The Elbert County tribune., 1903-12-10

then the other formerly exercised over
the isthmus. But as long as the ls,hmus
endurcs. the mere geographical fact OF its
existence. and the peculiar Interest there
In which Is required by our position.
pcrPetuate the solemn contract which
binds the holders OF the territory to re-
Epect our right TO freedom OF transit
across It, and binds us In return TO safe
guard for tho lathmus and the world the
exercise OF thar inestimablc privilege.
The true Interpretation of the obliEa-
tions upon which the United States en-
tered In this treaty OF 1876 has been given
repeatedly In the uttcranccs OF Presi-
dents and Secretaries of State. Secretary
cass in 1853 officially stated the position
of this Government ns follows:
The progress OF events has rendered
the interoceanic route across the narrow
portion of Central America vastly impor-
tant to the commercial world. and espc-
ciaily to the United States. whose po--
sessions extend along tho Atlantic and
Pacific coasts. and demand the Epecdlcst
and easiest modes of communicat tion.
While tho rights Of sovereignty OF the
states occupying this region should nj
ways be respected. we shan expect that
these rights be exercised in a spirit be-
hitting the occasion and the wants and
circumstances that have arisen. Sovur-
eighty has its duties as well as its rights.
and none OF these local governments
even IL administered with moro regard to
the just demands OF other nations than
they have been. would be permitted. In n
spirit Of eastern Isolation. to close the
gates Of Intercourse on the great high
ways OF the world. and Justify the act by
the pretenson that these avenues Of
trade and travel belong to them and that
they choose TO shut them. or what is
almost equivalent 10 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. hut will maintain a ucffect
neutrality In connection with such do
mestlc alterations. The United stntes
VIII. nevertheless. hold themselves ready
10 protect the transit trade across the
isthmus against Invasion Of either do
nestle or foreign disiurbers or the peace
OF the State OF Pnntma, Neither
the text nor the spirit Of the stipulation
In that article by which tho United States
engages 20 preserve the neutrality OF the
lsihmus OF Panama, imposcs an ohllEn-
ton on this Government to comply with
the requisition tof the President OF the
United States Of Colombia for a force to
protect the Isthmus Of Pnnamn from a
body OF insurgents OF that countryl The
purpose OF the stipulation was to guar
antee tho isthmus against seizure or In
vasion by foreign power only"
For four hundred yenrs. over since
shortly after the discovery OF this hem
lspherc. the canal across the isthnus has
been planned. For two score years Il
has been worked at When made II is TO
last for the ages 1t ~ to alter the
geography OF a continent and tue trade
routes Of tho world. We have shown by
every ircnty we have negotiated or Mt
tempted to negotiate with the peoples In
control OF the lsthmus and with foreign
nations IN reference thereto our consls-
tent good faith In observing OUR obllen.
tons. on the one hand to the peoples Of
the isthmus, and on the other hand 10
the civilized world whose commercial
rights we arc safeguarding and gnnrnn-
tccing by our action. We have done our
duty to others In letter and In spirit nnd
"e have shown the utmost forbs uranco In
cxacting our own rights
Last spring. under the act above re-
terred to, treaty concluded between the
representatives Of the Republic OF Co
lombih and Of our Government was rati-
nod by the Senate. This treaty was en-
tered into Mt tho 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 ncross The lsthmus hnd pronounced
unanimously In favor OF the Panama
route. In drawing up this treaty every
concession was made TO the peopla and
to the Government OF Colombia We were
more than Just In dealing with them. Our
generosity was such rs to make 1t a se-
rious question whether we had not gone
too far In their interest at tho expense Of
our own. for In our acrupulous dcstrc 10
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 forboarance
We yielded In all possible ways to her
desires in drawing up the treaty. Never
thcless the Government Of Colombia not
merely renudiated tho trenty, but repu-
di9ted u In such manner as TO mako It
evident by the time the Colombian Con-
grcsH adjourned that not the scantlest
hope remained Of ever getting n salts.
factory treaty from them. The Govern.
ment Of Colombia made the trenty. and
yet when the Colombian Congress was
called to rntify II the vote against rnti-
hcntlon was unanimous. II docs NOT ap-
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 Pnnnma had
long been diprontonted 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 n mat
ter OF vital concern. when II became
evident that the rcnty was hopelessly
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 q
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
lshing unanimity the new repuail was
started. The duty OF tho United Stntes
In the premises was clear. In strict nc
cordance with the principles laid down
by Secretaries Cass and Seward In the Of
hclal documents above quoted. the United
States gave notice that 1t would permit
the landing Of no exped1tlonary force
the arrival OF which would mean chaos
and destruction along the line OF the rail-
road and OF tho proposed canal. and an
interruption Of transit as nn Inevitable
consequence. Tho de facto Government
Of Panama was recognized in the follow
ing telegram 10 Mr.. Ehrman:
ssThe ueoule Of paunna bax,a -, a..