Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-12-14

importance chiefly as a record of the
happenings incident to the creation Of
the republic of Panama. The presi-
dent declares that the United States
has been extremely patient with the
CoIumbians. In view OF the repeated
troubles on the isthmus, and that now
Panama has done its duty and the
United States congress would also.
A history OF tie events leading up to
the revolution is given also a detailed
account OF canal legislation. The dila-
tory conduct of Columbia in canal mat
ter Is discussed and the unanimous
rejection OF the canal treaty by the
columbian senate is mentioned with
uI concealed evaporation. The pres
-sent goes on:
knowing that the revolution has al
READY commenced in Panama an emf
uent Columbian says that II the gov
eminent OF the United States win land
troops to preserv Columbian sover-
eighty. and the transit, IL requested by
Columbian charge d affaires, this gov
eminent viii declare martial law: and,
By virtue OF vested constitutional au-
thority. when public order Is disturbed,
viii approve by decree the ratification
OF the canal treaty as signed: or. IL
the government OF the United States
prefers. viii call al extra session of
lC1gress-with new ard friendly men,
bers-next Nay TO approve the treaty.
An eminent Columbian has the perfect
confidence of the vice-president. he
saws. and x e became necessary will
80 To the isthmus or send representa-
tives there TO adjust matters along
above lines TO the satisfaction OF the
people there
This dispatch is noteworthy from
gwo standpOints. It's offer Of immedi-
ate guaranteeing the treaty To us is in
sharp contrast with the positive and
cOutemptuOus refusal OF the congress
which mas Just closed its sessions 10
consider favorably sue a treaty; it
shows that the government which
made the treaty really had absolute
control over the situation. but Did not
choose to exercise this control. The
dispatch further calls on us to restore
order and secure Columbian supremacy
in the Isthmus from which the Coiumb-
i'm government has just by its action
decided to bar US by preventing the
construction OF the canal.
The control. in the interest of the
commerce and traffic OF the whole civil
lied world, of the means OF undisturb-
cd transit ncross the isthmus Of Pan
anna has become of traEscendent i'm
pOrtanCe TO the United States. We have
repeatedly exercised this control by
intervening in the course of domestic
dissension. and by protecting the ter
ritory from foreign invasion. In 1853
Mr.. Everett assured the Peruvian min
lister that we should not hesitate 10
maintain the neutrality OF the isthmus
in the case OF war between Peru and
Columbia In 1864 Columbia, which
has always been vigilant to avail itself
az its privileges conferred by the
treaty. expressed its expectation that
in the event OF war between Peru and
Spain the United States would carry
into effect the guaranty Of neutrality.
There have been but few administra-
tons Of the state department i'm which
tbs treaty has not, either by one side
or the other. been used as a basis of
nose or less important demands. IL
was said by Mr.. Fish n 1871 that the
department 81 state had reason TO be
ueve that an attack upon Columbian
sovereignty on the isthmus had, on
several occasions. been averted by
warning from this government In 1886
when Columbia was under the menace
OF hOstilities from Italy in the Cerruti
case. Mr.. Bayard expressed the seri-
Gus concern that the United States
could not but feel that a European
mower should resort TO force against a
sister republic OF this hemisphere. as
10 the sovereign and uninterrupted
use OF a part Of whose territory we
are guarantors under the solemn faith
OF a treaty.
The above recital OF facts estab-
fishes beyond question: First. that
the United States has for over half 2
century patiently and in good faith
carried out its obligations under the
treaty OF 1916. Second. that when for
the first time Il became possible for
Columbia TO do anything in requital OF
the services thus repeatedly rendered
70 IL for ffty-seven years by the United
States. the Columbian government
peremptCr'ly and extensively refused
to 90 its part. even though TO do SO
would have been TO its disadvantage
and immeasurably TO the advantage OF
the state OF Panama at that time under
its Jurisdiction. Third, that through
out this period revolutions, riots and
factional disturbances Of every kind
have occurred one after the other IN
almost uninterrupted succession. some
OF them lasting for months and even
for years. while the central govern
ment was unable 10 put them down OF
to make peace with the rebels; foruth'
that these disturbances instead OF show