New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-26

obstruct the orderly progress of human affairs.
BY neglect. corruption. misuse OF its privileges.
opportunities and responsibilities. the revolu-
tionary government of Colombia has Justly
forfeited all right for, further tolerance in
possession. She has too long hidden her talent.
and the eternal decree is against her and must
be enforced.
Recent developments disclose the unprincipled
character of the administration of Bogota.
which. while with Spanish duplicity it was ap-
parently quibbling over the terms OF the Hay
Herran treaty upon a question Of national
honor" in the matter of Jurisdiction over the
proposed canal strip. was. in reality. consum-
ing time that it might declare forfeited all
rights of the French company. and might Sc
cure for itself the forty millions OF purchase
money justly due those who have spent hun
dreds of millions in the great work already
done. No more dishonorable machination ever
blotted the page of governmental diplomacy.
1t was characteristic of an administration de-
void Of principle and honor.
THE LAW OF PRECEDENTS.
Under the law of precedents. the law which
justified Jefferson in the purchase Of Louisiana
Territory, the law that justified Mckinley IN
expelling Spain from Cuba. the law that JUS
titled Lincoln in his proclamation OF emanci-
patton. the law that justified England In seiz-
Ing. holding and administering the government
of Egypt, the law that justified the civilized
nations Of Europe in apportioning among them
selves most of the continent of Africa-the law
of humanity and the veal of all mankind
under this law. after having given Colombia
every reasonable opportunity to enter into a
fair. honorable and advantageous treaty for
the construction and maintenance Of the canal
and Colombia having by false pretexts and dis
honorable subterfuges refused or neglected to
having exhausted every honorable and reason
able resource for the accomplishment Of the
great end in view, would have been justified in
going forward. without further delay or dipIo-
macy, to complete the canal In the interests
of all mankind. The civilized world would have
applauded and sustained the act.
Happily. the exercise OF such a supreme ad-
ministrative power became unnecessary. The
people of the State of Panama, weary of the
oppression, msrue, extortions and neglect of
the Colombia oligarchy, rose in revolt and de-
clared their independence. This revolt crystal
liked into government 1t was acquiesced in
by the forces of Bogota. which withdrew from
Panama without striking a blow. If at first this
revolutionary government was self-created
and was vested in few leading OF Pan
anna, it was no less the ruling power, a pro-
visional government, administering the affairs
of the coming republic by tacit authority
of the people. whose acquiescence in the revo-
luton was manifested by making no opposition.
Every existing South American government has
been created by similar revolts; yet they have
all, from their incipiency. been recognized as
governments de facto by other powers. The
government of Panama, likewise has been rec
ognized by the United States. France Germany,
Austria-Hungary. Italy and other great powers
1t was perfectly competent for President
Roosevelt, according to the established usage OF
nations. to recognize and to enter into dip
lomatic relations with the new Panama gov
eminent as the ruling power de facto-whether
a republic. an autocracy. an oligarchy. OF by
whatever name known. 1t was in place and In
power. 1t was in possession Of the territory
through which the canal was to be constructed.
and so was vested with complete authority to
make and ratify treaties of whatever character
PRESIDENT ROosEvELT's POLICY.
Tithers Of political mint, anfse and cunin who
neglect the weishtier matters OF the law may
protest to their hearts content that the Presi-
dent did not consider the cobwebs Of a hyper
critical Interpretation Of international law. Mr.
Roosevelt. with intuitive sense OF right JUS
tice and duty to the interests of our own coun-
try. of civilization and mankind. at once ad-
mitted the power Of the Panama government to
enter into valid. binding. Just and perpetual
treaty with the United States
The President himself III his recent message
10 Congress. this language;
Every effort has been made by the govern
ment of the United States to persuade Colombia
10 follow a course which was essentially not only
to interests and to the interests of the world
but to the interests of Colombia itself These
efforts have failed. and Colombia. by her per-
StStence in repulsing the advances that have
been made. has forced us. for the sake of our
own honor and of the interest and wellbeing.
not only of our own 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 a condition Of affairs
which had become intolerable.
And again he says:
The control, in the interest Of the commerce
and traffic of the whole civilized world. of the
means Of undisturbed transit across the Isthrnus
of Panama has become Of trapscendent i'm
portance TO the United States. Under
such circumstances Jhe ina bility of the Colon
bian government to maintain order the 18TH
mus. relying upon the United States to do this
work it's cost. ard yet refusing 10 ap-
prove the canal treaty. the government OF the
United States would have been guilty of folly
and Weakness amounting in their sum TO g
than it did when the revolution of November 3
last took place in Panama. This great enter
prise of building the interoceanic canal cannot
be held up TO crafty the whims. or out Of re-
spect to the governmental impotence or to the
even more sinister peculiarities of people who,
Of the actual jewellers on the isthmus. assert an
unreal supremacy the territory The pos
session of a territory fraught with such peculiar
capacities the iSthmus in question carries
with it obligations to mankind
Thus the President, in dealing with this sub