Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-12-10

existence, and the peculiar interest there
IN which IL required by our position.
perpetuate tho solemn contract which
binds the holders OF the territory to re-
spect our right 10 freedom Of transit
across II. and binds us In return TO safe
guard for the isthmus and the world the
exercise OF that inestlmable privilege.
The true Interpretation OF the obllga-
lions upon which the United States en-
tered IN this treaty Of 1886 has been given
repeatedly In the utterances OF Presi-
dents and Secretaries OF State Secretary
Cas- in 1855 officially stated the position
OF this Government as follows:
THE progress OF events has rendered
the interoceanic route across the narrow
portion OF Central America vnstly lmpor-
tant to the commercial world. and espe-
cially 20 the United States, whose pos
sessions extend along the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts, and demand the speedieat
and easiest modes OF communica ton.
While the rights Of sovereignty OF the
states occupying this region should al
ways be respected, we shah expect that
these rights be exercised I'm a spirit be-
htting the occasion and the wants and
circumstances that have arisen. Sover-
eighty has its duties as well as its rights
and none Of theses local governments
even II administered with more regard 20
the just demands OF other nations than
they have been. would be permitted. in a
spirit OF eastern Isolation, TO close the
gates OF intercourse on the great high
ways Of the world. and Justify the act by
the pretension that these avenues OF
trade and travel belong to them and 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
will 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
nestle alterations. The United States
will 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 to preserve the neutrality OF the
Isthmus Of Panama, imposes an obliga-
ton on this Government 10 comply with
the requisition lof the President of the
United States Of Colombia for a force 10
protect the Isthmus OF Panama from a
body Of insurgents OF that countryJ The
purpose OF the stipulation was to guar
antee the isthmus against seizure or in
vasion by foreign power only"
FOR four hundred years. ever since
shortly after the discovery OF this hem
isphere. tho 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 Ine trade
routes OF the world. We have shown by
every treaty we have negotiated or at
tempted to negotiate with the peoples in
control Of the isthmus and with foreign
nations In reference thereto our consls.
tent good faith in observing OUR obliga-
ttons; 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
exacting our own rights
Last spring, under the act above re-
terred TO. treaty concluded between the
representatives of the Republic of Co
lomnla ana OF our Government was rati-
ned by the Senate. This treaty was en-
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 I'm favor of the Panama
route. In drawing up this treaty every
to the Government of Colombia. We were
more than just in dealing with them. Our
generosity was such as to make il a se-
rious question whether we had not zone
too far I'm their interest at the expense of
our own; FOR In our scTupuous desire to
pay all possible heed. not merely to the
real but even TO the fancled 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
theless the Government of Colombia not
merely repudiated the treaty. but repu-
dated 1t In such manner as to make II
evident by the time the Colombian Con-
gress adjourned that not the scantiest
hope remained Of ever getting a satis-
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-
fication was unanimous. It does not APP
pear that the Government made any real
effort to secure ratification.
Revolution In Panama.
Immediately after the adjournment Of
the Congress a revolution. broke out in
Panama. The people of Panama had
long been Disconnected 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 d mat
ter of vital concern. When Il became
evident that the treaty was hopelesBly
lost, the people of Panama rose literally
as one man. Not a shot was fred by a
single man on the isthmus in the interest
of the Colombian Government. Not
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
fishing unanimity the new republic was
started. The. duty OF the United States
in the premises was clear In strict ac-
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 as 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 APP
parently unanimous movement dissolved
their political connection with the Re-
public OF Colombia and resumed their In
dependence When you are satisfied that
de facta government republican IN