The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-07

 Shortly before the flag of the re- O public of Panama was formally hoisted over the prefecture this morning, the new civil and military governor, Porfro Mendez, delivered an oration. He said:
 "Isthmians; In the year 1921. the popu- lation of the Isthmus of Panama severed the tie that bound it to the government of Spain and spontaneously adhered to | the new republic of Colombia. Neither l the spontaneousness of this act, nor many other subsequent ones of fidelity to Co., lombia, have had the effect of having the governments that succeeded each other at Bogota, concede to the isthmus, except on paper, the same rights that i they had granted to the inhabitants of , other Colombian departments. Neither were the votes of the isthmans ever | taken into account, nor were their just complaint and patriotic aspirations at tended to- In virtue whereof and the ties of union with Colombia being for these reasons severed the population of Panama masse taking into account the noble conduct of their progenitors of November 2S, 1921, have proclaimed the republic of Panama and have appointed supreme board of government which the troops and public of Panama, withI out political distinction, and the foreign colony, obey with enthusiasm
 Asks for Support.
 Delegated by that board, l have as- sumed command of this province, and trust you will all surround us with your support for the purpose of raising on high and without blemish the flag of the A>~<<<~<>><<~<< viction that the time had come for this gigantic project to be carried out. It was too great for individual or corporate en- terprises. It could only be initiated and carried to a conclusion by a government of great power and vast resources, and the only government to which it was a possibility was that of the United States. By authorization of congress the Presi- dent entered into treaty with the gov ernment of Bogota for the construction of a canal by way of the Isthmus of Pan anna"
 CnaI Treaty Very Liberal.
 Wishing to show every consideration to l the government of Colombia, the treaty contained provisions of extraordinary 1 liberality A large bonus was given for the privilege of constructing the canal a liberal annual lease was added. and all these was in addition to the numberless benefits which would accrue to the Co., lombian government and people from the construction in their territory of this CO., | lossal work. The treaty was promptly ratified by the senate of the United ] States and rejected unanimously and | without consideration by that of Colom- | bia.
 1 The suggestions which have been made to this government since the failure of the treaty in Bogota of a renewal of ne- gotiations have been too vague and too extravagant to the merit the serious con sideration of the United States; and they were sue as to create the impression on the mincs of the people of Panama that there was no reasonable prospect of the accomplishment of the object upon which their hopes and desires had been set for many years.
 Causes of Dscontent.
 "This brings us to the sudden and startling events which have so recently attracted the attention of this country and followed. Although there has been no lack for many years past of numer- ous causes of discontent and anxiety among the people of Panama, it appears that the failure of the canal treaty con vinced them that there was nothing more to be hoped for in their connection with the Colombian government, which had never proved entirely satisfactory. They went to work, with that talent for prompt and secret organization, to which there is no parallel among people of northern blood; they prepared the machinery of revolution in advance and suddenly, in a single day, without the firing of a shot, with the exception of a few shells that were thrown into the city from a Colom- bian steamer in the harbor of Panama, they accomplished their independence. The government consisting of leading cit izens of the state was at once organ ized and proclaimed to the world; a part of the Colombian forces joined together, the troops returned to Colon and the new regime began it's career with no or ganzed opposition throughout the entire extent of the sthmus.
 Roosevelt's Course Plain.
 The course of the President in this con- lecture was marked out in advance by all our principles and precedents He gave orders that traffic from one side of the isthmus to the other should be kept un- impeded by either party. and charged our officers the isthmus to use the utmost influenc. .o prevent any attack by one of the contending factions upon the other which would be calculated to cause dis turbance of traffic When it was reported to him that government capable of maintaining order had been established and was working without opposition, he did what is always done under such cir cumstances. He directed our representa- tive at Panama. as soon as he was cer- tain that government capable of main- taining the public peace had been es- tablished by the consent of the people, that he was to enter into official relations with it. He also directed our minister at Bogota to inform the Colombian govern ment that he had entered into relations with the new provisional government of Panama, and he took occasion, relying upon the ties of friendship and the val uable services which we have so often rendered to the people of Panama and the government of Colombia to commend to the respective governments the peace ful and equitable settlement of all ques- tions at issue between them.
 He took occasion at the same time to give motive to the world that not only our treaty obligations, but the impera- tive demands of the interests of civliza- tion required him to put stop. which we hope and believe will be a final one to the incessant civil contests and bick- erings which have been for so many years the curse of Panama. Having regard only to the political crisis and the needs of the hour. no painer duty was ever imposed upon a chief of state than that which f1a prac of (,