The San Francisco call., 1903-12-12
TORPEDO BOATS ARE ORDERED TO SPEED
FROM NATIONS. NAVY YARD AT MARE ISLAND
TO PANAMA COAST AND WATCH COLOMBIA
Continued From Page I, Column 5

Hit said there was nothing hasty
or unique in the recognition of the new
republic, as it occurred five days after
the PRONUNCIATION of the independence
of the republic He made vigorous
defense of the administration in con-
nection with the Independence of Pan
anna.
The President, said Hit, had not
been precipitate, but had waited
reasonable time. But he added, "he
did not waste time; he never does"
Ordinarily" Hit went on, when a
ship is in peril and a disturbance oc-
ours we land troops to protect Aneri-
cans from being killed or robbed. We
have done that in France and we
would do it anywhere.
In the case of Panama our situa-
ton was different from that of any
nation on earth. We had solemn
and binding engagement which has
been impressed upon US by all these
years. Often we were called upon by
the Colombian Government, oftener by
events, to force the obligation to keep
that path open from sea to sea; not
to aid nor to suppress rebellion, but
to keep the path open; and when we
landed troops at Colon their duty un-
der the treaty was plain to letne
armed men disturb or cause the open
free course of commerce or of move
ment in the pathway across the ishth-
mus.
Now it SO happened in the course of
human events, which we do not guide,
but which it is believed by many All
All-Wise, Providence watches and di-
\,
faith under the treaty to keep that
highway open fell in with and brought
cut a consequence which was grave to
Colombia. She had invoked that inter
ference before, but it so happened that
always heretofore it was to her benefit.
In this case what we have done we did
for motive of the highest obligation
of national faith
1T was done sedulously and care
fully, but it did not result in making it
vary difficult for troops to come from
Bogota. Our Government will not per-
nit anybody on the line of that railway
or the crossing of the isthmus that
would disturb free transit, and it is be-
cause the two things conceded that
men who do not look on the. matter
calmly will say that we did what we
did to injure Bogota, when in fact we
did it to keep good faith, though it has
injured Bogota."
After reviewing the history of the act
of Congress and the negotiations with
Colombia and the sending of a treaty
to Bogota Mr. Hit said the people Of
Colombia thought the United States
were so bent on having a canal on the
had $4,000, 600, but $2O, 1000, 600 would be
better, and Colombian papers had
urged those charged with the power to
hold out for great sums of Yankee
money.
Mr.. Williams, the minority leader,
following, charged that this was the
first time that this Government had in
terfered in the domestic affairs of
South American country. He said that
the minority side could not be made to
make the mistake which the majority
desired it to make. The Democrats
want a canal he said They wanted
the Nicaraguan canal, but if they could
not get the canal where they thought
it ought to be they would take it where
they could get it, and take it as they
might get it. He thought possibly the
Nicaraguan route was regarded as too
great competitor of the transconti-
mental railways.
After some further remarks on the
same line Mr.. Williams closed as fol-
lows:
'If the President refuses to obey the
plain words of the Spooner act, ap-
proved by him, perhaps suggested by
him; if he is going to override the law;
if, after having waited a reasonable
time to enter into a treaty with Colom-
bia, he now refuses to obey the Ian
guage of that law and proceed to try
and negotiate treaty with Costa Rica
and Nicaragua, then in Gods name
hurry up your canal