The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-08
DIR. JAMESON
 IS RECALLED America'S Humiliation
 Over Panama. CONDEMNATION IS LOUD Annexation of the New Repub-
 lie Predicted. For a Handful of Silver, Says New York Post, Roosevelt and Hay Have Trampled Our Tradi-
 tional Honesty.

Washington. Nov. 7.-(special.)-Big Uncle Sam has robbed a small boy of his only apple, and the small boy is going to fight for the core.
 The situation as to Panama continued to-day to be the uppermost theme of dis@ cussion in congressional circles. There seems to be a general agreement that an- nexation of the little republic, right or wrong. is logically to follow.
 l. looks as though Senator Morgan Is the only man who Is so well informed pn the question as not to hesitate to ap- proach any phase that 1t can present. There is for the most part among the host of takers on the topic the difhdence which statesmen assume when confront ed by a huge and portentious proposition about which they are indifferent advised. Senator Morgan has uttered the sever est criticism against the administration s conduct in the canal affair. and stands steadfast on the conclusion that this country might as well face the logic of the situation and at once annex Panama.
 Twice Offered Isthums.
 Twice. he says, it has asked to come to us and twice Colombia has offered to sell 1t to us. adding "The people there vii prefer to be annexed and we would better take the responsibility directly than to make an empty bargain with a straw republic"
 He points out that as an unsupported government anama could not do the things which we asked Colombia Tn the treaty to do, such as the protection of the adjoining islands and sea coast, the maintenance of open ports and the con trol of the large laboring population which will go in there to build the canal. It is pointed out by other students of the question that there would be no reason f1yr eyixf inc Do oV1oo in tnoo fxy cN a financial consideration as we were in- tending to pay Colombia. The direct pay ment of $10,000,000 now and large annual rental after the canal Is completed would debauch the little State of Panama and prove as unwholesome as unnecessary. Moreover, Panama will suffer no dam age by the construction of a canal. but instead would be enormously benefited. There Is no equitab c reason these per- sons argue why we should pay anything.
 The situation was somewhat different with Colombia. Panama, while so remote by their methods of transportation, that Bogota statesmen had little interest, it was still Colombia's territory and our ac- uuisition of the police power in the canal strip constituted a certain invasion of her sovereignty for which it was proper that we should pay. It was necessary to pay handsomely to get the authority, and. as 1t has turned out, we did not offer enough. It Is also probable that the United States would have to assume certain responei- bilities of defending the new government against Colombia which would offset in cost to us and in value to Panama the sums which we had intended to pay under the rejected treaty.
 Roast by The Post.
 The New York Evening Post, which has been of late rather kind to tho adminis- tration, has this on the Panama af- fair:
 Who could have imagined that an American administration would make tho Jameson raid look respectable, but that Is precisely what the government at Washington has done. Dr. Jameson could at least pre1end to be actuated by hu- mdne motives: this mad plunge of ours is simply this: Solely a vulgar and mer- cenary venture without a rag to cover its sordidness and its shame. All the flli- busters and despoilers that ever lived are entitled to canonization if such proceed ings are to go unrebuked. At one stroke, President Roosevelt and Secretary Hay have thrown to the winds the principles for which this nation was ready to go to war in the past and have committed the country to a policy which is ignoble beyond words.
 Our position is now the humiliation of treating a pitifully feeb nation as we should never dream of dealing with even a third class power. of giving a friendly republic blow in the face without wait ing for either explanation or protest; of going far beyond the diplomatic re- quirements of the situation, and that with indecent haste-and all for what? to aid a struggling people to take a stand for freedom or for republican institutions? to avert a danger? No, but just for hand ful of silver, just for commercial ad- vantage which we ought all to spurn if not come by honrahly."
 NNatkinn