Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12
IN REGARD TO PANAMA
HOUSE DISCUSSED THE MATTER
FOR FOUR HOURS.
Mr.. Hit Arouses Enthusiasm by His
Stirring Defense of the Ad-
ministration.

afternoon continued until quarter past
o'clock, when the committee rose and the
House adjourned until Monday at noon.
Ostensibly the pension appropriation bill
was before the House, but no mention was
made of that measure during the course OF
the extended debate. Following the attack
made by Representative Dinsmore of Ar
kansas on the course of the administration
in Panaman affairs, Representative Hit OF
I1liros spoke at some length in defense of
the administration. During the course of
his remarks he was loudly applauded by
the republican members. Mr.. Hit was In
colloquy with Leader Williams OF the mi
nority several times.
Mr.. Hit Cheered.
Mr.. HIT answering the charge that the
President had been precipitate, said the
President had waited a reasonable time.
But he added, 'he did not waste time;
he never does" This utterance was loudly
applauded on the republican side.
Ordinarily" Mr.. Hit went on, when
ship is in port and a disturbance or insur-
rection occurs we land troops to protect
Americans from being killed robbed. We
have done that in France, and We would do
it anywhere
I'm the case Of Panama our situation was
different from that of any spot on earth.
We had a solemn and binding engagement
which had been impressed upon US by all
the years. Often we were called upon by
the Colombian government, oftener by
events, to enforce the obligation to keep
that path open from sea to sea; not to aid
nor to suppress rebellion, but to keep the
path open; and when we landed troops at
Colon, when the ships came to Panama
with more of the marines. their duty under
the treaty was plain to let no armed men
or cause of any kind disturb the open, free
course of commerce or of movement In the
pathway across the iSthmuS. applause on
the republican side.)
Now 1t so happened in the course of
events which we do not guide but which,
it is believed by many, an all-wise Provi-
dence watches and directs, that in this case
our duty. in good faith under the treaty
to keep that highway open fell in with and
brought out consequence which was
grave to Colombia. She has invoked that
interference before. but it so happened that
always heretofore it Injured to her benefit.
In this case that which we have done we
did for a motive of the highest obligation
of national faith.
The Colombian Hold-Up.
ut was done sedulously and carefully,
within the bounds of that duty as laid
down and described In the instructions to
our naval officers; but 1t did result In max
ing it very difficult for troops to come from
Bogota. They could not come then. Our
government will not permit anybody on the
isthmus who would disturb free transit,
and it is because the two things conceded
that men who do not look on the matter
calmly and fairly will say that we did what
we did to injuro Bogota. when in fact we
did it to keep good faith, though it has in
jured Bogota.'
After reviewing the history of the act of
Congress and the negotiations with Colom-
bia and the sending of treaty to Bogota,
Mr.. Hit said the people Of Colombia
thought the United States were so bent on
having a canal on the tsthmus that the
game was easy. They had ten millions.
but twenty would be better and Colombian
papers had urged those charged with power
to hold out for great sums of Yankee money.
Referring to the size of Panama Mr.. Hit
said: ut is not matter of space. The rule
of square mile is a mistake. Moral laws
are not measured from the surveyors
point
Mr. Williams-"Nor measured by bitches
the requirements of canal either"
Mr. Hit: THE one purpose that has
been effected, the one that has been voted
for in this body and has governed the action
of government is the one that every
good American heartily sympathizes with.
THAT is the reason we do not apologize
for the conduct of our government in fol-
lowing the presidents Of its past history.
and We are proud that we have President
that did not wait ten years" loud ap-
plause on the republican side.)
The whole world, he said, had been in IA
of a canal and I'VE have got man to
WOER on II WAO VIII soon cut 1t through
This was loudly cheered by the republicans.
Mr.. Williams. interrupting. said he wanted
to take the burden of saying yes to the
question as to whether the government had
been virtually guilty of moral obliquity in
its International relations In it's action con-
corning the republic of Panama.
Mr.. Williams Speaks.
Mr.. Williams continued: IT note that the
friends Of the gentleman from Illinois con-
,loto hit
graduate him, because he has almost made
actual facts appear impossible and dreams
to appear actual facts. Mr.. Chairman, the
gentleman's grave manner of appealing to
the amenities of life strikes me and strikes
everybody else, but 1 want it distinctly
understood that this is not Russia nor Ger
many; that there is no law of leSe majestic
here, and that man is not guilty Of vio-
Iating the amenities Of life when he merely
critises public officer. Whether that pub
lie officer be the President of the United
States or justice of the peace or con-
stable in my bailiwick makes no difference
The gentleman has made dreams appear al
most facts and facts appear almost dreams
but there still remain some plain, pelpable
obvious facts that the gentleman has not
disposed of.
zone of these facts is that the so-called
republic of Panama Is an abortion upon
the surface of the earth, misbegotten,- hag-
born, and, to use the words of William
Shakespeare, ditch-dehvered. Not all the
history or all the talk in the world can do
away with that one simple, plain, obvious
fact.
Another fact remains, and that is that
this is the first time in the history of the
United States that we have ever interfered
in the internecine affairs of Central or
South America All the gentleman's sub
tlety and all of his diplomacy cannot make
that fact vanish into thin air. The gentle
man has virtually confessed that we have
served notice upon the confederacy of CO.
lombia that If she dares land a soldier out
side of the strip of transis thmian commerce.
anywhere within the confines of the new
born republic of Panama. the United States
will treat 1t as act of war.
That confession involves a confession Of
the fact that we have, for the first time
taken the hitherto unprecedented step of
interfering in the domestic broils of Central
and South American countries. The gen.
tleman cannot change these facts.
THE gentleman says We have not been
greedy and then refers to the manner in
which we treated Cuba. If the democratic
party and a few republicans had not
hedged up and bound this government in
the two clauses which compels GUS to give
Cuba her freedom and independence you
would have treated Cuba just you treat
ed the Philippines. and you know 1t. Moth
ing else can restrain you"
SUPPORTS THE CUBAN BILL.