The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-12
A HOPELESS MISSION.

That was a puerile proceeding on the
part of President Marroquin Of Colom-
bia to send a dispatch to the provis-
ional government of Panama that the
Panama canal treaty would certainly
be ratified by the Congress Of Colombia
next August, and stating that he had
sent Gen. Reyes to the isthmus to make
proposals looking to peace, and the saw
ing Of the national honor. Very natur-
ally the Panama government replied
that it was useless for Gen. Reyes
to come TO Panama, as his mission
was hopeless.
Why should the Panama government
bother itself about peace? 1t is in
no danger of being disturbed by Co
lombia. The United States have no
titled Colombia that she will not be
permitted to land troops on the isthmus
and presumably she viii not be per-
mitted to make war on the government
of Panama. The United States hold
it to be their duty to preserve peace
on the isthmus-a duty imposed upon
them by the terms of the treaty which
requires them to see to it that traffic
across the isthmus isn't interfered with.
The Panama government hasn't any
thing to fear from Colombia. No Eu-
ropean or other government is likely to
go to Colombia's assistance, and alone
she can do absolutely nothing. Her
best plan under the circumstances is
to say nothing and attempt to do moth
ing. She has made her protest. through
her minister at Washington, against
the course pursued by the United
States, and, if she is wise she will not
waste life and incur expense in try
ing to do more.
Panama occupies a much better posi-
ton than she did when a part of Co
lombia. If everything goes on as map
ped out she will have a full treasury
with which to begin her career as an
independent state, and will have from
the canal and from import duties a
revenue that will be fully sufficient for
the administration of her government.
1t is not probable therefore that she
will accept any offer from Colombia,
however flattering it may be. AS a
matter of fact it isn't in the power
of Colombia to put Panama in as good
a shape as she is as an independent
state, or will be when her affairs are
properly adjusted.
Doubtless Colombia's statesmen who
were instrumental in defeating the
ratification of the canal treaty feel
like doing themselves bodily harm. If
they had been gifted with ordinary
foresight they would have known that
the United States went to the limit
when they offered $4,000, 900, for canal
concessions and an annual rental of the
canal of $3.50, 900. The offer was a
liberal one, but these smart Colombian
statesmen thought that, dealing with
rich nation, they could play the hold
up game. and get a good many mil
lions more. They overreached them
selves. Their country, because of their
greed, has lost not only the money
1t could have had from the United
States, but also q large section of it's
best revenue producing territory. And
now they seem to think that Panama
will undo what she has done and re-
sumo her place as one of the states of
Colombia on the simple promise that
the canal treaty will be ratified next
August! Their exhibition of childlike
faith in the gullibility of the Pan
amaians is amusing. 1t is probable
that the people of Colombia will re-
tire these eminent statesmen to OBJ
security as soon as the opportunity pre-
sents itself. They certainly are I'M
fit to direct the affairs of the re-
public.