Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-01
COLOMBIA'S.
CONTRARINESS
Progress Of the World Being Blocked
by the Attitude Of That Country
on the Canal Question.
RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN
Colombia Not Living Up to Agreement
and the United States May be
49, Forced to Radical Action.

SuitaBop Junt CIV dlteT Wtlfldn,
in a washington special to the Rec
ord Herald, says:
Possibilities of international COM
plications over the Penama canal give
the administration some concern. A
pnain statement OF the facts show that
the situation Is one which must cause
anxiety until it is cleared up in one
way pr another. ills not true that
PRESIDENT Roosevelt has threatened
to seize the isthmus. 1t is not true
that our government is intriguing to
bring about a secession from Colon
|biag by the state Of Panama and its
neighbor, Cauea, with a view to the
ultimate acquisition of the canal ter
ritory OF the United. States. But this
has occurred: The administration has
taken a firm stand in favor of the
general proposition that Colombia
sail not be permitted 10 block the
worlds progress and that in n way
or another that government must re
deem its obligations to the United
States. Various expressions to this
effect, decisive. but temperate, have
been made In the proper quarters and
no doubt have reached the ears of
government leaders at Bogota. OF
course II was intended they should
be transmitted thither. These expires.
sions can not,be regarded as a threat.
No effort is being made to intimidate
the Colombians with the superior pow.
er of the United States. But there
Is a desire that the intelligent men
who. are nov assembling at Bogota
mail be made to understand that they
have some obligations to the outside
world TO consider and meet.
Must Redeem Obligations.
sMembers Of the administration say
Colombia is under obligations to the
United States. At various times in the
past the Colombian government
through its diplomatic representatives
here has made specific pledges as 10
what the state would do in case the
United States decided to dig an 18th.
milan canal upon Colombian territory.
These promises were to make rea-
sonable terms, to throw no obstacles
In the way of the enterprise and to
meet the United States fairly and gen.
erously In the fixing OF all details.
THESE. pledges are q part of the rec.
ords. They formed a condition pre-.
cedent to the passage of the Panama
canal bill by congress last winter.
They were finally expressed in the
treaty which has been ratified by the
United States senate. Members of the
administration say this is something
moro than a tentative negotiation. II
Is a compact. The United States has
spent time and money on its part and
has a right to expect a fulfllment OF
the spirit of the agreement at least
on the part of the Colombians.
When President Roosevelt intimates
las he has intimated, that the time
has come to stop dwadling with Co
lombia, he does not mean that tht
United States threatens aggression
bat that the Coiombians must NEE
the case fairly IL they wish to aver
tthe raising of a new question in tn,
relations between their government
and the United States.
Mustn't Block Worlds Progress.
There is another view of the cas-,
which has received attention here
The claim is made that no state hal
o right to throw itself In the way o
the worlds progress. The smaller tn,
state the more unreasonable its atti
tude, an the more important the move
which 1t tries to block the more acut,
the situation must be. For instance
savage tribes are not permitted to pre-
vent the opening of continents to civ
ilization and commerce, and backward
nations which are advanced far be
yond savagery must conform to thu
worlds necessities.
There. Is such a principle as civiliz
atoms right OF eminent domain. Fol
instance, II nature has placed in tn,
Atlantic ocean q long strip of rock
standing in the path of commerce be
tween the old world and the new, in
habited by a million or two OF people
who maintained a sort of government
and 1t was desired to cut a channe
for ships. II that government stood In
the way, either declaring 1t should
not be done or attempting to exact ex
orbitant terms, how long would it take
the governments of America and Eu
rope to dispose Of this obstacle?
Civilizations Right Of Domain.
Civilizations right of eminent do
main would be exercised and. a chan
mel would be cut for the worlds com
merce. Nature did not plant such
q strip of rock in the Atlantic ocean,
huf she nlanfed nnn In tho American