The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-08

tempt
January, SS5.-Revolutionary disturb
ances.
March. 1SS5.-Revolution.
April, 18S7.-Disturb ance on Panama
railroad.
November, 87.-Disturbance on the
| ine of canal.
January, 1889-Riot.
January, 1S95.-Revolution which lasted
until April.
March, I895-Incendiary attempt.
October, 1899. Revolution.
February, 1900. to July, 1900.-Revolu
! ton.
January, 1S91.-Revolution.
| July, 1901 Revolutionary disturbances.
September, 19O1.-City Of Colon taken
oy rebels.
| March, 9O2-Revolutionary disturb
ances.
July, 1902 Revolution
| The above is only partial list OF the
revolutions, rebelIions, Instructions, 2iots
and other outbreaks that have occurred
during the period in question; yet they
number So for the 81 years. 1t will be
noted that one lasted for nearly three
years before it was quelled another for
nearly year. In short, the experience
Of over half a century has shown Colombia
to be utterly incapable OF keeping order
on the Isthmus. Only the active inter
| erence of the United States has enabled
| her to preserve so much as a scmblance
Of sovereignty Had it not been tor the
exercise by the United States of the 90
| lice power in her interest, her connection
| with the Isthmus would have been sum
lered long ago In 1856, in 1860, in 1873.
Il 1885. in 1901. and again in 1902, sailors
and marines from United States war ships
| we're forced to land in order to patrol
the Isthmus, to protect life and prop
erty. and to see that the transit across
he Isthmus was kept open. In 1861, III
1862. in 1885, and in 1909, the Colombian
Government asked that the United States
| Government would land troops to pro
| ect it's interests and maintain order OF
the Isthmus Perhaps the most cXtraor-
binary request is that which has just
been received and which runs as follows
LATEST PROPOSITION OF TIE CO.
LOMBIAN GOVERNMENT.
Knowing that the revolution has al
ready commenced in Panama Tan emil
nent Colombian) says that if the Govern
ment of the United States Will land troops
10 preserve Colombian sovereignty, and
The transit, if requested by Colombian
charge daffaires, this government VIII
declare martial law; and: by virtue %
vested constitutional authority, whc..
public order is disturbed, will approve
by decree the ratification of the canal
treaty as signed, or if the Government
of the United States prefers, will call
extra session of the Congress-with new
and friendly members-neXt May to ap-
prove the treaty. Can eminent Colonl-
bian) has the perfect confidence OF vice
president, he says, and if it became
necessary will go to the Isthmus or send
representative there to adjust matters
along above lines to the satisfaction OF
The people there"
This dispatch is noteworthy from two
standpoints It's offer of Immediately
guaranteeing the treaty to us is in sharp
contrast with the positive and contemp-
tuous refusal of the Congress which has
lust closed its sessions to consider fav-
orally such a treaty; it shows that the
government which made the treaty really
had absolute control over the situation,
but did not choose to exercise this con-
troll The dispatch further calls on us to
restore order and secure Colombian SUI
oremacy in the Isthmus from which the
| Colombian Government has just by its
action decided to bar Us by preventing
the construction of the canal.
IMPORTANCE TO UNITED STATES OF
-. CONTROL OF MEANS OF UN-
DISTURBED TRANSIT
ACROSS 18TH
MUS.
The control, in the interest of the COM
merce and traffic of the whole civilized
world, CT the means OF undlsturbed transit
across the Isthmus of Panama has be
come of tcanscendcnt Importance to the
United States. We have repeatedly ex-
ercised this control by intervening in the
course of domestic dissention, and by
protecting the territory from foreign IN
vasion In 1853 Mr.. Everett assured the
Peruvian minister that we should not
hesitate to maintain the neutrality OF the
sthmus n the case of war between Perd
and Colombia. In 1864 Colombia, which
has always been yigilant to avail itself
Of it's privileges conferred by the treaty,
expressed its 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 adn1inistra lions of the State Depart
ment in which this treaty has not, either
by the one side or the other, been used
rs Il basis of more or less important de-
mands. 1t was said by Mr.. Fish IN 1871.
that the Department of State had reason
to believe that an attack upon Colon
bian sovereignty on the Isthmsu had, on
lseveral occasions, been averted by warn
fling from this government. In 1885, when
Colombia was under the menace OF hos
tilities from Italy in the Cerruti case,
| Wr Payald expressed the serious concern
that the United States could not but feel,
that q European power should resort to
force against a sister republic of this
hemisphere as to the sovereign and un-
Interrupted use of part CT whose terri.
tory we are guar2ntOrs under the solemn
faith of a treaty.
The above recital Of facts establishes
beyond question: First, that the United
States has for over half g century pa
tientiy and in good faith carried out its
obligations under the treaty OF 1876;
second, that when for tho first time it
became possible for Colombia to do any
thing in requital of the services thus re-
peatedly rendered to it for fifty-seVen
years by the United States, the Coon
| Covarprnaut paroYp, n ori1y nd often