New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-18
HOT PANAMA FIGHT IN SENATE.
HOAR AND GORMAN BITTERLY 1TTACK PRESIDENT
ROOSEVELTDS POLICY.
1t Is Stouty Defended By Senator Forak-DemOcas Hope
Defeat Canal Treaty.

What We want TO know is" he said did this
government. knowing that revolution was
about 10 take place. so arrange matters that ths
revolution, whether peaceable otherwise,
should be permitted to go on without fnterrup-
ton. and whether our national authorities took
measures TO prevent Colombia from stopping II -
THE POLICEMAN ON THE ISTHNIUS1
Mr.. Hoar quoted the correspondence beariusa
on the revolution. and asked. Why this great
anxiety before any disturbance had occurred? 80
1t was. ne said. clear that If the correspondence
so far printed included all the information pos
sible to give the subject. that from twenty
four to foTty-eght hours before the revolution
broke out this governments had instructed a.
man-of-wsr to prevent Colombia from doing
anything to prevent it. Il want to know. and the
American people want TO know. and have a.
right to know. whether this mighty policeman
on the isthmUs, seeing about to attack
another is justified. before the blow IS struck. in
manacling the assailed party. and whether. after
the assault has been made, the policeman is
justified in claiming that the pocketbook which
has been taken from the victim by the assaiIant
should be turned over to him (the policemanb
the ground that he was the Tightful owner?''
Mr. Hoar quoted from order dated Novem-
Der , sent by Acting Secretary Darling of the
Navy Department TO the Nashville. directing
her to maintain uninterrupted transit OF this
isthmus and to prevent the landing OF any
armed force with hostile intention. whether gov
ernment or insurgent. at Colon. PoTtobeuo, or
any other point. and said it appeared that this
dispatch had been sent on Sunday, November I.
whereas the revolution did not occur until tbres
days later. On November s. before this govern
neut had received any notice Of the revolution.
orders had been sent to The consul at Colon
that the troops should not be allowed to- proceed
to Panama Yet up To a on November I
very few persons at Colon knew of the intended
revolutionary movement. He inquired If this
government really knew Of the intended revo-
luton, and meant to assure its success. addingS
Mr. President. 1t may be said that il IS al
most an affrOnt, certainly great tncivItty. 20
ask such question II may be said that any
body who knows the President knows thar hs
is incapable OF intrigue or tndirectiOn or artt%
flee. And from all 1 have ever said OF known,
Mr. Roosevelt Is the last man living who would
be capable of such a thing that. His faults.
if he have them, I have always expected would
come from brave and honest and perhaps
somewhat impeJuOus nature that would ever
seek to attain great objects in great way.
But the President himself has suggested and
invited the desire for this explanation. He has
thought it due himself that the Americans
people should know that nothing OF the kind
could be imputed 70 him He has repealed witt
scorn the suggestion OF such an imputatou-
He has taken the uncommon step OF cOmmUui~
eating 10 the press extracts from messags
which he had prepared TO send TO Congress-
written before the revolution occurred in Pan
anna. I'm order that the American people rnighr
know that II impossible that he had sX-
pected it and still more impossible that he had
done anything 70 bring il about.
did not think myself that such assurances
70 the public at all necessary II the Presi-
dent had sent for any member OF the Senats
and had proposed TO show him that Message
he would. I think. have been told there was
no occasion for him 10 seek to prove by any evil
denCe beyond that of his character that hen
had had nothing 10 do with any indiveCtiOn o-
srtifice, But he decided otherwise. And, having
decided otherwise. / suppose he viii like 10 have
al ed
cation TO the House OF Representative and ny
the Message at the beginning OF the present.
I session made complete. and whatever is lacking
/ to a complete answer 10 the charges which havs
/ been made in the press supplied.
Now, Mr. President. as the matter stands on
! the information given 70 the House. the shores
/ Of Colombia were patrOIled by armed vessels %
| the United States in order that that governments
/ the government OF the cOuntry-shouid not
| take any steps TO prevent IT,
| FOREKNOwLEDGE OF REVOLT ALLEGED
! It does not appear in that document where Or
/ from whom our administration secured the in
/ formation that led 10 these orders. According
/ 70 the documents sent 10 the House by tho
/ President the first tidngs OF any revolution that
| came either from Panama or Colon. or eN-
/ pected revolution. came on November :. the day
/ the revolution happened. As the statement ia
/ now left in the official communication 20 Con-
| gress this revolution was known at WaStiDgV
/ ton before II was known on the isthmus All
\ our government, BY its own statement seems 70
/ have done in it's anxiety that transit should
/ he disturbed was. not 10 take measures that
/ violence should not occur nut 70 tSAe measures
/ that violence should not be prevented. IL per-
| formed It's duty OF keeping uninterrupted the
/ transit across the isthmus only by interrupttnS
II itself-interrupting IL itself in its most sacred
| and rightful use-that OF the lawful government
i OF the country moving its own troops over itS
| own territory that IL might prevent breach Ot
| its peace and unlawful revolution against its
i authority
Mr. President. Is there any doubt that. as
! now standing unexplained. this was an act or
war;
Colombia a friendly nation She ovnet
that territory We have admitted all that by