Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-12-17
IsTHMIAN CANAL.
Review Of Dealings With Colombia
and Recent Events.

BY the act Of June 2s 1902, the Congress
authorized the President to enter into
treaty with Colombia for the building OF
the canal across the Isthmns OF Panama:
Il being provided that in the event of
failure to secure such treaty after the
lapse OF reasonable time. recourse should
be had to building a canal through Nj
earagua. 1t has not been necessary to
consider this alternative, as | am enabled
to lay before the Senate a treaty provfd-
ing for the building Of the canal across
the Isthmus of Panama. This was the
route which commended itself to the de-
liberate judgment Of the Congress, and
we can now acquire by treaty the right
to construct the canal over this route.
The question now, therefore, Is not by
which route the isthmian canal shall be
built, for that question has been definitely
and irrevocably decided. The question Is
simply whether or not we shall have an
isthmian canal
Last Spring, under the act above re-
ferred to, treaty concluded between the
representatives OF the Republic OF CoIom-
bia and of our Government 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 generos-
ity was such as to make 1t a serious ques-
ton whether we had not gone too far in
their interest at the expense of our own:
for in our scrupulous desire to pay all
possible heed, not merely to the real. but
even to the faneied rights Of our weaker
neighbor, who already owed so much to
our protection and forbearance, we YIELD
ed in all possible ways to her desires in
drawing up the treaty. Nevertheless the
Government. of Colombia not merely re-
pudiated the treaty, but repudiated 1t In
such manner as to make 1t evident by
the time the Colombian Congress ad-
journed that not the scantiest hope re-
mained of ever getting satisfactory
treaty from them.
Immediately after the adjournment of
the Congress a 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 concern. When it became evident
that the treaty was hopelessly lost, the
people OF Panama rose literally as one
man. Not a shot was fired by single
man on the Isthmus in the interest OF
the Colombian Government. Not a life
was lost In the accomplishment Of the
revolution. The Colombian troops sta
toned on the Isthmus, who had long been
unpaid. made common cause with the peo-
pie Of Panama, and with astonishing
unanimity the new Republic was started.
The duty of the United States in the
premises was clear In strict accordance
with the principals laid down by Secre-
taries Cass and Seward in the official docu-
ments above quoted, the United States
gave notice that it would permit the
landing of no expeditionary force. the ar
rival Of which would mean chaos and de-
struction along the line of the railroad
and Of the proposed canal, and an inter-
iuptlon Of transit as an inevitable conse-
quence.
Every effort has been made by the Gov
ernment of the United States to persuade
Colombia to follow course which was
essentially not only to our interests and
to the interests OF the world, but to the
interests Of Colombia itself. These efforts
have failed, and Colombia, by her persist
ence in repulsing the advances that have
been made, has forced u.s. for the sake Of
our own honor, and of the interest and
well-being not merely Of our own people,
but of the people Of the Isthmus of Pam
anna and the people of the civilized coun-
tries of the world, to take decisive steps
to bring to an end condition of affairs
which had become intolerable. The new
Republic of Panama Immediately offered
to negotiate treaty with US. This treaty
herewith submit. BY It our interests
are better safeguarded than in the treaty
with Colombia, which was ratified by the
Senate at its last session. 1t is better In
its terms than the treaties offered to US
by the Republics Of Nicaragua 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 Congress to do its part,
and forthwith this republic VIII enter
upon the execution Of a project colossal
In its size and of well-nigh incalculabla
possibilities for the good of this country
and the nations of mankind.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House, December 7, 1903.