
HIT REPELS ATTACKS.
Policy of the administration Yigors
ouslg Defended.
LFRosr THE rR1PUSE BUREAU. ]

washington, Dec. 1.-THE provisions 81 th8
Pension Appropriation BILL carrying $13s. .15a.-
900. We're briefly summarized IN the House to-
day by Representative Van voorhis, Of Ohia.
who is in charge or the measure, and that was
practically the extent of the consideration os
this legislation for the day, for AT the earliest
possible moment the House plunged into the
wholesale Manufacture Of campaign material.
drawing literally on the Panama incident. which
has apparently an iuexhaUstibIe supply that
may be utilized for this purpose The revoIu-
tion, the birth of the new republic and the rec
ognftion by the United States OF Panama fur.
uished TO the Democrats a prstext with which
to charge the guns they are training on the.
impregnabe position OF the administration II
the coming national election
Unfortunately for the minority. however. Rep,
resentative Hit. OF Illinois. chairman or ths
Committee Foreign Affairs in an iunpas-
stoned speech effectUaIIy spiked the guns or ths4
minority by proving that the attitude OF the
administration throughout the negotiations. has
been consistent. honorable and patriotic one
by one, he attacked their arguments and dis
posed OF them so easily and so effectively that
his Republican colleagues were as highly elated
IS his opponents were depressed Mr. Hits
eloquent speech was frequently applauded
MR. DINsNORE BEGINS THE ATTACK.
MI Dinsmore said the Republic OF Panama
had been established and exists by the power
OF the United States. and without that power iz
could not exist. Nothing had. he said heen
gained that could not have been gained in a.
straightforward and honorable way He ex-
planned that he did not use the word "honora-
BILE in an offensive sense, but insisted that e:l-
ceut for The act.oa. o. the JHI-sI s. is--s ffers
would be no Republic OF Panama.
Referring to the provisions Of the Panama
Canal biIl he said:
Here is the law Did the President obey irs
Every body knows that he made no pretence Of
Obeying the law Has any excuse been offered
why he did not obey IL He has not even voUch-
safed TO Congress. whose law he has violated.
the slightest excuse Is he above the law2 In
deed Mr. Chairman II tniS lS true, We nave
come upon evil times. when the executive power
CT government can usurp authority and cast
aside the express wish of Congress declared in
law.
Mr. Dinsnore criticised the recognition OF thu
Republic of Panama as hasty- He said Score
tary Hay learned statecraft at the feet OF Abra-
ham Lincoln, and referred 10 the attitude OF the
government in 1850 toward the question OF rec
ognition. saying that Mr. Hay had now taken a
different view He characterized the revoIu-
tion as opera bOufe. and said a canal could
have been built under the canal act wfthour
overturnins any precedent In conclusion. he
said blunder had been committed which he
hoped would never be repeated
\
Mr.. Hit said ne was asronisaed at the re-
marks of the gentleman from Arkansas such
attacks on the government would not be rna.fss
by any foreigner I'm discussing it's action.
81r Dinsrnore dtsayovved any PURPOSE Il Inn
pUte dishOnorable or improper motives 20 che o.
hcers Of the government.
Mr. Hit said there was nothing haztv or .ro--sr
in the recognition Of the new republic as it oe
CURED five days after the PRONUNCIATION OF the
independence Of the republic
Mr Williams OF Mississippi asked ff rhtz
was not the first time in South American his
tory that the other fellow had been prevented
from shooting back
Mr.. Hitt replied that he had seen fl s+a-74 e.,
the press, but did not know ir 10 be so 7-roor.s
traffic on the isrhTlls, and the United States -
under obligation 70 prevent interruption OF thr,
traffic.
EULOGY OF PRESIDENT CHEERED
Mr. Hit made vigorous defence OF the a.
r.inistraton in connection with the Repu6lic or
Panama His references to the President caused
loud applause on the Republican side
The President said Mr. Hit1. had not been
precipirate but had waited a reasonable time.
"BUt" he added. he did noc waste tfnse-hs
never does
This utterance was loudly apDlauded ON the
Republican side.
Ordinarily Mr.. Hfrt went on when a shin
is in port and a disturbance or Insu-rectIou oc-
ours We land troops to protect Americans from
being killed or robbed we have done that in
France and would do il anywhere In the
case OF Panama. our situation different
from that Of any spot on earth We had a
solemn and binding engagement which had been
impressed upon by all the years. Often
were called upon by the Colombian government.
oftener by events 20 enforce the obligation TO
keep that path open from sea 70 sea not 20 aid
nor 70 suppress rebellion. but 70 keep the path
open. and when landed troops at Colon their
duty under the treaty was plain 20 let no armed
men or cause of any kind disturb the open. free
course Of commerce. or OF movement in the path
way across the isthmus- applause on the Re-
publican sidel
TREATY OBLIGATIONS OBSERVED
Now. it so happened in the course OF human
events. which We do not guide. but which It is
believed BY many an au-wise Providence
watches and directs that In this case our duty
IN good faith under the treaty TO keep that nigh
way open fell IN with and brought out a conse-
quence which was grave 20 Colombia She has
invoked that interference before. but Go 80 hap
pened that always heretofore it Injured TO her
benefit. In this case that which have done
we did for a motive of the highest obligation %
national faith
1t was done sedulOusly and carefully, but Is
HOLIDAY RATES SOUTH
WrfU IrnHEH