New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-07
TIE REcoGNLrLoy OF PANAMA.

TIE RECOGNITION or PANAMA.
The Presidents recognition of the de fscto
government Of the revolutonists in Panama
gives no cause for revision of the view conf
IDENTIFY expressed both here and abroad that
the attitude Of our government toward the
isthmian troubles has been and is studiously
correct His act is in accord with long estab-
lished policy. AS general rule Of foreign pol
icy. obtaining since the foundation of our gov
eminent" said Mr.. Hunter, the Acting Secre-
tary Of state in 1879. the recognition of a for
'eign government by this is not dependent on
right. but on fact" In the case of Panama,
whatever may be The right, there seems TO be
10 doubt about the fact. The revolutionary
government is the only actual government. The
Colombian government has, at least for the
time ceased 10 exercise its functions or even to
exist in Panama. and shows no hopeful sign of
being able 10 reassert itself there. But the
United States must IN the maintenance of its
rights and the discharge Of its duties. have re-
lations with some government there, and, as
the revolutionary government is the only one,
those relations must be with il. We may peril
nently recall and. with the change of word or
two, apply 10 the case the statement of John
Quincy Adams. made In recognizing the de
facto government of Colombia, or New-Gra-
NADIA, herself. when she won her independence
neither intended TO invalidate any right of
spain nor to affect the employment of any
means which she may yet be disposed or en-
"abed to use with the view of reuniting those
provinces 10 the rest of her dOminions. 10 Is
''the mere acknowledgment Of oristing facts. with
the view to the establishment OF those rela-
'tions. political and commercial, which it is the
moral obligation Of civilized and Christian
'tions TO entertain recipTocally with one an
other"
The secession of Panama was the natural and
not unexpected sequence to the foolish attempt
Of the Colombian Congress to extort from the
United States impossible terms for the con
struction Of the canal 1t was organized in the
direct interest of Panama and the Panama
Canal. and app4irs to have been carried TO
success by the people of Panama, and by them
alone. We can discern not the slightest in
dication of aid meddling by the United
States or any other country. Moreover, it had
a foundation in great provocation, if not in en-
tire right For Colombia's haggling and jug
Cling over the canal was a serious menace to
the interests Of Panama. Moreover, the 18TH
milan State has had no close connection with
the rest of Colombia, but has been semi-de
tached, with separate postal and currency sys
tens and a large measure Of autonomy in va
r0uS respects. and it has, therefore. about as
logical a title TO independence as any of the
Central American States, among which, rather
than to South America. it naturally belongs
Nevertheless. its independence if it has now
won It and shall maintain it, must be subject
to certain modification. We have shown that
Colombia, In trying to deal with Panama insur-
rections has been required TO do so subject to the
treaty rights Of the United States SO the rela-
tions henceforth between Colombia and Panama
and the independent status Of Panama must be
subject to the same considerations. The Presi-
dent, in his dispatch Of yesterday to the Amer
lean Minister at Bogota, properly holds that
this government lis bound not merely by treaty
obligations but by the interests Of civilization
"to that the peaceful traffic of the world
across the Istnmus of Panama shall not be
longer disturbed by a constant succession of
unnecessary and wasteful civil wars" That
is exactly to the point
The United States compelled to inter
vene in Cuba 10 put an end to "a constant sue
cessiOn Of unnecessary and wasteful civil wars"
1t viii not. we assume, be compelled fCrcibly
to intervene in Panama any further than il
has already done. But in the settlement which
must now be made on the isthmus either in
the confirmation Of Panama's autonomy or in
the restoration Of that State to the Colombian
Union, there should be a distinct and infexible
HeetENoh Va TIE WHICH Ine
United States has In a measure exercised IN
der the treaty of 1916, and which it will be
compelled to continue exercising If free and
open transit on the isthmian railroad and canal
is 10 be maintained. 1t is probable that the ef-
fort TO maintain a national existence I'm Pan
ANA. separate from Colombia, would in the
long run have a doubtful chance OF success
without the friendly regard and virtual pro-
lection Of the United States. With protection
there must. OF course, be a measure Of au-
thority. We have already assumed such a
suzerainty in definite terms over the republic
Of Cuba. The application of the Monroe Doc
trine I'm the countries within our immediate
sphere Of influence around the Caribbean Sea
and the Gulf OF Mexico. will ultimately make
its extension to them inevitable The time is
now oppoTtune for the establishment OF it, in
unmistakable language in whatever final terms
we shall make with the republic through whose
territory we expect TO construct an interoceanic
canal.