The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-17
THEN AND NOW.

Two YEARS AGO Theodore Roose-
welt was president of the United
States and John Hay was his secre-
fary of state. Two years ago Colon
bsa had a revolution on its hands. To-
day Roosevelt IS still president, John
Hay is stiu his secretary of state, and
today, as then Colombia has a revOlu-
ton on it's hands. Two years ago, as
now. United states marines were
guarding the railroad across the 18th
mus OF Panama in accordance with
the treaty whereby the United States
agrees with New Granada, now Co
lombia, TO guarantee free transit, and
two years ago. as now, the European
papers suspected that the United
States was contemplating the seizure
OF Central or South American terri
tory Two years ago, with conditions
the same as now. John Hay. then and
now secretary Of state, made an adj
dress before the New York chamber
Of commerce, in which he said:
r'I think I-may say that our sister
republics to the south OF us are per
fecuy convinced of the sincerity of our
attitude. They know we desire the
prosperity Of each of them and peace
and harmony among them. We no
more want their territory than we
covet the mountains Of the moon. We
are grieved and distressed when there
are differences among them. but even
then WE SHOULD NEVER THINK
or TRYING TO COMPOSE ANY OF
THOSE DIFFERENCES UNLESS
by THE REQUEST OF BOTH PAR
TIES no 1T. Not even our earnest
desire for peace among them viii lead
us to any action which might offend
their national dignity or their just
sense of independence. We owe them
an the consideration which we claim
for ourselves"
This is what Secretary Of State Hay
said two years ago.
The action of the United states I'm
the present trouble was certainly TAX
en- without "the request OF both par
ties" and as further evidence of the
sincerity Of Secretary Hays cham
-ber of Commerce speech when he
pledged Che adminisTdtion~n not to take
any action which might offend the
national dignity or just sense Of indie
pendence" Of either party witness the
following iu regard to the administra-
toms position IN the present trouble,
taken from Secretary Hays official
statement given ont Nov, 16 1903:
"He Cthe president) also directed our
minister in Bogota to inform the Co
lombian government that we had ea-
tered into regulations with the new
provisional government of Panama,
ard ne took occasion, relying upon the
tes OF friendship and the valuable
services which we have so often rem
dered TO the people of Panama and
the government of Colombia. to COM
mend 10 the respective governments
the peaceful and equitable settlement
of an questions at issue between them.
IIe took occasion at the same time TO
give notice 20 the world that not only
our treaty obligations. but the impera-
tive demands Of the interests Of civil
ization. required him to put a stop,
which we hope and believe viii be
final one. to the incessant civil con-
tests and chickering's which have been
for so many years the curse OF Pan
anna
Did Secretary Hay mean what he
said two years ago? And If he meant
IL. how does he reconcile it with his
utterances now? Where are the
changed conditions? Can he offer any
honest reason Tor this sudden change
of front on the part Of the administra-
tiong How does he Justify the viola
ton Of the pledge ne made on behalf
of the administration two years ago
when ne said: 1--WE should never think
OF trying to compose any Of those diff
ferences unless by the request Of both
parties Co it?''
There is but one answer to it. The
administration in violation Of treaties,
presidents and promises. is making
this government party TO a deal
which contemplates the construction
OF g. canal through territory which by
right belongs to another and weaker
nation without giving the other ma
tion the consideration and fair treat
ment to which it is by every law OF
right and justice entitled.