The sun., 1903-11-18
The Panama Correspond ence.

The papers relating to the Isthmian
revolution, which on Monday were
~ transmitted by President ROOSEVELT, in
compliance with the resolution of the
House of Representatives., absolve our
Government from completely in the
popular uprising at Panama in favor of
independence They amply justify those
Democratic Senators who, in caucus
held on the same day, declined to demand
an adoption of the Nicaragua route and
expressed willingness to ratify canal
treaty negotiated with the new republic.
No other course would have been sane
toned by the business community in the
Gulf States and the Mississippi Valley,
The vital interests of that section require
the quick construction of an interoceanio
waterway, and to that end the immediate
resumption of the work begun by the
French company at Panama is indis-
pensable.
The papers show that the inhabitants
of the State Of Panama had resolved
more than two months ago to proclaim
their independence of Colombia in the
event of the rejection OF the HayHerran
treaty by the Congress at Bogota. The
revolution seems to have been originally
planned for Sept. %. the day after the
expiration Of the time allowed for the
ratification of the treaty lnasmuch
as, next to Panama itself, the United
States is most interested in the COM
pletion of an Isthmian waterway, it was
natural that spokesman of the pros
pective rcvolutionists, Mr.. j. n. DUQUE,
should be sent TO Washington in the
hope of obtaining promise of support,
1t is plain from the documents submitted
to the House Of Representatives that the
desired assurances were not given. Mr..
DUqUE was distinctly informed that
the United States could lend no aid to
rcvo!utionists in carrying out seces-
sion from Colombia and that American
Intervention on their behalf could not
be looked for. Mr.. HAY added, what
should have been obvious, that the date
named for the revolution was premature,
inasmuch as, until the Colombian Con-
gress should definitely adjourn, it was
conceivable that the rejection of the
treaty might be reconsidered. In that
case, Panama could not complain that
her fundamental interests had been
sacrificed This was exactly the position
that would be taken by loyal friend of
Colombia who desired to give the Bogota
Government every opportunity of salts
fying the Just claims Of the Isthmian
population, thereby averting a popular
upheaval.
Having been warned of the intentions
of the natives Of Panama, it became the
duty of our Government, when the def
mite adjournment of the Bogota Con-
gress rendered it certain that those in
tentions would be carried out, to take
precautionary measures looking to the
preservation of peace and order on the
Isthmus, a tutelary function which we
have discharged for upward of half a
century. 1t will be observed, however,
that, in the orders .cabled on Nov. to
the commander of the Nashville at Colon
and to Rear-Admiral GLASS at Acapulco,
those officers were directed to prevent the
landing on the lsthmus of am armed
force with hostile intent, whether govern
mental or iRsurgent, and TO occupy the
line OF the Panama Railroad should
communication be threatened from any
quarter. That was an eminently proper
order; 1t was, indeed, the only one COM