The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1903-12-07

We have repeatedly exercised this
control by intervening in the course
of domestic ~dissension. and by pro
tecting the territory from Invasion.
The United States has for over
half a century patiently and in good
faith carried out its obligations un-
der the treaty If 1916. When for the
first time IL became possible for Col
ombia to do anything in reQuital Of
the services thus repeatedly render
ed to it for fifty-seven years by the
United States. the Colombian govern
ment p~eremptorily and extensively
refused thus to do it's part. even
though to do so would have been to
its advantage and immeasurably to
the advantage of the state Of Pana-
ma, at that time under its jurisdic-
ton. Throughout this period revolu-
tions, riots and factional disturb
ances of everv kind have occurred
one after the other in almost unin-
terrupted succession. some OF them
lasting for months and even for
years, while the central government
was unable to put them down or to
make peace with the rebels. These
disturbances instead Of showing any
sign Of abating have tended to grow
more numerous and more serious in
the Immediate past. The control of
Colombia over the Isthmus Of Pan
anna could not be maintained with
out the armed Intervention and as
sistance of the United States. In
other words. the government of Col
ombia, though wholly unable to main
tain order on the Isthmus. has new
erJheless declined to ratify a treaty
the conclusion of which opened the
only chance to secure its own stabil-
ity and to guarantee permanent
peace on. and the construction OF a
canal across. the Isthmus.
Under such circumstances the gov
eminent of the United States would
been guilty of folly and weak
ness, amounting in their sum to a
crime against the nation. had II
acted otherwise than il did when the
revolution of November Sd last took
place in Panama. This great enter
prise of building the ~interoceanic ca
nal cannot be held up to crafty the
or out Of respect to the gov
impotence. or to the eve
more sinister and evil political pecu-
Of people who. though they
dwell afar off, yet against the wish
Of the actual dwellers on the 18TH
mus, assert an unreal supremacy ov-
sr the territory. The possession OF a
territory fraught with such peculiar
capacities as the Isthmus in question
with it an obligation to man
kind. The course of events has
shown that this canal cannot be
built by private enterprise. or by
any other nation than our own;
therefore il must bebuilt by the Uni
ed States.
Every effort has been made by
government of the United States
o persuade Colombia to follow a
course which was essentially not
only to our interest and to the inter
ssts of the world. but to the inter
ssts of Colombia herself These eff
iorts have failed; and Colombia. by
Ter persistence in repulsing the ad-
that have been made. has
orced us. for the sake of our own
lonor, and of the interest and we'll
not merely Of our own people.
tut of the people Of the Isthmus OF
Panama and the people of the civil
zed countries of the world. to take
steps to bring to an end a
condition of affairs which had be-
,ome intolerable.
Submission Of New Treaty.
The new republic of Panama I'm
nediately offered to negotiate a trea-
Y with us. This treaty / herewith
submit. BY it our interest are better
iafeguarded than in the treaty with
Colombia which was ratified by the
ienate at it's last session. 1t is better
n it's terms than the treaties offered
O us by the republics Of Nicaragua
md Costa RIGA. At last the right TO
,egin this great undertaking is made
Lvalable. Panama has done her part.
All that remains is for the American
congress to do its part and forthwith
his Republic will enter upon the ex-
Of a project colossal In It's
;ize and OF well-nigh incalculable
possibilities Of good for this country
nd the nations of mankind.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House. Dec. Z. 1903.