The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-13
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER IS.
THE UNITED STATES AND THE
ISTHMCS

from the Evening Star, OF Washing
ton. D. c., on the Panama revOlu-
ton. The star is republican in
politics and the organ of h Roose-
welt administration. The first of these
editorials appeared in the issue of
that paper last Thursday and the
second on the following Monday.
There is a good deal of difference in
the tom Of the two editorials. The
Star evidently had not been posted
on the situation by its friends, the
administration. When the first article
was written or ii would not have
expressed doubt as TO what the gov
would do, except as to keep
ing open communication across the
isthmus, or declared that it must
stick straight to the line of neutrality
between the beIligerents. That re-
mark that The United States can
not, of course, stand as a receiver of
stolen goods in the administrations
organ must have hurt. Here is the
first editorials:
The success of the Panama seces-
siOnists would give rise to a number
of interesting and perhaps delicate
questions regarding the status of the
canal. This government failed to Sc
cure a satisfactory treaty with the
United States of Colombia, under the
express orders of congress to open
negotiations with that country for
the acquisition of a sufficient strip Of
territory and certain rights neces-
sary for the construction and opera
lion of the waterway. The statute
specifically mentioned the Republic
Of Colombia Now a question arises.
Would the transfer of the sovereign
" over the canal strip to the repub-
lie of Panama by virtue OF a success
fuI revolution invalidate this act of
congress and require u new enact
meut to fit the changed circum-
stances. or would the statute stand
as applicable generally to whatever
government might at the time of ne
gOtiatiOn and transfer be in actual
and legal possession of the prop
erty?
THE United states cannOt. of
course. stand as 4 receiver of stolen
goods. The new republic of Panama
must establish its title to the canal
region. In the establishment OF that
title it must not expect nor should
1T receive, the actual aid of the
United States. And there is where
the United States finds itself in an
embarrassing position today 1t must
make the best of a difficult case and
stick straight to the line of neutral
ity between the belligerentS. 1t is
certain to come in for criticism. even
as its motives have been impugned in
other affairs affecting the stability of
certain states to the south of It
1T is already intimated nat the
United States will recognize the gov
ernmen de facto' at Panama as
soon as M has been formally es-
tabIiShed. 1t reserves the right to
determine whether such a govern
ment exists. 1t refused 10 recognize
the s~O-calIed republic of Cuba when
that government consisted of a scat
tered insurreCtiOnary army with a
more or less movable capital The
Cuban patriots held no important
cities and set up no definite bound
aries of sovereignty. If Panama can
gain absolute control of the cities Of
the iSthmus and can maintain itself
for an appreciate length of time
within a certain defined area pro-
claimed as the new republic it will
be entitled to a recognition such as
was denied to Cuba before the war
of intervention.
1T is not To be expected that the
United States of Colombia will SUI
pinely permit Panama to seCede. 1t
is likely to exert itself to the utmost
10 prevent the loss of its chief asset.
II will probably invade the So-called
new republic and attack its forces.
The United States has already laid
down its line of policy. The troops
of neither side will be permitted to
use the railroad and no lombard
ment Of the cities will be allowed.
The communications across the 18TH
mus Will be kept open if a dozen
warshipS and thousands of troops
are needed to insure II. The treaty
of New Granada is no ~jug-handled
affair. Colombia has its rights. but
so has the United States. and the
latter will be maintained even at the
risk of the charge hat this country
has connived at the secession and is
secretly aiding it,"
The second takes 4 more positive
the action of the administration to
try 10 make capital out Of it. and
endorses outright the action the pa
per was in doubt about a few days
before. in these words:
Some curiosity is said TO exist IN
congressional circles on the subject
of affairs on the IsthmuS of Panama.
There i intimatiOn of the existence
Of 4 suspicion that the administra-
ton has been guilty Of Skulduggery.
and we are promised an effort to lay
bare the foul conspiracy, or some
thing TO that effect There may be
pitfalls IN such a path, but there are
people who seem to enjoy broken
hin They sprawled in the
Hawaiian business, and again IN the
Cuban business. and now a third op-
p~Ortunity presents itself. Every man
10 his taste. Congress is here. and
here TO do business. and if there is