Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-12-12

I
route. The question now, therefore, Is
not by which route the isthmian canal
shall be built for that question has
been definitely and irreyocably decid-
ed The question is simply whether or
not we shall have an isthmian canal
When the congress directed that we
should take the Panama route under
treaty with Colombia the essence of
the condition, Of course. referred not
to the government which controlled
that ronte. 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 a. the law waste authorize
the president to make treaty with the
power in actual control OF the isthmus
Of Panama. This purpose has been
fulfilled
For 400 years, ever since shortly after
the discovery OF this hemisphere, the
canal across the isthmus has been
planned. For twoscore years 1t has
been worked at. When made 1t is to
last for the ages. 1t is to alter the
geography of a 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 peo-
pies of the isthmus and on the other
hand to the civilized world whose com
mercial 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
forbearance in exacting our own rights
REPUDIATION OF TREATY BY CO.
LOMBIA.
Last spring treaty concluded be-
tween the representatives of the re-
public Of Colombia and of our govern
ment was ratified by the senate. This
treaty was entered into at the urgent
solicitation of the people of Colombia
and after body OF experts appointed
by our government especially to go into
the matter of the routes across the
isthmus had pronounced unanimously
in favor of the Panama route. In draw
ing up this treaty every concession was
made to the people and to the govern
ment of Colombia. We were more
than just in dealing with them. Our
generosity was such as to make it
serious question whether we had not
gone too far in their interest at the ex-
pense of our own, for in our scrupulous
desire TO 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 pro-
| lection and forbearance, we yielded in
all possible ways to her desires in
drawing up the treaty. Nevertheless
the government of Colombia not mere
ly repudiated the treaty, but repudi-
ated it in such manner as to make it
evident by the time the Colombian con-
gress adjourned that not the scantiest
hope remained of ever getting a salts
factory treaty from them.
REVOLUTION IN PANAMA
The people of Panama had long been
disconnected with the republic of Co
lombia, and they had been kept quiet
only by the prospect of the conclusion
of the canal treaty, which was to them
matter of vital concern. When it be-
came evident that the treaty was hope
lessly lost the people of Panama rose
| literally as one man. Not shot was
fired 10y single man on the isthmus
in the interest OF the Colombian gov
eminent Not a life was lost in the
accomplishment of the revolution. The
Colombian troops stationed on the 18TH
mus. who had long been unpaid. made
common cause with the people of Pan
ANA, and with astonishing unanimity
the new republic was started. The
duty of the United States in the prem
ises was clear. In strict accordance
with the principles laid down by Sec
retaries Cass and Seward, the United
States gave notice that it would per
NIT the landing of no expeditionary
force, the arrival of which would NEAR
chaos and destruction along the line OF
the railroad and of the proposed cana
and an interruption of transit as al
inevitable consequence. The de factC
government of Panama was recog
nized.
Under such circumstances the gov
eminent of the United States would
have been guilty of folly and weak
ness, amounting in their sum to crime
against the nation had it acted other
wise than it did when the revolution o.
Nov. 3 last took place in Panama. Thii
great enterprise of building the inter
oceanic canal cannot be held up {
crafty the whims or out of respect t.
the governmental impotence or to thu
even more sinister and evil politica
pecullarities of people who, though
} they dwell afar off, yet, against tn
wish of the actual jewellers ON the 18th
! mus, assert an unreal supremacy owe
2 the territory. The possession of ter
ritory fraught with such peculiar ca
; pacitles as the isthmus in question car
? ries with it obligations to mankind
Tho course Of events has shown tina