The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-11-26
No Parallel.

The effort to bolster up the action of
President Roosevelt by recalling the
action of President Cleveland shows
that the apologists of the former are i'll
desperate plight. The United States
had no interest in the Venezuela
boundary dispute except the mainten
ance of the Monroe doctrine. England
claimed considerable strip of territory
which Venezuela maintained belonged
to her. 1t looked very much like a
case of grab. Venezuela proposed to
submit the matter to arbitration, but
Great Britain declared that there was
nothing to arbitrate and was preparing
to make war on Venezuela unless the
latter conceded everything demanded.
Thereupon Mr.. Cleveland vigorously
asserted the Monroe doctrine, which
forbids any European country to nc.
quire any more territory in South
America by force of arms. Mr.. Cleye-
land, in short, notified the British giant
that he must submit the matter to ar
bitration instead Of settling a bound
airy dispute at the point of gun.
There is absolutely no similarity be-
tween this case and that of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. The Monroe doctrine
is in no way involved in the Panama
dispute. Mr.. Roosevelt has violated
international law in several particulars,
he has practically declared war against
Columbia, thus violating the c0nstitu-
tion of the United States, which gives
this power to congress, and he has dis
honored the treaty of 1916, which binds
us to preserve the sovereignty of CO.
lumbia over the isthmus instead of de-
stroying it. His partisans have sought
to create the impression that Panama
has been engaged in a noble fight for
independence, based on legitimate
grievances, and that such a cause ought
to appeal to the people of the great re-
public. This plea is the shoddiest sort
of humbug. Panama had no actual
grievance agains Columbia. The OPP
position to the Hay Herran treaty
seems, as a matter of fact, to have
started in Panama.
In June a paper published at Colon
alluded to the "wave of patriotic senti-
ment" on the isthmus against the
treaty. Then began a change of public
sentiment, aud when Columbiarejected
it, the Panama canal people and ennis
saries, doubtless from the administra-
ton at Washington, began to work
upon the greed Of the Panamaniacs and
show them that they might as well have
that $40, 900, 900 as to let the govern.
ment at Bogota handle it. That this
seductive thought was put into their
heads is established from the testimony
of one of the editorial reyolutionists,
who traces the change Of public senti-
ment in Panama to this very consider
alton. 1t was grafb-bego republic,
pure and simple, and entirely lacking
in patriotic impulse. No conceivable
defense of President Roosevelt's CON
duct will stand a dispassionate review,
and it ought to result in his impeach
ment. Commercial Appeal.
We spent half day in the hustIipg
town of johnson City last week aud
found everything and everybody hum
ming. The main topic discussed is the
Soldiers Home which is located on a
beautiful eminence in the western su-
bu1bs of the city. Judge John p.
Smith, governor OF the home, Furnish
ed us a guide who took pleasure in
showing us throughout the various
buildings and explained many things
concerning the home, which, when
completed, will be one of the best yet
built by the United States. It
will be quite awhile before all the pro
posed buildings are completed, the
grounds graded and trees and shrub.
berry growing, but when all of these
things shall have been accomplished,
the home will be a veritable paradise
on earth and will be one OF the most
desirable places throughout the do
main of Uncle Sam. We are not able
to tell you much about dis branch Of
the National Home, but viii a1ylse you
to visit that your eyes mly behold it's
grandeur. - Mountain Cty Tomahawk.