Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-12-17

DcCOHic VI Irdn5cenueuL importance 10
the United States. We have repeatedly
exercised this control by intervening In
the course OF domestic dssension, and
by protecting the territory from foreign
invasion. In 1858 Mr. Everett assured
the Peruvian minister that we should
not hesitate to maintain the neutrality
or the isthmus In the case of war be-
tween Peru and Colombia In 1864 CO.
lombia. which has always been vigilant
to avail itself of its privileges conferred
Dy the treaty, expressed its expectation
that In the event of war between Peru
and Spain the United States would carry
into erect the guaranty Of neutrality.
There nave been few administrations Of
the State Department In which this
treaty has not, either by the one side
or the other, been used as a basis OF
more or less important demands. 1t was
said by Mr.. Fish in 1871 that the Depart.
ment OF State had reason to believe that
an attack upon Colombian sovereignty
on the isthmus had, on several occa.
slons, been averted by warning from this
Government. In 1886, when Colombia waa
under the menace of hostllities from
Italy In the Cerruti case, Mr.. Bayard ex.
pressed the serious concern that the
united states could not but feel that q
European power should resort TO force
phere, as to the sovereign and uninter-
rupted use OF part of whose territory
we are guarantors under the solemn faith
of a treaty
The above recital Of facts establishes
beyond question:: First, that the United
States has for over half a century pa
tiently and in good faith carried out its
obligations under the treaty of 1876: Sec
ond' that when for the first time 1t be-
came possible for Colombia to do any
thing In requital Of the services thus re-
peatedly rendered to 1t for fifty-seven
years by the United States, the Colombian
Government peremptorily and offensivelv
refused thus to do its part, even though
to do so would have been to its adyan-
tage and UNNECESSARILY to the advantage
OF the State Of Panama, at that time
under its jurisdictions third, that
throughout this period revolutions, riots,
and factional disturbances Of every kind
have occurred one after the other In al
most uninterrupted succession, some OF
them lasting for months and even for
years, while the central government was
unable to put them down or to make
peace with the rebels; fourth, that these
disturbances instead OF showing any sign
OF abating have tended to grow more nu-
merous and more serious In the imme-
diate past; fifth, that the control Of Co.
lombia over the Isthmus OF Panama could
not be maintained without the armed in
PREVENTION and assistance OF the United
States. In other words, the Government
Of Colombia, though wholly unable to
maintain order on the isthmus, has new
ertheless declined to ratify treaty the
conclusion Of which opened the only
chance to secure its own stability and td
guarantee permanent peace on, and the
~ AuNA.-
mus.
Under such circumstances the Govern
ment Of the United States would have
been guilty Of folly and weakness.
amounting In their sum to a crime
against the nation, had 1t acted otherwise
than 1t did when the revolution Of Nov.
last took place in Panama. This great
enterprise OF building the interoceania
canal can not be held up to crafty thu
whims, or out OF respect to the govern
mental impotence, or to the even more
sinister and evil political peculiarities, Of
people who, though they dwell afar off,
yet, against the wish Of the actual dwell
lers on the isthmus, assert an unreal
supremacy over the territory. The pos
session of a territory fraught with such
peculiar capacities as the isthmus In
question carries with 1t obligations Il
mankind. The course of events has
shown that this canal can not be built
by private enterprise, or by any other na-
ton than our own therefore II must b
built by the United States.
Treaty With Republic of Panama.
Every effort has been made by the Cow
eminent of the United States to persuade
Colombia to follow a course which was
essentially not only to our interests and
to the interests of the world, but to the
interests OF Colombia itself. These eff
forts have failed; and Colombia, by he's
persistence in repulslng the advances that
have been made, has forced us, for the
sake Of our own honor and Of the inter-
est and well-being not merely Of our own
people. but Of the people OF the Isthmua
OF Panama and the people Of the civilized
countries Of the world. to take decisive
steps to bring to an end a condition Of
affairs which had become intolerable.
The new Republic Of Panama Immediate
ly offered to negotiate a treaty with us.
This treaty herewith submit. BY It Gus
interests are better safeguarded than IN
the treaty with Colombia which was rati-
fed by the Senate at its last session. It IL
better in its terms than the treaties Of
fered to us by the Republics OF Nicara-
qua and Costa Rica. At last the right
to begin this great undertaking Is made
available. Panama has done her part.
All that remains Is for the American Con-
gress to do its part and forthwith this
Republic will enter upon the execution
OF a project colossal In its size and Of
well-nig.. incalculable possibilities for the
good Of this country and the nations Of
mankind.
Provisions Of Treaty.
BY the provisions Of the treaty tina
United States guarantees and will main
tain the independence Of the Republic Of
Panama. There Is granted to the United
States in perpetuity the use. occupation.
and control OF strip ten miles wide and
extending three nautical miles into the
sea at either terminal. with all lands ly-
ing outside OF the zone necessary for the
construction OF the canal or for its aux
Hilary works, and with the Islands In the
Bay Of Panama. The cities Of Panama
and Colon are not embraced In the canal
zone, but the United States assumes
their sanitation and. in case Of need. the
maintenance Of order therein; the United
States enjoys within the granted limits
all the rights power. and authority which
II would possess were II the sovereign Of
the territory to the exclusion OF the ex-
erclse OF sovereign rights by the Republic.
All railway and canal property rights be-
longing to Panama and needed for the
canal pass to the United States, inciud-
ing any property Of the respective COM
panies in the cities OF Panama and Co
Ion; the works, property, and personnel
Of the canal and railways are exempted
from taxation as well in the cities Of
pa and Coton In tha rapa1 zon0