Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-12-17

The United States will nevertheless, hold
themselves ready TO protect the transit
trade across the lsthmus against Invasion
or either domestic or foreign dlsturbers Of
the peace OF the state Of Panama.
Neither the text nor the spirit OF the slip
ulaton In that article by which the United
states engages to preserve the neutrality
OF the lsthmus of Panama, Imposes an OBJ
legation on this Government to comply with
the requlsition (of the President OF the
United States Of Colombia for force to
protect the lsthmus OF Panama from a body
OF Insurgents Of that country. The pur-
pose OF the stipulation was to guarantee
the lsthums against seizure or Invasion by
foreign power only"
Attorney General Speed, under date OF
November Z, 1865, advised Secretary Seward
as follows:
From this treaty 1t can not be sup
posed that New Granada Invited the United
States to become a party to the intestine
troubles OF that Government, nor did the
United States become bound to take sides
In the domestic brols Of New Granada. The
United States did guarantee New Granada
In the sovereignty and property over the
foreign governments"
For four hundred years, ever since shortly
after the discovery Of this hemisphere, the
canal across the Isthmus has been planned.
For two score years 1t has been worked at.
When made 1t Is to last for the ages. 1t
Is to alter the geography OF continent and
the trade routes VI the world. We have
shown 10y every treaty we have negotiated
or attempted to negotiate with the peoples
In control OF the Isthmus and with for
eign nations In reference thereto our con-
sistent good faith In observing our obliga-
lions; on the one hand to the peoples of the
Isthmus, and on the other hand to the
civilized world whose commercial rights
we are safeguarding and guaranteeing by
our action. We have done our duty to 9TH
ers In letter and In spirit, and we have
shown the utmost forbearance In exacting
our own rights.
Inst spring, under the act above referred
to, a treaty concluded between the repre-
sentatives OF the Republic of Colombia and
OF our Government was ratified by the SEN
ate. This treaty was entered into at the
urgent solicitation of the people Of Colon
bia and after body of experts appointed
by our Government especially TO so into the
matter Of the routes across the Isthmus had
pronounced unanimously In favor of the
Panama route. In drawing up this treaty
every concession was made to the people
and to the Government OF Colombia. We
were more than Just in dealing with them.
Our generosity was such as to make II a
serious question whether we had not gone
too far In their Interest at the expense of
our own; for In our sCrupulOus desire to
pay all possible heed, not merely to the
real but even to the fancled rights OF our
weaker nelghbor, who already owed so much
to our protection and fOrbearunce, we yield
ed In all possible ways to her desires in
drawing up the treaty. Nevertheless the
Government of Colombia not merely re-
pudiated the treaty, but repudiated 1t In
such manner as to make 1t evident by the
time the Colombian Congress adjourned that
not the sCantiest nope remained OF ever get
ting a satisfactory treaty from them. The
Government Of Colombia made the treaty,
and yet when the Colombian Congress was
called to ratify II the vote against ratih
cation was unanimous. 1t 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 discontinued with the Republic of Co
lombia, and they had been kept quiet only
by the prospect of the conclusion OF the
treaty, which was to them matter Of VI
tai concern. When 1t became evident that
the treaty was hopelessly lost, the people
Of Panama rose literally as one man. Not
a shot was fired by a single man on the
| Isthmus in the interest of the Colombian
Government. Not a life was lost In the
accomplishment of the revolution. The Co.
| lombian troops stationed on the lsthmus
| who had long been unpaid, made common
! cause with the people of Panama, and
with astonishing unanmity the new Repub.
| lie was started, The duty of the United
| States in the premises was clear. In strict
accordance With the principles laid down
| by Secretaries Cass and Seward In the Of
! fetal documents above quoted, the United
/ States gave notice that II would permit the
! landing of no eNpedtionary force. the ar
| rival Of which would mean chaos and de-
| structiUn along the line of the railroad and
of the proposed canal and an interruption
OF transit as an inevitable consequence.
The de factO Government of Panama
]
TO Mr. Ehrman: The people Of Panama
| have, by apparently unanimous movement,
dissolved their political connection with
the Republic of Colombia and resumed
! their independence. When you are salts
fed that de facto government, republican
In form and without substantial opposition
! from Its own people, has been established
in the state Of Panama, you will enter
into relations with 1t as the responsible
government of the territory and look to 1t
| for all due action to protect the persons
and property Of citizens OF the United
States and 10 keep open the lsthman tran.
slit In accordance with the obligations of
| existing treaties governing the relations
of the United States to that territory"
fed of our action by the following tele:
nous movement, dissolved their political
connection with the Republic OF Colombia
and resumed their independence. and hay-
ing adopted government Of their own, re-
publican In form, with which the Govern
ment of the United States OF America has
entered into relations, the. President of
the United States, In accordance with tie
ties Of friendship which have so long and
so happily existed between the respective
| nations, most earnestly commends to the
| Government of Colombia and of Panama
the peaceful and equitable settlement OF
all questions at Issue between them. He
holds that he Is bound not merely by treaty
obligations, but by the interests OF cvlli-
zatlon, to see that the peaceful traffic OF
the world across the Isthmus OF Panama
| u
succession OF unnecessary and wasteful
civil wars"
When these events happened, nfty seven
years had elapsed since the United States
had entered into Its treaty with New
Granada. During that time the Govern.
ments OF New Granada and OF its sue.
cessor, Colombia. have been In a constant
state OF hux. There have been revolu.
lions, rebellons, instructions, riots, and
other outbreaks, numbering SO for the 81
years. 1t is a fact that one of them lasted
Tor nearly three years before 1t was quell.
Sl; another for nearly a year. In short
the experience of over half century has
shown Colombia to be utterly incapable OF
keeping order on the Isthmus. Only the
active interference OF the United States
has enabled her TO preserve so much as 9
semblance OF sovereignty. Had 1t not
been for the exercise by the United States
OF the police power In her Interest, heI
connection with the lsthmus would have
been sundered long ago. In 1856. in 1850
In 1878, In 1855, In 1901 and again In 1902
sailors and marines from United States
war ships were forced TO land In order to
patrol the lsthmus, to protect life and
property, and to see that the transit across
the Isthmus was kept open. In 1861. In
1888, and IN 1900, the Colombian Govern
ment asked that the United States Govern
ment would land troops to protect its In
terests and maintain order on the Isthmus
Cuiombia'- Latest ropos ition.