The independent., 1903-12-10
A Document Of Less Than
Usual Importance = = =

has been definitely and irrevocably
decided. The question is simply
whether or not we shall have an isth-
mian canal.
When the congress directed that
we should take the Panama route un-
, der treaty with Colombia, the essence
of the condition, Of course, referred
not to the government which con-
trOlled that route. but to the route
itself; to the territory across which
the route lay, not to the name which
for the moment the territory bore on
the map. The purpose of the law was
to authorize the president to make 4
treaty with the power In actual con-
troll of the isthmus of Panama. This
purpose has been fulfilled"
Considerable space is devoted to a
review Of the treaty of 1846 with New
Granada what Secretary Cass said
regarding it in 1859, Secretary Sew
ards position in 1865, and Attorney
General Speeds advice in 1866. 'for
four. hundred years." says the presi-
dent, fever since shortly after the dis
covery of this hemisphere, the canal
across the isthmus has been planned.
For two score years it has been
worked at. When made it Is to
last for ages. 1t is to alter the geog-
raphy of continent and the trade
routes of the world. We have shown
by every treaty we have negotiated or
attempted to negotiate with the peo-
pies in control Of the isthmus and
with foreign nations in reference
thereto our consistent good faith in
observing our Obligations 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 guaranteeing by
our action. We have done our duty
to others in letter and in spirit, and
we have shown the utmost fOrbear-
ance in exacting our own rights"
He chides Colombia for ingratitude.
declaring that "Our generosity was
such as to make it serious question
whether we had not gone too far in
their interest at the expense of our
own"
Immediately continues President
Roosevelt, "after the adjournment Of
the congress revolution broke out
in Panama. The people of Panama
had long been discontented 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 matter of vital con-
cern. When it became evident that
the treaty was hopelessly lost, The
people of Panama rose literally as one
man. Not shot was fired by sin
gle man on the isthmus in the inter-
est 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 astonishing unanimity the new
republic was started. The duty of the
United States in the premises was
Gear. In strict accordance with the
principles laid down by Secretaries
Cass and Seward in the official docu-
ments above quoted. the United States
gave notice that 1t would permit the
landing OF no expeditionary forces,
the arrival Of no expeditionary forces,
the arrival OF which would mean
chaos and destruction along the line
OF the railroad and OF the proposed
canal. and an interruption OF transit
as an inevitable consequence. The
de facto government OF Panama was
recognized In the following telegram
to Mr. Ehrman.
The people OF Panama have, by
apparently unanimous movement. dis
solved their political connection with
the republic OF Colombia and resumed
their independence. When you are
satisfied that n de facto government,
republican In form and without sub
stantial opposition from It's own peo-
pie. has been established In the state
of Panama. you will enter Into rela-
tons with IL as the responsible Cow
crnment of the territory and look 20
II for all due action 10 protect the per-
sons and property OF citizens Of the
United States and 10 keep open the
iathmlan transit, In accordance with
the obligations Of existing treaties
governing ths relaslona of the United
States Ia that territory -
The effect of antl-lmperialist axi.a-
ton I'm lha house and aanala ramarf1-