The Irish standard., 1903-12-12
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The Presidents message can hardly
be said to he up to the standard here
tofore set by him in his public mes
sages. 1t lacks that candor and fear
lesseness which has been SO character
istic of Mr.. Roosevelt. The American
these qualities and have passed over
many indiscretiOns and mistakes be-
cause they believed him to be Il man
who dared maintain his convictions
without regard to personal consequent
ces. Tie most notable evidence of the
Presidents suppression Of conviction
is found in the fact that no reference
is made to the tariff question. In view
of the fact that we have already had
ringing words from him on recipro-
city and tariff modification. it is hard
to escape the conclusion that the
President is trimming for the contest
next year. On every question where
the Republican party is divided the
President omitted to take any stand.
This is discoulaging to his admirers
in both parties who have become ac-
cuStomed to look for tiilnneSs from
the White House. On the matter of
corruption the message is strong and
firm and displays none of the mincins
which is characteristic of other parts.
\ large portion of the document is
given up to an effort to holster up the
position of the United States in the
Panama trouble. Our action in that
matter is justified by the President
on the ground that Columbia had fail
ed to observe her treaty relations with
this government. The portion of the
treaty referred to is as follows:
",rhe government of New Granada
(ColumbiU guarantees to the govern
mcnt of the United States that the
right of way or transit ;tcrOss the 18TH
mus of Panama upon any modes of
communication that now exist or that
may hereafter be constructed shall be
open and free to the government and
citizens of the United States
No doubt Columbia was bound to
maintain order ON the Sthmus. But
the message does not show that CO.
lumbia had amy opportunity to do so.
Columbia was ready and willing and
no doubt able to suppress the disorder
but before amy opportunity had been
given The United States prevented such
action on the part of Columbia by rec
ognizing the new government of Pana-
ma. The recognition was so swift
that it is almost proof positive that
the administration here had full! knowl
edge of what waS going ON in pana-
ma and decided upon the plan to hc
followed even lrtor" there w;lS amy
tie President contained this provision:
disorder. The treaty referred to by
II. unfortunately. any of tn" articles
contained in this treaty should be vo-
lated or infrngrd in amy Way what
ever ii is expressly stipulated that
neither of TIL" two contracting parties
shall ordain or authorize any acts of
reprSal nor shall declare war against
the other on complaints of injuries or
damages until the said party consider
ing itself offended shall have laid be-
fore the other Il statement of such in
juries or damages. verified by compe-
tent proofs. demanding justice and sat
isfactiOn and the same shall have been
denied in violation of the laws and of
international right
The President suppresses this part
of the treaty The reading of this por
ton of the message cannot fail to i'm
press one with the fact that it is an
apology for the position taken by the
United States. President Roosevelt
might Just as we'll admit that the adj
ministration decided that the people
of this country wanted Il canal. that
the easiest way to get it was to set
upa flake" republic by preventing the
weak but friendly Republic of Column
bia from suppressing an instruction
within her own domain and then as a
consideration for our work getting
canal concessions from the new gov
ernnlent