New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-09
RELATIONS WITH PANAMA.

Thu. saerns to no n sound opinion or the
S4o+a Denartment that without further legls-
lation the President is authorized TO execute
with the new Republic of Panama the cahin
arrangements which were proposed 10 De nlade
with the United States of Colombia. IL Is COLI
dftional Of course, upon the Presidents Juog-
ment that it is proper still TO seek route at
Panama and not 10 turn 10 Nicaragua anu
also unon tbe ability of the Isthmians to make
their little republic permanent and trust
worthy. These conditions being granted, the
announced policy of the government rests upon
the principle long ago set forth. and repeated
last week with convincing force 10y the Secre-
tarv of State. that our relations with Panama
run with the land and are not affected by
changes of local government.
The reasonableness of this view is apparent
when we consider the history Of the case Some
persons talk as though Colombia had always
existed lust as it is now, and Panama had
always been an integral part of it, That is
great mistake When President Monroe first
recognized its independence, the Republic of
Colombia. as it was then called, comprised
what is now known as Colombia and also Venez-
uela and Ecuador Ten years or so later a
revolution occurred. and the Republic of New
Granada arose in the place now occupied by
Colombia Venezuela and Ecuador seeding
Granada that President Polk made the treaty
of 1916. Now. that treaty was made with the
central government of New-Granada, at Bogota.
But seven years after the making of it, another
revolution occurred in 1858, and the constitu-
ton was so altered as to permit any province
or State TO secede at will and establish its in
dependence with merely federal relations with
the central government. Accordingly, Antio-
Ouia did thus secede in 1856, and Panama did
the same in 1857. Nevertheless our treaty Of
1876 continued to hold good in Panama, just
| as though no secession had occurred. 1t ran
/ with the land" Again, in 1861 there was an
/ other general revolution, and the Republic Of
| New-Granada gave place TO the United States
! of Colombia. into which latter union Panama
entered TO only q partial degree. Finally, in
! 1856. another constitution was promulgated,
abolishing the federal system and reducing the
States to the rank Of departments under the
central government This latter change does
not appear ever to have been acquiesced in by
Panama. and there has been, there and else
where, a practically chronic state of revolt
against it,
Amid all these changes, the rights and duties
Of the United States with respect to isthmian
transit at Panama have remained unchanged.
The principles established in the treaty made
with the Republic of New-Granada were main
| tanned toward and under the United States OF
Colombia They were not repudiated nor i'm
! paired when Panama seeded from New
Granada and became practically independent,
nor yet when the clerical-conservadve reaction
| strove TO force the isthmian State back into
complete subsection to Bogota. They pertain
| directly and exclusively to the Isthmus of
| Panama, and must continue so TO do. no mat
ter what further changes Of government may
occur there. They run with the land" and as
long the land remains they must prevail.