The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-11
FRIDAY. DECEMBER II, 1903


There must be something in the
rumss that n body of Colombian
troops is marching overland to Pan
anna At any rate u government
seems to put faith in the report, judg-
ing by the precautions it is taking to
establish a force of marines at the
point where these soldiers will enter
h new republic in their march over
the mountains. The administration,
having recognized Panama as an in
dependent country. feels bound to
protect her against Colombia. The
landing of so large a force of marines
from the Dixie and placing them at
the strategic point "a be for no other
purpose III to protect the Panama
government. Nobody IS fooled by the
statement hat the camp is establish
ed for the sole purpose of giving the
men shore leave. We have backed
Panama in her revolt and We have got
to stand by her and see that she
makes good her Independence
1t would not surprise us if Colom-
II IL1doI a ~ ~ S'-
great excitement throughout that en-
tire republic over the secession of
Panama and the action the United
States has taken, and the Colombian
government may have to make an at
tempt to coerce the seceSsiOniStS n
submission in order to satisfy public
demand. Such a war might cause us
much and expense Gen
eral Reyes has already said that the
war. if begun, would be of the guerrilla
kind. The isthmus is the very kind
of country for such warfare. While
Colombia could not make any stand
against us in the open field, h could
put US to a good deal of trouble were
she to place a few thousand guerrillas
in the mountains for the purpose of
making war upon Panama and hind
ering work on the canal.
It is also more than likely that we
will have trouble with the Pan
amanians before We are through with
the business. Already there are ru-
mors of u plot against the new gov
tiilLlLt4ll o4lIOAS Liz SOA
diers who joined the secessionists at
the time of the revolution.
The revolution was brought about
SO suddenly that the people of Pan
anna hardly know what they have
done or what their real status is. Even
those eli the government who signed
the canal treaty hardly know what
concessions they ave granted to the
United States. There was only one
copy of that treaty presented to them
and that was written in English, a
language that some of the signers do
not understand. In the furry me eX-
element of gaining their indepen-
dence they were ready TO grant any
concessions to our government. 1t
will be just like that class of people
to gs to the other extreme as soon
as they have had time to cool down.
They are unstable ana tickle with
very crude ideas OF The integrity Of
nations. 1t is highly probable that
they will soon become dissatisfied with
us, and if they do become so they
will not hesitate to try to repudiate
it Our government can by no means
feel ssure that il has secured n
peaceful solution of the canal ques-
ton. There is likely TO be trouble
ahead for us both with Colombia and
with Panama.
The Panama government which we
have recognized has granted the con-
cession we desired. We have the
right ts enforce compliance with the
contract and should the former wish
to break it or should il throw OBJ
stacies in the way Of our building
the canal we Will have to take forcible
possession of the territory necessary
for constructing h waterway. II IS