The San Francisco call., 1903-12-31
POLICY AND HONESTY.

II He Colusa Sun, which IS easily the leading Demo
cratic paper of the State, says: There is some
talk of the Democrats making the confirmation OF
the Panama canal treaty an issue of the campaign
If they winning issue would advise against it..
The Sun then proceeds denounce the treaty and the
transacon/as dishonest that If relegated
private transactions would land the perpetrator i'll
prison"
Then why not make all issue of it and prove to the
people that transaction of such criminal character
Surely the Sun is mistaken the OF the mat
has confidence all in the honesty and honor
of the people, in the capacity of the Democratic
party make such issue plain the understanding
But, is it such transaction? Panama has repeatedly
been independent and has been ubjugated by force by
New Granada and Colombia The great Bolivar wanted
the canal He wanted his people to build it. He
prayed for peace among those whom he had freed from
Spain, in order that their armies might be digging
the waterway But they would not be peaceable They
would not the height of his patriotic aspirations
and he died broken-hearted and left civil confusion dis
honor and dishonesty among those whom he had hoped
to establish in civil stability and commercial progress
The people of Panama appreciated his policy and pur-
pose and though often whipped have lost the de-
sire to regain their independence that they might pro-
ject the great ideas of the Lberator But they held
down and prevented though they have always repre-
sented the policy of Bolivar and the best Central Amer-
can type. The Bogota government has insisted upon
debating ishmian policy 1t has blocked every feasible
proposition for canal constructed either by private
American enterprise by this nation.
At last. under circumstances of supreme provocation
and after frank warning of their purpose the shmans
have again declared their independence and again
Bogota has asserted sovereignty and ownership of the
sthmus, with the power continually block the canal
The United States has only taken advantage of stu
alton that created Bogota and at Washington
1t has joined the other nations in recognition of the
dependence of sovereignty that wants the canal and
has the to grant ali concessions privileges and
powers required for its construction If there be in
the history of the transaction faint OF dishonesty it is
upon Bogota and not upon Washington.
1t is not becoming in American to denounce his
government dishonest in international mat
that it violates either the law ethics govern
ing the conduct of individuals The whole case was
stated by Lewis Cass, when Secretary of State under
Buchanan AS the Sun is Democratic we ask it to con
slider this statement of Cass The progress of events
has rendered the nteroceanc across the
portion Of Central America vastly important
mercia world. and especially to the United States
whose possessions extend along the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts and demand the speedest and easiest modes of
communication. While the rights of sovereignty of the
occupying this region should be always respected
shall expect that their rights be exercised in spirit
betting the occasion and the and circumstances
that have arisen. Sovereignty has its duties we'll
its rights, and of these local governments if
administered with more regard the just demands of
Otner nations tnan tney nave been, would be permitted
spirit of Eastern isolation close the gates of in
ercOurse the highways of the world and justify
the act by the pretenon that these of and
travel belong to them and that they choose shut them
what is almost equivalent, ncumber them with such
unjust relations would prevent their general use"
Now will the Sun any other Democratic paper pre-
tend that Cass and Buchanan would have done differently
from Roosevelt and lay? When Cass said that 18th
nian sovereignty would mot be permitted" to do Just
what Colombia did. will tell us how she would
not be permitted Such permission could be forbidden
only by the of force and in the situation
Bogota the only way to make good the policy of Cass
would have been direct and immediate war upon Coom-
bia, without waiting for Panama her former in
dependence a sovereign nation We can reach no
other conclusion the declaration of Cass approved by
Buchanan sincere statement of national policy
and vaporing
The Sun should remember that the Democratic party
ndorsed the Osend manifesto and according to the
doctrine OF that official declaration. applied to the
isthmian situation. what would that party have done
under the circumstances of the refusal of Bogota to
ratify the treaty and permit the canal? There is no
for doubt that Democratic President would have
considered himself fortunate be able stop short Of
the theory of that manifesto under which he would have
seized and annexed the sthmus. We ask calm consider
President Roosevelt has been in conformity to interna-
tonal right and law and honor
--
Very little public interest appears to have been ex-
cited in the vigorous and persistent prosecution of the