The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-15
PANAMA IN THE HOUSE
Birth of New Republic Was Subject
of Spirited Debate.
THE RECOMMENDATION CRITICISED

Mr.. Dlnsmors DEM Said Blunder Had
Been Made-Mr. Hit (Rep.) Replied
In a Vigorous Defense Of President
and His Central American Policy.
Washington. Dec. l2.-The birth OF
| the Republic OF Panama and It's recoB-
milton by this government was the sub
| ject OF a spirited debate In the house.
Mr. Dlnsmore Dem. Ark). during the
consideration Of the pensions appro-
priation bin, severely criticised the
administration In connection with the
canal. and Mr.. Hit (Rep, I'LL. chair
man Of the foreign affairs committee.
replied in a vigorous defense OF the
president and his Central American
policy Mr.. Williams (Miss.). the mi
nority leader, replied to Mr. Hit. de-
clarlng that the minority did not con
done the part taken by this govern
ment in connection with Panama ar.
/ fairs.
Mr. Dinsmorc criticised the hasty
recognition OF the Republic Of Panama
/ He said that Secretary Hay learned
statocraft al the feet OF Abraham Lin
coin. and referred to the attitude OF
the government In 1860 towards the
question OF recognition. saying that
Mr. Hay had now taken different
view OF that question. lie character
ICED the revelation as opera bouffe. and
said canal could have been built un-
der the canal act without oyerturning
any precedent In conclusion he said
a bunder had been committed which
he hoped would never be repeated
Mr. Hit made a vigorous defense OF
the administration In connection with
the Republic OF Panama. His refer
ences TO the president caused loud ap-
plause on the Republican side. The
president said Mr. Hit. had not been
precipitate but had waited a reason.
able time But" he added he did
not waste tlme-he never does This
utterance was loudly applauded on the
Republican side
Ordinarily Mr. Hit went on.
when ship is in port and a dis
turbance or insurrectiOn occurs, we
land troops 10 protect Americans from
being killed or robbed. We have done
that in France. and We would do ii
anywhere In the case Of Panama our
situation was different from that OF
any spot On earth We had a solemn
and binding engagcm, % which had
been impressed upon ne for wears
Often we were called upon by the Co
lombian government oftener by
events. to enforce the obligation 10
keep that path open from sea to sea;
not 10 aid nor to suppress rebellion.
but 10 keep the path open, and when
we landed troops al Colon their duty
under the treaty was plain to let no
armed men or cause Of any kind 10 dis
turb the open. free course Of commerce
or Of movement in the pathway across
the isthmus" applause on Republican
side)
After reviewing the history Of the
act of congress and the negotiations
with Colombia and the sending OF a
treaty 70 Bogota. Mr.. Hit said the
people Of Colombia thought the United
States were so bent on having a canal
on the isthmus that the game was
easy. They had ten millions, but
twenty would be better. and Colombian
papers had urged those charged with
power TO hold out for great sums Of
Yankee money. Referring TO the size
Of Panama, Mr. Hit said 1T is not a
matter Of space. The rule Of square
mile is mistake Moral laws are not
measured from the surveyors point"
THE one purpose that has been ef-
fected. the one that has been voted for
I'm this body and has governed the
action OF our government, Is the one
that every good American heartily
sympathizes with That is the reason
we do not apologize for the conduct
OF our government in following the
precedents OF It's past history. and we
are proud that we have a president
that did not wait 10 years" loud ap-
plauss on the Republican side)
Mr. Williams. the minority leader
following, charged that this was the
first time that this government had
lnterfered In the domestic affairs OF
South American country. The Demo
Gratis want a canal. he said. They
wanted the Nicaraguan canal, but II
they could not get the canal where
they thought it ought TO be they would
take Il where they could get II and
take it as they might get It. He
thought possibly the NIcaraguan route
was regarded as too great a competi'
tor OF the trans-continental railways.
He said the Democrats are not proud
of the part this government has taken,
but they must recognize fact as a
fact
After some further remarks, Mr.. |
williams closed as follows;
III the president refuses TO obey the
plain words of the Spooner act, ap. |
proved by him, perhaps suggested by |
him: II he is going to override the
law; If. after having waited a reason
able time to enter into a new treaty |
with Colombia he now refuses to obey |
the language OF mat law and proceed /
to try and negotiate a treaty with
Costo Rica and Nicaragua, then in
Codfc ,o,,,o hurr,, IN vour canal ~