Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1903-12-12

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and zone Of these local governments.
eveH-T administered with more regard to
the just demands of other nations than
they have been. would be permitted in a
spirit of eastern isolation. to c:ose the
ga teS- of intercourse the great high
ways of the world and justify the act by
the pretension that these avenues of
trade and travel belong to them end that
they choose 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
viii take no interest in any question of
internal revolution in the State of Pan
anna. or any State of the United States of
Colombia, but Will maintain a perfect
neutrality in connection with such do
mestic alterations. The United States
will. nevertheless. hold themselves ready
to protect the transit trade across the
tsthmus 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 to preserve the neutrality of the
Isthmus OF Panama. imposes an obliga-
ton on this Government to comply with
the reQuisition Lof the President of the
United States of Colombia for a force to
protect the Isthmus of Panama from a
body OF insurgents of that countryl. The
purpose of the stipulation was to guar
antee the isthmus against seizure or in
Vasion by foreign power only"
Attorney General Speed under date of
Nov. {. 1865. advised Secretary Seward as
follows:
From tins treaty it can not be sup
posed that New Granada invited the
United States to become q party to the
intestine troubles of that Government,
nor did the United States become bound
TO take sides in the domestic broils of
Y,nH do
guarantee New Granada in the sovereign
ty and property over the territory. This
was as against other and foreign govern
ments.'
shortly after the discovery of this hem
1sphere. the canal across the isthmus has
been planned For two score years it
has been worked at. When made it is to
last for the ages. 1t is to alter the
geography Of a continent and Ine trade
routes of the world. We have shown by
every treaty we have negotia ted or at
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-
tons; on the one hand to the peoples of
the isthmus, and on the other hand to
the civilized world whose commercial
rights we are safeguarding and guaran-
teeing by our action. We have done our
duty to others in letter and in spirit and
we have shown the utmost forbearance in
Last spring. under the act above re-
ferred to. a treaty concluded between the
representatives Of the Republic of CO.
lombia and of our Government was rati-
fed by the Senate. This treaty was en-
tered into at the urgent solicitation of
the people OF Colombia and after 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 20 the people and
to the Government of Colombia. We were
more than just in dealing with them. Our
generosity was such to make it a Sc
rious question whether we had not gone
too far in their interest at the expense of
our own; for in our scrupulous desire to
pay all possible heed. not merely to the
real but even to the fancied rights of our
weaker neighbor who already owed so
much to our protection and forbearance
we yielded in all possible ways to her
desires in drawing up the treaty. Never
theIess the Government of Colombia not
merely repudiated the treaty but repu-
dated it in such manner as to make it
evident by the time the Colombian Con-
gress adjourned that not the scantiest
nope remained of ever getting a salts
factory treaty from them. The Govern
ment Of Colombia made the treaty, and
yet when the Colombian Congress was
called to ratify it the vote against rati-
hcation was unanimous 1t does not ap-
pear that the Government made any real
effort to secure ratification.
Revolution In Panama.
mmediately after the adjournment of
the Congress revolution broke out in
Panama. The people of Panama had
long been discontinued with the Republic
Of Colombia and they had been kept quiet
only by the prospect of the conclusion
of the treaty. which was to them a mat
ter of vital concern. When it became
evident that the treaty was hopelessIv
lost. the people of Panama rose literally
as one man. Not shot was fired by
single man on the isthmus in the interest
of the Colombian Government Not n
life was lost in the accomplishment of
the revolution. The Colombian troops
stationed on the isthmus, who had long
been unpaid. made common cause with
the people of Panama, and with aston
ishing uranImity the new republic was
started. The duty Of the United States
in the premises was clear. In strict &C
cordance with the principles laid down
by Secretaries CaSs and Seward in the of
fetal documents above quoted. the United
States gave notice that it would permit
the landing of no eXpeditionary force
the arrival of which would mean chaos
and destruction along the line of the rail-
road and of the proposed canal. and an
interruption of transit an inevitable
consequence. The de facto Government
of Panama was recognized in the follow
ing telegram to Mr.. Ehrman:
The people of Panama have. by an
parentIy unanimous movement dissolved
their political connection with the Re-
public of Colombia and resumed their in
dependence. When you are satisfied that
a de facto government. republican in
form and without substantial opposition
from its own people, has been established
in the State of Panama. you will enter
into relations with it as the responsible
government of the territory and look to
it for all due action TO protect the per-
sons and property of citizens of the
United States and to keep open the
isthmian transit. in accordance with the
obligations of existing treaties govern
ing the relations of the United States to
that territory"
Disturbances on Isthmus Since 1945.
When these events happened. fifty-seVen
years had elapsed since the United States
had entered into its treaty with New Ora
NADIA. During that time the Governments
of New Granada and of its successor.
Colombia. have been in a constant state
of fiux.
A long list of the disturbances and
revolutions which have convulsed the
isthmus is given, and the report con-
cludes:
The above is only a partial list of the
revolutions. rebellions. instructions.
riots. and other outbreaks that have oc-
Cured during the period In question; yet
they number 50 for the 81 years. 1t will
be noted that one of them lasted for near