The Yale expositor., 1903-12-11

ceeded 10 the rights which nrst one and
then the other formerly exercised over
tho isthmus. Hut as long as the isthmus
cndures. the mere geographical fact 81 ~
existence. anu the peculiar interest there
Ia which h. required by our position.
perpetuate the solemn contract which
binds the holders Of the territory 20 re-
Hpect our right 20 freedom OF transit
across a. and binds W Ia return 90 safe
guard for the isthmus and the world the
exercise OF that inestimabie privilege
The true Interpretation OF the obiiga-
lions upon which the United states en-
tered In this treaty OF 1886 has been given
repeatedly IN the uttcrances OF Presi-
dents and Secretaries OF State. Secretary
Cass In 1858 officially stated the position
OF this Government ar follows;
THE progress OF events has rendered
the interoceanlc route across the narrow
portion OF Central America NnHtly impor-
tant TO the commercial world. and rspc-
ciaily Co the United States. whose pos.
sessions extend along the Atlantic aud
Pacific coasts. and demand the speediest
and easiest modes 90 communication.
while the rights % sovereignty of the
states occupying this region should al
ways be respected. We shall expect that
these rights be exercised In n spirit be-
hitting the occasion and the wants and
circumstances that have arisen. Sover.
eighty has It's duties as well as its rights
and none Of these local governments
even " administered with more regard to
the just demands Of other nations than
they have been, would be permitted. IN "A
spirit OF eastern isolation. TO close the
gates of intercourse on the great high
ways OF the world. and Justify the act by
the pretension that these avenues 81
trade ana travel belong To them and that
they choose 90 shut them. or. what IL
almost equivalent. to cucumber them
with such unjust relations as would pre-
49,
Seven years later. In 1855. Mr.. Seward
In different communications took the fol-
lowing position.
The United States have taken ana
will take no interest In any question %
internal revolution In the State OF Pan
anna. or any State ~ the United States OF
Colombia. but will maintain "A perfect
neutrality In connection with suCh do
nestle alterations. The United states
will. nevertheless. hold themselves ready
To protect the transit trade across the
lsihmus against invasion % either do
nestle or foreign disturbers % the peace
~ the state OF Panama. Neither
the text nor the spirit OF the stipulation
In that article by which the United States
engages To preserve the neutrality OF the
lsthmus OF Panama. imposes an obllgn-
ton on this Government 10 comply with
the requisition lof the President of the
United States Of Colombia for n force 10
protect the Isthmus OF Panama from a
body OF insurgents Of that country The
purpose % the stipula tion was 10 guar
antee the isthmus against seizure OF In
vasion by foreign power only"
For four hundred years. ever since
shortly after the discovery 81 this hem.
sphere. the canal across the isthmus ha,
been planned. For two score years II
has been worked at When made II Is 10
last for the ages n ~ Co alter the
geography OF continent and toe trade
routes OF the world. We have shown by
every treaty We have negotiated or At.
tempted 20 negotiate with the peoples I'm
control OF the isthmus and with foreign
nations In reference thereto our couSis.
tent good faith In observing OUR obliga.
lions: on the one hand 90 the peoples OF
the isthnus. and on the other hand to
the civilized world whose commercial
rights We are safeguarding and guarnn.
feeling by our Hction, We have done our
duty 10 others I'm letter and Ga spirit and
Ne have shown the utmost forbrafaucr In
exacting our own rights.
Last spring. under the act above re-
ferred to. treaty concluded between the
representatives OF the Republic 81 Co
inmbiR and % our Government was rati.
ncd by the Senate. This treaty was en-
tered into az the urgent solicitation of
the people % Colombia and after a body
% experts appointed by our Government
especially TO go into the matter OF tho
routes across the isthmus had pronounced
unanimously IN favor Of the Paunmn
route. In drawing up this treaty every
concession was made 20 the people and
90 the Government % Colombia We were
more than just In dealing with them. our
generosity was such as 20 make n a se.
fious question whether We had not gone
too far IN their interest at the expense OF
our own. Tor In our sCtupulous desire TO
pay all possible heed, not merely TO the
real but even 60 the fancicd rights ~ our
weaker neighbor. who already owed 20
much 10 our protection and forbea~nnce
We yielded in all possible ways To her
desires In drawing up the treaty Never.
theless the Government 81 Colombia not
merely repudiated the treaty, but repu-
dated 10 In such manner a. 20 make IL
evident nv the time tho Colombian Con.
grcss adjourned that not the scanticst
hope remained Of ever getting salts
factory treaty from them. The Govern.
ment ~ Colombia made the treaty. and
yet when the Colombian Congress was
called 10 ratify Ia the vote against rati-
hcation was unanimous. II docs not ap-
pear that the Government made any real
effort TO secure ratification.
Revolution In Panama.
Immediately after the adjournment OF
the Congress revolution broke out IN
Panama. The people ~ Panama had
long been Discontinued with the Republic
~ Colombia. and they had been kept quiet
only by the prospect of the conclusion
~ the treaty. which WAS To them "A mat
ter OF vital concern. when 70 became
evident that the treaty was hopelessly
lost. the people 81 Panama rose literally
as one man. Not shot was fred by "A
single man on the isthmus In the interest
- the Colombian Government Not u
life was lost In the accomplishment 81
the revolution. The Colombian troops
stationed on the isthmus. who had long
been unpaid. made common cause with
the people ~ Panama. and with aston
ishing uranimity the new republic was
started. The duty 81 the United States
In the premises was clear I'm strict ac-
cordance with the principles laid down
BY Secretaries Cass and Seward IN the Of
fetal documents above quoted. the United
States gave notice that IL would permit
the landing OF no eNpedltionary force.
the arrival % which would mean chaos
and destruction along the line OF the rail-
road and of tho proposed canal and an
interruption OF transit as an inevitable
consequence The de facto Government
% Panama was recognized In the follow.
Ing telegram Co Mr.. Ehrmnn;
THE people 81 Panama have by an.
parently unanimous movement. dissolved
their political connection with the Re
public Of Colombia and resumed their In
dependence. When you are satisfied that