Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-10
THE PANAMA AFFAIR.
American Rights and Interests JUS
tify the Chief Executives
Action.

When the people of Panama revolted
against the venal and injurious control
of Colombia it was inevitable thSt the
United States should recognize the au-
thority they might set up for them
selves. There has not yet been distinct
and categorical recognition Of an in
dependent republic of Panama. There
has been only the anticipation OF de
facto government which would be en-
titled to such treatment when it should
be created and meanwhile an acknoWl-
edgment that the provisional authorities
of the revolutionists are the only au-
thorities on the ground, says the Phila-
delphia Press.
What less could our government do?
There is no representative or emblem OF
Colombian authority left in Panama
The only authority is that of the reVo-
lutionary force 1t is in possession. 1t
has already created a provisional gov
ernment. What else can be dealt with!
1t will promptly establish a regular gov
ernment. What else can be recognized?
The full recognition is sure to come
"tlth all ulluls puttu law SN'N'
ment shall be. in full control; and the
measure of recognition which the presi-
dent has extended was inevitable as
soon as any matters came up which re-
quired dealing with the authorities in
possession. The only question is wheth-
er the president has been unduly pre-
cipitate. We do not see that he has
been. He has done only what would
have been unavoidable soon at the
latest, and his prompt and vigorous ac-
tion has doubtless conduced to speedy
and peaceful solution.
1t is said that our government has In
terposed in a conflict between friendly
republic and one of its own states. and
that the interference is as unjustifiable
as would have been the threatened Eu-
ropean intervention in our civil war
against which we so vigorously protest
ed. But there is no parallelism between
the two cases. Our relation to Colombia
and the isthmian territory is wholly ex-
ceptional. We are bound by treaty to
see that the traffic of the world across
the Isthmus of Panama shall be free
and open. For more than half century
we have discharged that duty. BY vir-
tue of it we have repeatedly put orr
hand on the isthElus. The president is
entirely right in saying that we have
not only treaty obligation, but an OBJ
legation to civilization in the matter.
We are trustee of the world of isthmian
transit. That responsibility compels us
10 interpose in the present issue be-
tween Colombia and Panama If we did
not there would be a struggle which
would obstruct and imperil the transit,
and to allow this would be to renounce
our obligation as protector.
The United States is the primate of
this continent and in the common inter-
est 1t exercises the right of primacy
1t has protected American nations from
European aggression. 1t has thrown the
panoply of the Monroe doctrine around
the continent. There has been a grow
ing feeling in Thoughtful minds that the
nature of our leadership required larg-
er degree of authority and influence over
the relations of the countries which en-
JOY our protection. However this may
ultimately work out, it is certain that
we must be entirely secure in the terri
tory which shall be traverssd by the
canal into which the United States will
put many millions of dollars The presi-
dent is rightly taking thought and care
on this point. In spite of the venalty
and stupidity of the conspirators at Bo-
gotta, the way is opening up for the con-
struction of the Panama canal, and the
president is acting for the American
people in making the most of the op-
portunity.