The Yale expositor., 1903-12-11

sesscd over the said territory, uhc name
of New Granada has passed away and its
territory has been divided. It's successor,
the Government OF Colombia. has ceased
60 own any property Ia the iatnmus.
new republic. that ~ Panama. which was
al one time sovereign state. and az
another time mere department Of the
successive considerations known as New
Granada and Colombia, has now sue
cooded 10 the rights which first one ana
then the other formerly exercised over
the isthmus Hut as long as the isthmus
endurss. the mere geographical fact OF it's
existence. and the peculiar interest there
In which II required by our position.
perpetuate the solemn contract which
binds the holders OF the territory 60 re-
spect or right To freedom Of transit
across Il. and binds us In return 20 safe
guard for the isthmus and the world the
exercise OF that inestimablc privilege.
The true Interpretation OF the obliga-
tions upon which the United States en-
tered In this treaty OF 1876 has been given
repeatedly In the uttcTances OF Prcsi-
dents and Secretaries OF State. Secretary
Cass In 1858 officially stated the position
OF this Government as follows;
THE progress 81 events has rendered
the iutcfoccanic route across the narrow
portion 81 Central America vastly impor-
tant to the commercial world. and Cspc-
cially To the United States. whose pos
sessions extend along the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts. and demand the spccdiest
and easiest modes OF communication.
While the rights OF sovereignty ~ the
states occupying this region should al
ways be respected. We shall expect that
these rights be exercised la "A spirit be-
ntting the occasion and the wants and
circumstances that have arisen. Sover-
eighty has its duties as well as It's rights.
and none OF these local goVernme nta.
even ~ administered with more regard To
the Just demands OF other nations than
they have been. would be permitted. In a
spirit OF eastern isolation. To close the
gates 81 intercourse on the great high
ways OF the world. and Justify the act by
the pretension that these avenues OF
trade and travel belong 10 them and that
they choose To shut them, OF. what IN
almost equivalent. 20 cucumber them
with such unjust relations as would pre-
vent their general use"
Seven years later. In 1855. Mr. Seward
In different communications took the fol-
| lowing position
The United States have taken and
will take no interest In any question Of
| internal revolution In the State Of Pan
anna, or any State 81 the United States OF
| Colombia. but will maintain "a perfect
| neutrality In connection with such do
/ nestle alterations The United States
/ Will nevertheless. hold themselves ready
isthmus against invasion OF either do
nestle or foreign disturbers Of the peace
| ~ the State OF Panama. Neither
| the text nor the spirit Of the stipulation
\ In that article by which the United States
/ engages TO preserve the neutrality OF the
! tsthmus OF Panama. Imposes an obliga-
| ton on this Government 20 comply with
the requisition lof the President OF the
/ United States 81 Colombia for "a force Co
1 protect the lsthmuH OF Panama from "A
! body 81 insurgents OF that country. The
purpose OF IN. stipulation was To guar
antee the isthmus against seizure or In
vasion by "A foreign power only"
Attorney General Speed. under date Of
Nov :. 1856, advised Secretary Seward as
follows.
From TINS treaty II can not be sup
! posed that New Granada invited the
| United States To- become a party To the
| intestine troubles of that Government
nor did the United States become bound
Co take sides In the domestic hroils OF
New Granada The United States did
| guarantee New Granada In the sovereign
| ~ and property over the territory. This
was as against other and foreign govern
| mcnts."
For four hundred years. ever sine,
! shortly after the discovery 81 this hem
isphere the canal across the isthmus has
been planned. For two score years II
has been worked at when made Il Is {,
last for the agcs. u H. TO alter IN,
| geography % continent and tne trad,
routes 81 the world. We have shown by
every treaty We have negotiated or at.
tempted 10 negotiate with the peoples n
control % the isthmus and with foreign
nations Ia reference thereto our consls
tent good faith IN observing OUR ohllga,
tions; on the one hand 20 the peoples oi
the lsthmus and on the other naud Z,
the civilized world whose commercial
rEaa
tceing by our action. We have done oui
duty To others In letter and I'm spirit ant
We have shown the utmost forbcaFance u
cNacting our own rights.
Last spring under the act above 70.
ferred 10. treaty concluded between TN,
Representatives Of the Republic Of Co
lomhm and 81 our Government was rati
fed by the Senate This treaty was en-,
tered Into az the urgent solicitation al
the people OF Colombia and after bod5
% experts appointed by our Government
especially 20 go into the matter 81 al,
routes across the isthmus had pronounce,
unanimously I'm favor Of the Panama
route. In drawing up this treaty ever,
concession was made 90 the people and
TO the Government 81 Colombia. We wcr,
more than just in dealing with them. Oul
generosity VAS such as To make IN a SO.
rlous g. cstiun whether We had not gun,
too Tar Ia their interest az the expense al
| NAN NNNf lNI ~ Nhl nfiuINNNAN Ntf ne .t n
pay all possible heed. not merely TO IN,
real hut even Co the fancied rights of oul
weaker neighbor. who already owed =,
much Co our protection and forbcn rance
Ne yielded iu all possible ways TO hct
desires in drawing up the treaty. Sever,
thclcss the Government Of Colombia moi
merely rcpudlatCd the treaty. but repu
dated n In such manner us 90 make Il
evident By the time tho Colombian Con.
gress adjourned that not the srtntiesl
hope remained ~ ever getting salts
factory treaty from them. The Govern,
mcnt 81 Colombia made the treaty. and
yet when the Colombian Congress wa,
called To- ratify "a the vote against ratl.
Hcatlon was unanimous ~ does rot ap,
pear that the Government made any rCa
cffort 90 secure ratification.
Revolution in Panama.
Immediately after the adjournment ri
tho Congress a revolution broke out ~
Panama. The people 81 Panama IA,
long been disconnected with the Republl,
81 Colombia. and they had been kept qule
only by the prospect OF the conclusion
OF the treaty. which was To- them n mat
ter OF vital concern. when "a bccam,
evident that the treaty was hopclessl,
lost the people % Panama rus. literail,
as one man. Not shot was fired by
single man On the isthmus IN the Interest
% the Colombian Government Not \