Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-11-25

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25, 1908.
Has this Country Dealt Justly with
Colombia?
Civilization and the increasing
commerce Of the world has long de-
manded canal across the Isthmus
of Panama.
France spent hundreds Of millions
Of dollars in futile attempt to dig
the canal, and by SO doing shorten
the voyage by water between the
two great oceans more than 10000
miles.
Bya treaty with Great Britain, and
an agreement with the interested
parties in France, this country ac-
qu;red the right to dig the canal;
but the terms Of our agreement
with Colombia were not defined.
Some took the position that a new
treaty with Colombia was not nee
essarys that the franchises granted
to the French company, and for
which we will have to pay a large
price, gave this country sufficient au-
thoriLy to goahead with the work.
The Presidents advisers, however,
thought otherwise, and entered into
negotiations for new treaty with
Colombia.
The Colombian minister, who
negotiated the new pact with Sec
rotary Hay, drove the closest bar
gain possible. He would grant moth
ing more than SO year lease, and
upon terms which gave Colombia an
embarrassing supervision over the
territory used for canal right-of-
way. This country exceeded the
limit Of generosity toward its weak
or sister republic. By the terms Of
the Hay-Herran treaty we agreed to
give the chief cities on the isthmus
public Improvements, which would
promote the health of their people;
carry Colombian troops and officials
about free Of charge; expend hun
dreds of millions Of dollars in great
public improvement, which would
make the isthmus the meeting place
of the world commerce, and bring
to Colombia's doors great volume
Of profitable trade. Pay yearly
rental Of $25O,OO0, and in addition
to all this pay Colombia $l0.00o,-
600 for the privilege Of bestowing
these benefits. Colombia did not
agree to expend a dollar in the
construction Of the canal, and the
treaty negotiated by. its minister
granted very scanty franchises for
the colossal price demanded.
The government of Colombia, to
the surprise and disgust of every
friend Of the canal in all Christen-
dom, refused to ratify the Hay-Her-
ran treaty. By SO doing the repre-
sentatives of that country disregard
ed the interests Of civilization, and
attempted to extort from this
country still greater sum ofmoney
for the privilege Of constructing a
canal to be used on equal terms by
the people of all nations.
Notwithstanding all this the
state of Panama belonged to the re-
public Of Colombia, Just the same as
4 the State of South Carolina belongs
to the United States. s,
If Great Britain in 1860 had
recognized the independence Of
South Carolina, within two or
three days after that state had
passed its ordinance Of secession,
and had then sent word to the
authorities at Washington that this
country would not be permitted to
use force to oblige our seeding
state to resume its allegiance to the
national government, Great Britain
would have been doing nothing
more than this country has done a
Panama. And if Great Britain hac
sent vast fleets Of powerful war yes
sells to our coast in 1860, to enforce
her demands for the peaceful indie
pendence Of South Carolina, tina
country would have done nothing
more than we are now doing in oul
action against Colombia. And hac
Great Britain in 1860, entered int
treaty with South Carolina, by The
terms Of which Great Britain guar
anteed the independence Of Souti
Carolina, there would have beer
nothing done by Great Britain more
than we are not now trying to d.
: with the state of Panama.
This brings us to the question
are we dealing justly with Colombia
How will this question be answered
by the great court Of public opinion
the world over?
The advice given by the low
Homestead at the close Of the follow
ing article entitled, "a Little Poll
tics" is in line with what the Demo
crat has been advocating for man,