The Press., 1903-12-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington. December ss. 1908.

| from Panama, made favorable re. port to the president. He says thai there are plenty of marines on the scene to protect the canal route, that the health of the force is good, and their presence popular with the peo. pie; but he advises against sending regular troops, as such an act might cause uneasiness. The administration is determined to be prepared for every emergency. More marines are being sent to the fleet, and several trans ports are in readiness to carry regu- lar troops should their presence be necessary.
 l Advices from the state department show that the American minister, w. l. Buchanan, was given magnificent reception upon his arrival at Panama. He was entertained at the government palace, all members of the junta, min isters and foreign officials being pres- ent. Panama troops served as his guard of honor. He has presented his credentials and our diplomatic re- lations with the small republic are now complete. @-
 Minister Varilla brought to the state department notice that the act of the junta in ratifying the canal treaty has been officially approved by the municipal council of the twelve provinces of the republic. He calls attention to this in order to answer the criticisms that the junta which accepted the treaty was not composed of representative men. He has also received information that Great Brit ain and Cuba have recognized the re- public of Panama. s-
 General Reyes is still here. He has given Secretary Hay a note pro- testing against the act of the United States in recognizing Panama, and awaits an answer before returning to Colombia to take charge of the gov ernment and personal command of the army. The general recognizes that an attack by Colombia on Panama would involve this country in hope less war with the United States, and is doing all he can to prevent 1t. He is not a5 all confident of success, however, as his oountrymen have been aroused to great excitement, and have no idea of the power of the United States, or of it's determination to pro- tect the canal route in Panama. .Be patient and remember that war with Panama is war with the United States, is the kind of advice he sends by cable to Colombia. m
 The Panama treaty continues to be the chief topic of interest here among politicians. Many senators have ex- pressed in print their views on the subject. and the action of the next democratic caucus, in which the treaty will be discussed, is awaited with in- terest. The eagerness of the southern states for the treaty, as shown by the action of the Louisiana legislature in instructing its senators to vote for it, by the speeches of prominent southern democrats and by the editorials of democratic papers, lead the politicians here to believe that the democratic caucus will not decide to oppose the ratification of the treaty. It is thought by some that the caucus de- cision is more likely to be in direct favor of it. ..s.E l Senator Morgan will, of course, op- pose ? the treaty. Senator Hale, re- publican, from Maine, declared in an interview, 1T do not like the situa- tion, and ana afraid it will involve us in an expensive and profitless war, but have seen no way from the be- ginning except to ratify the treaty and make the best of it. Our govern ment moved rather rapidly and with some provision when the insurrection broke out, but Colombia was holding Es up and meant to rob us, and we were committed to the building of the canal by the United States, and as some kind of government had been set up in Panama, we were compelled to come to terms with that govern ment, however quickly formed and unsubstantial it might be.
 Senator Simmons, democrat, from North Carolina, said, 'tIf the demo- cratic party shall be instrumental in bringing about the defeat of the treaty, the American people will hold the party responsible therefor and might soon forget the conduct of the president. These statements are from senators who are not absolutely in favor of. the ratification of the treaty, butfhey show that they will vote for t. This is the attitude of many of the democrats, and also of Senator Hoar, whose speech against the treaty caused so much comment. | Senator Stone of Missouri states that the attitude of the democrats toward the canal has been wilfully misrepresented by the republicans, but it is we'll known that Senator German tried to lead the democrats in opposition. and that the sentiment of the country in favor of the canal was so clearly expressed that many democratic senators held back or turn ed back. The republicans say that Senator German made blunder, and the democrats say his course was the proper one.
 For the purchase of the friars' land in the Philippines, President Roose- welt, after 8 conference with Secreta- ries Shaw and Root, decided to au- thorize the issuance of $7,OOO, GOO of four per cent. Philippine bonds, re- deemable after ten years and within thirty. An act of the last congress provided for the issuance of such bonds. TheywiH be accepted by the