Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-11-10
they cause The public certainly has
a right to be protected and this is
about as good way to furnish such
protection as can be devised.
The Seizure of Panama.


From the dispatches so far publish
ed, it looks as if the Washington gov
ernment, having failed to negotiate the
Panama canal treaty by peaceful
means, is now proceeding deliberately
to carry out it's ends by force.
Under the Spooner bill passed at the
last session of congress, the president
was authorized to negotiate a treaty
with the government of Colombia for
a right of way and to then proceed
with the construction of the canal
The treaty as agreed upon by Secre-
tary Hay, representing the United
States, and Minister Herran, repres-
enting the United States Of Colombia,
was submitted to the Colombian con-
gress, and after long fight rejected.
Various considerations entered into the
Colombian side Of the problem; but
the main one, probably, was that if the
United States should be allowed to
dig the canal this country would even
tually assume sovereignty Of the coun-
try through which it runs.
It must not be understood that the
Colombians were unit on the ques-
ton. While a large number Of infiu-
ential representatives were opposed to
ratification, still the people Of the 18TH
mus itself, were favorable almost to a
man. They were sensible Of the ben
efits they would necessarily derive
from the expenditure of so many mill
lions of dollars right at their doors for
labor, and they realize also the tre-
mendous development that will follow
the opening up such an important
highway for the commerce right
through their country.
In this land of turmoil and strife
the outbreak Of revolution is not so
uncommon as to cause surprise, and
if it were not for the close association
of the United States, this one would be
of but small Importance. But there is
every reason to believe that the pres
ent. revolution was deliberately planned
by the administration at Washington,
and that the United States intends to
accomplish by force that which it fall
ed to accomplish by diplomacy.
The dispatches from Panama have
not given the development down there
in very satisfactory detail. For some
reason, it appears that the newspapers
were not anticipating the things that
are taking place and they were not
fully prepared. But from what is
known, it appears that few men have
set up the banner of revolt and declar-
ed for the establishment Of an in
dependent republic. The Colombian
troops and warships in the vicinity
made an effort to bring the insurrec-
tionists to terms; but the American
warships in the same vicinity landed
marines on pretense Of preserving or
der in accordance with treaty obliga-
tions, ETC., and the Colombian forces
had to withdraw.
News comes from Washington to the
effect that the junta government, set
up by the insurrectionists has been re-
cognized. and that a dozen warships
have been ordered to Colon on one side
of the isthmus and Panama on the
other side to preserve order. This
really means that the Washington gov
ernment is furnishing such force as is
necessary to enable the insurrectionists
to stand the Colombians off.
It is reported that the Colombians
have sent an army Of 1000 men to
overland; but that is not definite.
1t is claimed that for such an army
to reach Panama overland would
be impossible, and as it is the
evident purpose of the United
States warships not to permit the
landing Of troops at either Colon
or Panama, the revolutionists have a
right to consider themselves safe from
interference.
The Panama junta has already taken
occasion to publish the fact that the
United States can have whatever it
wants with reference to the building
of the canal, and although the Spoon
er bill took cognizance only Of the Co.
lombian government in the matter of
the then pending treaty, it is not
thought that the administration will
stand back on technicalities unless
congress takes a hand and demands
that the whole thing be done decently
and in ordar or not at all