New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-18
DEMOCRATS CASE WEAK.
Little Partisan Capital in Panama
Correspondence-CanaI Plans.
TFRom TIE TRIBUNE sUREAu.l

Washington. Nov. 17.-Those Democratic
members of Congress who have expected to find
IN the diplomatic correspondence which in re-
Spouse to the Hitt resolution the President
sent yesterday the House abundant material
with which TO embarrass the Administration and
make partisan capital are sadly disappointed.
Practically all OF the material now in the pos
session OF the House had previously been made
: public, either in words in substance. and all
evidence Of a deep laid plot to which this gov
eminent was a party. of the slightest
advantage having been taken OF Colombia. is
lacking.
The one feature Of the correspondence which
appears thus far to appeal TO the opposition as
most susceptible OF manipulation for partisan
purposes consists Of two cable messages ad-
dressed by Minister Beaupre to this government
on November 6, but which did not reach Wash
ington until November 10. and the Gist OF which
was published in an Associated Press dispatch
TO The Tribune of the following day.
AS sent to the House. Minister Beaupre's dis
patch quotes some person whose name is sup
pressed as saying that II the United States will
land troops in Panama TO preserve Colombian
sovereignty the Colombian government in
other words. the President, viii declare martial
law and then ratify the Hay-Herran treaty. or
II the United States prefers. will call an extra
session Of Congress with new and friendly
A second aad supplementary dispatch from
Mr.. Beaupre. under same date and also received
here. on November 10 adds: Il am entirely
unable TO elicit from Minister for Foreign AZ
fairs confirmation OF premises made by -"
II, in The opinion Of those friendly to the ad-
rninistration, this is the strongest evidence the
Democrats can produce. their case is. indeed
weak AS was told in The Tribune Of November
H. Cabinet officer stated that the proposition
was not official. fact verified by the last state
ment in Beaupres dispatch, above quoted. At
tention was also called at that time TO the fact
that the Hay-Herran convention was dead, hav-
ing expired bxyon explicit time limitation which
Colombia had made no effort to have extended
The weakest feature Of the opposition's case
is. however, that when these dispatches were re-
ceived in Washington the Republic Of Panama
was an accomplished fact had been formally
recognized by the United States four days be-
fore. and that Colombia's proposition meant
that the United States overthrow the govern
rnent in actual possession of the fsthmus in or
der to restore Colombian sovereignty. For this
favor Colombia would pay by so stretching its
elastic constitution to ratify the already de-
funct treaty. a proceeding characterized at the
time by high official of this government as in
fact If not IN intent. little short Of offering the
United States bride.
Panama Canal, one remarkable feature has been
the cordial relations maintained between the
State Department and DR.. Herran, the Colon
bian charge d'affaires, for whom the highest
respect is entertained by the United States
officials. This sentiment to-day found express
sion in note which Secretary Hay sent to DR..
Herran. expressing his sympathy for the charge
in the delicate situation I'm which he is placed.
and expressing the hope that he may remain IN
Washington. 1t is. moreover the hope OF the
administration that pleasant relations with Co
lombia may be sustained and that N entirely
friendly and anicable agreement will be event
ually reached with regard Panama. 1t is be-
= lieved here that when Colombia finds it i'm
81 possible to effect the recovery Of Panama she
VIII enter into negotiations looking to the as
sumption by the new republic Of its portion OF
the Colombian debt, that the result will be
satisfactory TO both governments and that
frlepoly relations between them may ensue
The President remains firm in his conviction
that the Spooner amendment confers on the ex-
ecNUNe al needed authority to purchase the
property OF the Panama Canal Company and to
pay the necessary bonus for the use OF TIE canal
zone, and IN this opinion he is supported by the
Attorney General and practically all the mem
bers or his Cabinet, while Senator Spooner him
sell, the author OF the law, is understood 70
cCancioe with this view. Leading members Of
the Senate say that if the executive end OF the
government is satisfied that further legislation
IS unnecessary to the desired end they will not
OBJECT Therefore, only the negotiation and
ratification Of the treaty with Panama NAV be
taking OF the canal project