The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-12-08


20 own any property IN the isthmus. a
new republic. that OF Panama. which was
nc one time sovereign state. and at
another time a mere department OF the
successive considerations known as New
Granada and colomhia. has now sue
ceeded TO the rights which first ono and
thon the othcr formerly exercised over
the isthmus But as long as the isthrnus
endures. the mere geographical fact Of it's
existence. and the peculiar interest there
IN which Is required by our position.
perpetuate the solemn contract which
binds the holders OF the territory to re-
spect our right to freedom OF transit
across 1t. and binds MS IN return to safe
guard f0r the isthmus and the world the
exercise Of that inestimable privilege.
The true Interpretation of the obliga-
tions upon which the United States en-
tered In this treaty OF 1916 has been given
repeatedly in the utterances Of Preai-
dents and Secretaries of State. Secretary
Cass IN 1883 officially stated the position
of this Government as follows.
The progress Of events has rendered
the inter9ceanic route across the narrow
portion OF Central America vastly impor-
tant 70 the commercial world. and espe-
clally to the United States whose pos
sessions extend along the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts and demand the apeedlest
and easiest modes Of communication.
While the rights of sovereignty OF the
states occupying this region should al
ways be respected we shall expect that
these rights be exercised I'm o spirit be-
fitting tne occasion and the wants and
circumstances that have arisen. Sover-
eighty has les duties as well as it's rights
and none OF these local governments
even II administered with more regard to
the Just demands Of other nations than
they have been. would be permitted. in q
spirit OF eastern isolation. to close the
gates Of Intercourse on the great high
wass Of the world and justify the act BY
the pretension that these avenues )f
trade and travel belong TO them and .iat
they chsose TO shut them. or what Is
almost equivalent TO cucumber them
with such unjust relations as would pre-
vent their general use
Seven years later in 1865 Mr.. Seward
IN different communications took the fol-
lowing position:
THE United States have taken and
will take no interest in any question OF
internal revolution in the State OF Pam
anna, or any State OF the United States Of
Colombia but will maintain a perfect
neutrality in connection with such do
mestc alterations. The United States
win. nevertheless. hold themselves ready
to protect the transit trade across the
isthmus against invasion OF either do
nestle or foreign disturbers Of the peace
Of the State Of Panama. Neither
the text nor the spirit of the stipulation
IN that article by which the United states
engages 20 preserve the neutrality OF the
lsthn2us OF Panama imposes an oblga-
tton on this Government to comply VIII
the requisition lot the President OF the
United States OF Colombia for a force TO
protect the Isthmus OF Panama from a
body Of insurgents OF that countryI The
purpose OF the stipulation was TO guar
enfee the isthmus against seizure or in
Vasigp bV "A foreign poxVpf ppIv.
Attorney General Speed, under date OF
Nov. 7. 1866, advised Secretary Seward as
follows:
From TINS treaty it can not be sup
posed thet New Grunada invited the
United States TO become a party to ibe
intestine troubles OF that Government.
nor did the United States become bound
to take sides in the domestic hroils Of
New Granada The United States did
guarantee New Granada In the sovereign
~ and property over the territory. This
was az against other and foreign govern
ments."
For four hundred years. ever since
shortly after the discovery Of this hem
isphere. the canal across the isthmus has
been planned. For two score years II
has been worked at. When made il is TO
last for the ages. 1t Is to alter the
geography OF continent and the trade
routes Of the world. We Eave shown by
tempted to negotiate with the peoples in
control OF the isthmus and with foreign
nations In reference thereto our consis-
tent good faith IN observing our obliga-
tions on the one hand 10 the peoples OF
the isthmus. and on the other hand ia
the civilized world whose commercial
rights We are safeguarding and guaran-
teoing by cur action We have done our
duty TO others in letter and In spirit and
we have shown the utmost fOrbearance In
exacting our own rights
Last spring. unaor the act above re-
ierred to. treaty concluded between the
representatives OF the Republic OF Coz
lombia and of our Government was rati-
fed By the Senate, This treaty was enc
tered into at the urgent solicitation OF
the people OF Colombia and AFTER a body
OF experts appointed by our Government;
especially TO go into the matter OF the
routes across the isthmus had pronounced
unanimously in favor Of the Panama
route. In drawing up this treaty every
concession was made TO the people and
TO the Government Of Colombia. We Were
more than just In dealing with them. Oul
generosity was such as to make IL a se-
rious question whether we had not gone
too far I'm their interest at the expense OF
our own for in our scrupulous desire "a
pay an possible heed. not merely to The
real hut even TO the fancied rights of our
weaker neiehbor who already owed gC
much TO our protection and forhearance
We yielded 80 all possible ways 10 her
desires m dra Tins up the treaty. Never
theiess the Government Of Colombia moi
merely repudiated the treaty but repu-
! dated it In such manner as TO make u
evident by the time the Colombian Con.
gress adjourned that not the scantiest
hope remained OF ever getting a salts
factory treaty from them The Govern
ment of Colombia made the treaty and
D as
called TO ratify IL the vote against rati.
hcation WAS unanimous. II does not ap,
pear that the Government made any rea
effort 10 secure ratification.
Revolution in Panama.
Immediately after the adjournment 81
the Congress S revolution broke out il
Panama. The people OF Panama had
long been discontented with the Republi,
of Colombia, ana they had been kept quie
only by t6e prospect OF the eoncluelpg
of the trcaty, which was TO them a mat
ter of vital concern When III becarsi