The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-11
THE TURK AND THE CANAL.

THE TURK AND THE CANAL.
Off1cers Of the army and navy ana
considerable part Of the general pupllc
y also read with deep interest all the news
from Turkey and from tho United sta'cs
az Colombia, Thore are some specKs OIL
xvnr In each case, which can DO mngnll-
4ed or minimized accordingly as one ~
X q pessirnist or an optimlst In his view OIL
Eastern trouble or the canal imbroglio'
Tho nation that has anything to do
with reforming Turkey has permpnept
lob before it. For longevity 1t Is ike get
Ting into a first-class, old-time Jarndyce
versus Jarndyce chancery suit. And VINO
w ever mixes up with q South or Ceh'iut}
American revolution secures an abundant
CROP Of experience and little comfort Ct
compensation. Il
( H THAT the Turks are vile set of peo-5
Die, that they are Of a most sangulnary3
disposition, that they are cruel ana falth-
less none can doubt. Our sympathy goes
IA out to the Christians who are forced to
n bear their CALLING yoke, but none the less
every movement Of this government IN
connection with the Macedonian and l3ul-
20 90 ria troubles should be cautious, and well
considered Our representatives ut Con-
stantinople and Beirut have not impressed
the world by their; brilliancy and prr-
dence, and they would do we'll now.
by extra caution to try to regain
the confidence they have partly
lost They seem to have scored a
point In causing the removal Of tho vail
OF Beirut, and 1t is to be hoped that there
will not be any occasion to land force
of American marines in that city. The
sly old Sultan seems ready to make any
sort of concessions just now.
Cons ervatism. too, Is required In deal
ing with Colombia. In less than two
weeks the time allowed for the ratifca-
tton OF the canal treaty With that country
will expire. Tho suggestion. however, is
nretty freely made that II Colombia will
not let us build the canal on tho terms
we have proposed. tho State of Panama
will, or should, get up revolution,
achieve Its independence, and then pro-
coed to accept our conditions. And there
I. is a hint heard here and there that we
should give assistance..to She revolution
4 lists in order..to accomplish our purpose,
THAT is nothing more nor less than sug-
gestion that the United States could afford
10 20 to war with Colombia in order to set
up Panama MS an independent State. pre-
liminary to securing from Panama the
rights that Colombia Is hesltatng to give
us. t tN
We very much mistake American sentl-
lnent II any such scheme as that would
be condoned by the public. 1t would be
a dangerous policy to pursue, II there
were no other route than that across the
Isthmus OF Panama. But It would be In
herently wrong for lis to engage In any
such enterprise, and, moreover, 1t Is UNI
necessary. We arc bound by our decla-
ration made under the signature of our
Secretary of State. not to do anything OF
the kind Article ~ of the Hay-Herran
II treaty contains the following provision:
The United States freely acknowledges
and recognizes. the sovereignty (Of Colon-
bia) and disavows any Intention TO impair
1t in any way whatever or 70 increase 1t:
territory at the expense OF Colombia or ol
South America. hut. on the contrary, J.
desires TO strengthen the power of thu
republics on this continent and 10 pro
mote, develop and maintain their pros
perity and independence,
We are not sure but that we are morall
bound by this declaration, although tn
treaty remains unratltied by Colombia
The government at Washington shout
await The final action of Colombia, an
If it then finds Colombia intractable.
should pursue the policy dictated by Cor
gress That Is to say. 1t should the
open negotiations with Nicaragua an
m Costa Rca
in the opinion Of many persons, who's
views are valuable, the Nicaragua ron,
Is better than thai across the lsthmus {
Panama. But however that may be.
Colombia is bull-headed, We are not Gale
upon TO go to war on her account or
waste an unreasonable time in dilly-dall,
ms With her.
Panama is one of the nine department
OF Colombia. and has an area of Sl,s
square miles and a population Of abo
eli. 900. The total length Of tho project
canal Is forty-six and onerthrd mile
the French company's concession. viii
the United States is ready to buy IL C
4 lonbia ratlfes the treaty. expires Oct
her 2lst Of this year.
Colombia has an area Of W2N9 sana