Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-12-12

lows
he progress OF events has render.
ed the inter-oceanic route across the
narrow portion OF Central America
vastly important to the commercial
world. and especially to the United
states, whose possessions extend
along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts,
and demand the speediest and easiest
modes OF communication. While the
rights OF sovereignty of states occupy.
ing this region should always be re-
spected, we shall expect that these
rights be exercised In spirit beiit.
ting the occasion and the wants and
circumstances that have arisen. Sow.
ereignty has It's duties as well as its
rights, and none OF these local govern
ments. even II administered with more
regard to the just demands OF other
nations than they have been, would
be permitted. In spirit of eastern
isolation, to close the gates OF inter
course on the great highways OF the
world, and Justify the act by the pre-
tension that these avenues OF trade
and travel belong to them and that
they choose TO shut them, or, what
Is almost equivalent, to cucumber
Ahth WIN gu II UNJUST AtlaAiOHn 40
would prevent their general use"
Seven years later. In 1865. Mr.. Sew
ard In different communications took
the folowing position:
The united States have taken and
will take no interest in any question
Of internal revolution In the state OF
Panama, or any state OF the United
States of Col )mbia but will maintain
perfect neutrality in connection
with such domestic alterations, The
UniteG States will, nevertheless, hold
themselves ready to protect the tran.
sit trade across the isthmNs against
invasion OF their domestic or 'oreign
disturbers of the peace OF the state
OF Panama. Neither the text
nor the spirit CT the stipulation in that
article by which the United States en-
cages to prese we the neutrality OF the
lsthmus of Panama, imposes an obli-
cation on this government TO comply
with the requisition Iof the president
OF the United States from body OF
insurgents OF that country. The pur-
pose OF the stipulation was to guaran.
tee the isthmus against seizure or In
vasion by foreign power only"
Attorney General Speed. under date
of November Z. 1865. advised Score.
tary Seward as follows:
Prom this treaty It car be suppos-
ed that New Granada invited the Unit
ed States to become party to the
intestine troubles OF that government,
nor did the United States become
bound to takes sides In the domestic
broils OF New Granada The United
States did guarantee New Granada In
the sovereignty and property over the
territory. This was against other and
foreign governments"
For four hundred years ever since
shortly after the discovery OF this
hemisphere, the canal across the Is
thmus has been planned. For two
score years II has been worked at
When made II Is to last for the ages.
II is TO alter the geography OF a con-
tinent and the trade routes OF the
world. We have shown by every treaty
we have negotiated or attempted to
negotiate with the people In control OF
the isthmus and with foreign nations
in reference thereto our consistent
good faith in observing our obliga-
tons; on the one hand TO the peoples
of the isthmus, and on the other hand
to the civilized world whose com.
mercial rights we are Safeguarding
and guaranteeing by our action. We
have done our duty to others in let
ter and in spirit and we have shown
tCe utmost forbearance In exacting
our own rights
Reputation Of Treaty by Colombia.
Last spring, under the act above
referred to. a treaty concluded be-
tween the representatives OF the Re
public of Colombia and OF our govern.
me ut was ratified by the senate. This
treaty was entered into at the urgent
solicitation OF the people OF Colombia
and after a body of experts appoint
ed by our government especially to
20 into the matter OF the routes across
the isthmus had pronounced unaui.
mously in favor OF the Panama route.
In drawing up this treaty every con-
cesslon was made to the people and
20 the government OF Colombia. We
were more than just In dealing with
them. Our generosity was such as to
make II serious question whether
we had not gone too far In their in
forests at the expense OF our own;
for In our scrupulous desire to pay all
POSSIBLE heed, not mereiy 20 the real
but even to he fancied rights OF our
weaker neighbor. who already owed SO
much to our protection ard forbear-
ance. we yielded In all possible ways
to her desires In drawing up the
treaty. Nevertheless the government
Of Colombia not merely repudlated
the treaty, but repudlated II in such
manner as to make II evident by the
time the Colombian congress adjourn
ed that not the scantiest hope remain.
ed OF ever getting a satisfactory treaty
from them. The government OF Colon
bia made the treaty, and yet when the
Co .ombian congress was called to
ratify il the vote against ratification
was unanimous. II does not appear
that the government made any real
effort TO secure ratification.
Revolution In Panama.
Immediately after the adjournment
OF the congress a revolution broke out
In Panama. The people OF Panama
had long been disconnected with the
Republic of Colombia, and they had
been kept quiet only by rhe prospect
OF the conclusion OF the treaty. which
was to them a matter OF vital con-
Germ. When II became evident that the
treaty was hopelessly lost, the people
OF Panama rose literally as one man.
Not a ahAf mae A. -.