Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-12-23

in the year 1916 this government
entered into treaty with New Grana-
da, the predecessor upon the isthmus,
OF the republic of Panama, by which
treaty 1t was provided that the governs
sment and citizens of the United States
should always have free and open right
of way, CT transit, across the Isthmus
of Panama by any modes of commulii-
cation that might be constructed. ]"
Inserting Colombia for New Grapa-
5Ga. an Insertion about the precision Of
which there is and can be no dispute,
let us see just what that article of the
treaty says. 1t Is article 80: ~
.The government of New Granda
(Colombia) guarantees to the govern
ment of the United States that the
right of way or transit across the 18TH
mus of Panama upon any modes of
communication that now exist or that
may hereafter be constructed shall be
open and free to the government and
citizens of the United States.'
When, therefore. the isthmus was
threatened with disorder it was the
duty of Colombia to suppress it. Mr..
Roosevelt is Mt pains to withhold from
his countrymen the fact that he will
fully prevented Colombia from doing
her duty under the treaty.
That duty Colombia was ready to
10 and would easily have been able to
do but for the action of the govern
Inent of the United States. 1t was not
Colombia that Violated the treaty. 1t
was Mr.. Roosevelt. At the time of the
violation of the treaty by Mr.. Roosevelt
there was not even a pretense that the
Panama secedersi We're entitled to bel
igerent rights or had any standing on
This continent or any other.
Mr.. Roosevelt srppresses the fifth
lection of article 80, which rends:
.'lf, unfortunately, any of the articles
contained in tlils treaty should be vio-
lated or infringed in any way whatever
Ii is expressly stipulated that neither
of the two contracting parties shall or
dain or authorize any acts of reprisal
nor shall declare war against the other
OH complaints of injuries or damages
until the said party considering itself
offended shall have laid before the
other settlement Of such injuries or
damages, verified by competent proofs,
demanding justice and satisfaction and
tile same shall have been denied in
violation of the laws and of lnterna-
tional right"
Mr.. Rooseyelt's violent destruction of
this portion Of the treaty accounts for
his omission Of any reference to 1t in
what he conveys to his fellow country
men as the substance of the treaty.
In reference to the treaty concluded
between the republic of Colombia and
the government OF the United States
and ratified by the Senate Mr.. Roose-
welt says that tlie government of Co
lombia mot merely repudintea the
treaty but repudiated 1t in such a man
ner as to make 1t evident by the time
the Colombian Congress adjourned that
not the scantlest hope remained of ever
getting satisfactory treaty from
them"
This is the psychologist .me;hed cf. his.
torical composition. There was no evil
dence to show that another Colombian
Congress would not ratify the treaty
its predecessor rejected or agree to a
more favorable one.
AT this point cand0r would have In
spired Mr.. Roosevelt 10 call attention
to the alternative course open to his ad
mission. 1t was the course pointed Out
by the Spooner act.
Failing to get satisfactory terms
from Colombia, 1t was the legal oblIga-
ton of the administration to seek one
of the other canal routes. Instead OF
doing SO Mr.. Roosevelt proceeded to
use the physical force of the United
States to confirm revolt at Panama
instigated by adyehturers for the OBJ.
yious purpose Of selling a canal route
to the United States. Within forty.
eight hours he recognized the seces-
s.on.sts and adventures as a sovereign
state.
OF this part of-his conduct in relation