Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-12-10

II restored. will approve by decree the
ratification Of the canal treaty as signed !:
or. II the Government of the United
States prefers. win call extra session Of
the Congress-with new and friendly
Reimbursement May to approve the
treaty. IAN eminent Colombianl has the
perfect confidence of vice-president. he
says. and II 1t became necessary will 60
to the isthmus, or send representative
there to adjust matters along above lines
to the satisfaction OF the people there
This dispatch Is noteworthy from two
standpoints. It's offer of Immediately
guaranteeing the treaty to us is in sharp
contrast with the positive and contemp-
tuous refusal of the Congress which has
just closed its sessions to consider ia
'vorably such q treaty:it shows that the
Government which made the treaty really
had absolute control over the situation.
but did not choose to exercise this con-
10 restore order and secure Colombian
supremacy In the isthmus from which the
Colombian Government has Just by its
action decided to bar us by preventing
the construction of the canal
Importance OF Peace In lsthmus.
The control, In the interest of the COM
merce and traffic OF the whole civilized
world, of the means of undisturbed tran
sit across the Isthmus of Panama has
L
the United States. We have repeatedly
exercised this control by intervening In
the course of domestic dissension. and
by protecting the territory from foreign
invasion. In 1863 Mr.. Everett assured
the Peruvian minister that we should
not hesitate to maintain the neutrality
of the isthmus In the case of war be-
tween Peru and Colombia. In 1864 Co
lombia. which has always been vigilant
to avail itself of its privileges conferred
by the treaty, expressed its expectation
that in the event of war between Peru
and Spain the United States would carry
into effect the guaranty of neutrality.
There have been few administrations of
the State Department in which this
treaty has not. either by the one side
or the other, been used as a basis of
more or less important demands. 1t was
said by MIR. Fish In 1871 that the Depart
ment of State had reason to believe that
an attack upon Colombian sovereignty
on the isthmus had, on several occa-
sions. been ayerted by warning from this
Government. In 1856. when Colombia was
under the menace of hostilities from
Italy in the Cerruti case. Mr.. Bayard ex-
pressed the serious concern that the
United States could not but feel, that a
European power should resort to force
against a sister republic Of this hemis-
phere, as to the sovereign and uninter-
rupted use of part of whose territory
we are guarantors under the solemn faith
of a treaty.
The above recital of facts establishes
beyond question: First. that the United
States has for over half a century pa
tiently and in good faith carried out its
obligations under the treaty of 1S4e; Sec
ond. that when for the first time it be-
came possible for Colombia to do any.
thing in requital Of the services thus re-
peatedly rendered to 1t for fifty-seven
years by the United States, the Colombian
Government peremptorily and extensively
refused thus to do it's part. even though
to do so would have been to it's advan-
tage and immeasurably to the advantage
Of the State of Panama, at that time
under its jurisdictions: third. that
throughout this period revolutions. riots,
and factional disturbances of every kind
have occurred one after the other in al
most uninterrupted succession. some OF
them lasting for months and even for
years, while the central government was
unable to put them down or to make
peace with the rebels; fourth, that these
disturbances instead of showing any sign
Of abating have tended to grow more nu-
merous and more serious in the jmme-
date past; fifth. that the control of Co.
lombia over the Isthmus of Panama coulc
not be maintained without the armed in
PREVENTION and assistance of the United
States. In other words. the Government
of Colombia. though wholly unable &c
maintain order ON the isthmus, has new
ertheless declined to ratify treaty the
conclusion of which opened the only
chance to secure it's own stability and to
guarantee permanent peace on, and the
construction Of a canal across, the 18TH
mus.
Under such circumstances the Govern
ment OF the United States would have
been guilty OF folly and weakness.
amounting in their sum to a crime
against the nation. had 1t acted otherwise
than it did when the revolution Of Nov.
last took place In Panama. This great
enterprise of building the interoceanic
canal can not be held up to crafty the
whims. or out Of respect to the govern
mental impotence, or to the even more
sinister and evil political peculiarittes. OF
people who, though they dwell afar off.
yet, against the wish Of the actual dwell
lers on the isthmus. assert an unreal
supremacy over the territory The pos
session Of a territory fraught with such
peculiar capacities as the isthmus In
question carries with 1t obligations to
mankind. The course of events has
shown that this canal can not be huilt
by private enterprise. or by any other ma
ton than our own: therefore 1t must ~
built by the United States.
Treaty With Republic Of Panama.
Every effort has been made by the Gov.
eminent of the United States to persuade
Colombia to follow q course which was
essentially not only to cur interests and
to the interests of the world. but to the
interests Of Colombia itself. These ef-
forts have failed: and Colombia. by her
persistence in repulsing the advances that
have been made, has forced us. for the
sake of our own honor. and Of the inter-
\ LII H.. -
people. but Of the people Of the Isthmus
Of Panama and the people of the civilized
countries Of the world, to take decisive
steps to bring to an end condition OF
affairs which had become intolerable.
The new Republic of Panama Immediate
ly offered to negotiate treaty with us.
This treaty herewith submit. BY II our
interests are better safeguarded than In
the treaty with Colombia which was rati-
fed by the Senate at its last session. 1t Is
better in its terms than the treaties Of
fered to US by the Republics of Nicara-
qua and Costa Rica. At last the right
to begin this great undertaking Is made
available. Panama has done her part.
All that remains Is for the American Con-
gress to do its part and forthwith this
Republic will enter upon the execution
of a project colossal in its size and OF
well-nig-- incalculable possibilities for the
good of this country and the nations OF
mankind.
Provisions Of Treaty.
BY the provisions of the treaty the
United States guarantees and Will main
tain the independence of the Republic OF
Panama. There is granted to the United
States in perpetuity the use. occupation.
and control of strip ten miles wide and
extending three nautical miles into the
sea at either terminal. with all lands ly-
ing OUTSIDE of the zone necessary for the
construction of the canal or for its aux
iliary works, and with the islands in the
Bay, Of Panama. The cities of Panama
and Colon are not embraced in the canal
zone, but the United States assumes
their sanitation and. in case of need the
maintenance of order therein; the United
States enjoys within the granted limits
all the rights power and authority which