The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-12-10
THE MESSAGE.

mItted on Monday to Congress is un
like most messages, really interesting
reading. 1t treats of numerous sub
jects of great Importance to this
country and treats each one ably,
wasting no words. stating clearly and
concisely the Presidents views and
his wishes as to legislation. The
canal question is discussed most fully
of all, and the lucid and logical way
in which the President supports the
course he has taken can hardly fail of
bringing approval from the majority
Of the people Briefly stated, his argu-
ment is as follows: Congress in 1909
authorized the President to enter into
treaty with Colombia for the building
OF the canal across the Isthmus of
Panama. The essence OF the matter
was the canal and the route-not the
government with which the treaty
should be made; the territory across
which the route lay-not the name
which for the moment the territory
bore on the map. In 1916 this govern
ment made a treaty with New Gran
ada by which it was provided that
the United States and her citizens
should always have free and open
right Of transit across the lsthmus by
any modes of communication that
might be constructed; in return for this
the government guaranteeing neutral
ity of the Isthmus ard the mainte
nance OF its sovereignty as against
foreign nations Colombia succeeded
New Granada and Panama has once
more succeeded Colombia. AS shown
by series of documents of State by
Secretary Cass, Secretary Seward, At
torney General Speed and others, it
can be seen that the treaty of 1916 has
been treated as in effect with what
ever de facto government was in pos
session of the Ishthmus. The recog-
milton of the new government of Pan
anna was in line with the actions of
former administrations and was, more
over, the only practical solution of the
situation. During the 81 years since
the treaty of 1916, the United States
in every way lived up to her obliga-
tions scrupulously. Riots, revolu
tions, and attempts at revolutions &C.
CURED frequently and often the United
States has been called upon to quiet
disturbances which threatened the
trsnsIsthmus traffic. Finally, when
the United States wanted to material
ize plans for the canal which had
been considered for centuries. Colon
bia was granted every concession she
asked for and the canal treaty finally
adopted was practically made as the
Colombian government desired, yet
when the Colombian Congress was
called upon to ratify it the vote
against ratification was unanimous.
1t does not appear that the govern
ment made any real effort to secure
ratification.
Now the Republic of Panama has
taken the place of the Colombian
government on the Isthmus A treaty
has been made with the new govern
ment better in terms for the United
States than the one the. Colon bian
Congress rejected The question now
is simply whether or not we shall
have the canal under circumstances
which will make it worth much to the
whole world. The Colombian govern
ment was absolutely powerless TO give
protection to American interests, as is
shown by list of the revolutions and
massacres. A government with the
United States back of it will stay and
the police power OF this country will
protect the canal. The course of
events has shown that this canal can
not be built by private enterprise. or
by any other nation than our own;
therefore it must be built by the
United States -
Several things should be noted
about the message on this subject.
The President ignores as unworthy of
notice the question of whether the
revolution in Panama was planned by
Americans, He stands fearlessly on
the grounds of humanity and the ad-
vance of civilization as we'll as the
advance of the United States. He
shows that the Colombian govern.
ment did not act in good faith and
practically admits it now by the letter
which promises immediate ratification
of the treaty il made now. He leaves
just one question for Congress to de-
eide" Shall we have an Isthmian
canal?"