New-York tribune., 1903-11-07
NO OTHER COURSE OPEN.


from italy In the Cerruti case. Mr. Bayaro eA-
pressed the serious concern that the Ch'eu
States could not but feel that European power
should resort to force against sister fepu""0
| of this hemisphere TO the sovereign anu uh-
| interrupted use of a part of whose TERRITORY We
| are guarantors under the solemn iaith vi q
| treaty.
HAS PROTECTED COLOMBIA
"The United States has not only eons'ah'ly
protected Colombia from foreign ihV@SiO" ~,
the strength of the rights and the duties created
49,. 49,. ,~,a,v of 1s46 but has time and again
,n.arve,a6 to preserve the freedom OF trafnc
FROM disturhance in the course OF oofhes'IC
dissension. In these cases we have inter rVeneu
sometimes at the suggestion OF Coon'Oi@' ~.
times ON our own impression OF the
OF the case. but always to the profit Oh Coi''''-
bia as we'll as Of universal commerce -.
.-1-ba rosition of the United States was Cl1aii'
set forth by Mr. Seward in these "oros-
IT.. ,-r,,ss states have taken and VIII a,T. tSHe
no interest in any Question or o any state Of the
rated States OF Colombia. but VIII Iia. i.tc
perfect neutrality in regard 10 uC ,-i1I never
.baiass bod themselves ready 10 pIoCec! en0
tsrsIt ,Tade across the isthmus against lIlVd
sion Of either domestic or foreign o's'ui "a
the peace Of the State OF fanaind-
GUARANTEES FREE TRANSIT.
There has never been any doubt OF the vaho
,tv OF the treaty of 1876 to guarantee free ana
open transit either for American ci'iAe"'
tor the government of the United States we
h.ve usad the isthmus for the transit OF troops
ons q, fupitives from justice. and protocoI
noe s,gnad at Rogota on February y, 1868
acknowledging this right of transit for troops
and extradited fugitives belonging TO the Oni'eu
States a right as is declared In the pro'ocoi'
(which is established in compensation TOT 'ii
r,,arantee of the sovereignty and property OF
the isthmus. to which the same government
is bound" :.
eft must not be lost sight Of that this treaty Is
not dependent for it's efficacy on the persoiiiiei
of the signers or the name OF the terrl'ois
affects 1t is 2 covenant. as lawyers say 'iia'
runs with the land. The name Of New-Granada
has passed away; its territory has oeen oi'iu7u
AN INDIssOLUBLE COMPACT
..Br+ as long as the isthmus endures. the great
geographical fact keeps alive the solemn c0il-
pact which birds the holders of the territory 10
erant ms freedom of transit. and binds US IN re-
turn to safeguard for the isthmus ana the "oiiN
the exercise Of that inestimable privilege
.s1+ g. tbarAforA too clear for discussion that
wben at the repeated solicitation Of the gov
eminent Of Colombia. treaty was entered INTO
between that government and the United states
for carving into effect the long CONSIDERED
pIan OF a canal across the Isthmus. 10 De o"neu
and controlled by the government OF the CIi'eu
States. it was no new proposition that "Us
baing adopted. but rather the carrying out OF
a long cherished plan Of both countries anu 'nS
assertion of right which had been long since
conceded in principle by the government OF %
Ior,bia- 1t was the universal conviction that
tho time had come for this gigantic project to
be carried out 1t too great for indlVloual
or cornorate enterprises. II could only be IN
a+ad and carried to a conclusion by a govern
ment of great power and vast resources, ana
the only government to which 1t was pOs-
sibility was that of the United states.
"Bv authorization of Congress the President
.n+ared into a treaty. with the government of
Pogota for the construction Of canal by way
of the Isthmus of Panama Wishing to sho"
every consideration to the government or COLON
bio the treaty contained provisions of extraor-
binary hberality. A large bonus was gwen Ior
the privilege of constructing the canal. lib
eraI annual lease was added. and all this was IN
addition to the numberless benefits which would
accrue to the Colombian government and people
from the construction in their territory OF this
colossal work The treaty was promptly ratl-
fed bv the Senate of the United States and re-
,acted unanimously and without consideration
by that of Colombia.
The suggestions which have Deen Haue 'o
this government since the failure OF the treaty
g, Ropota of a renewal of negotiations have been
too vague and too extravagant TO merit the
serious consideration Of the United states and
they were such as to create the impression IN
the minds of the people of Panama that there
was reasonable prospect for the accomplish
rnent of the object upon which their hopes and
desires had been set for many years.
INDEPENDENCE ACCOMPLISHED.
This brings us to the sudden and startling
events which have recently attracted the at
tention of this country and OF the world Al
though there has been no lack for many years
past of numerous causes of discomfort and anx-
iety among the people Of Panama, 1t appears
that the failure of the canal treaty convinced
them that there was nothing more to be hoped
for in their connection with the Colombian gov
ernment which nad never proved entirely salts
factory. Tney went to work. with that talent
for prompt and secret organization to which
there is no parallel among people OF Northern
blood. They prepared the machinery of revolu-
ton in advance. ana suddenly, in single day.
without the firing Of a shot-with the exception
of a few shells that were thrown into the city
from a Colombian steamer in the harbor of
Panama-they accomplished their independence.
A government consisting OF the leading citizens
of the STATE was at once organized and pro-
claimed TO the world; a part of the Colombian
forces joined the revolution. The rest returned
to Colombia, and, so far as we are able TO judge.
the new republic begins its career with no
ganized opposition throughout the entire extent
OF the isthma3.
PRESIDENTS COURSE JUSTIFIED.
THE course of the President in this conjunc
ure was marked out in advance by all our
nrincinles and Drecedents He gave orders that