The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1903-11-07
FIRST DUTY OF THIS COUN- is
TO SEE THAT TRAFFIC O.
lsTHMus IS FREE. :
AN OLD TREATY HOLDS
AMERICA TO SEE TO IT
Batteship Maine Hlurrics 10 Colon to
Augment Sauadron-New Republic
tIas Appointed Minster-Colon
Rejoices at Recognition.

Washington. Nov. The secretary Of
state yesterday made the following state
meni IN regard TO affairs on the lsthmus
OF Panama:
The action of the president III the
Panama matter is not only in the sreest
accordance with the principles of justice
and equity and in line with all the best
precedents OF our public policy but it was
the only course he could have taken in
compliance with our treaty rights and
obligations. Ry onf treaty entered into
with New Grenada in the year iSi6 New
Grenada guarantees that the right Of way
or transit across the lsthmus of Panama.
upon any modes of communication that
now exist, or that may be hereafter con-
structed shall be free aud open 10 the
government aud citizens Of the United
States
This is n right which we acquired by
the treaty, not gfatuitously conferred, but
III return for an important compensation,
for i'll the same article the government Of
the United States guarantees positively
and eiicaciously to New Grenada by the
present stipulation the perfect neutrality
of the before mentioned isihmus, with the
view that the transit from the one to the
other sea may not be interrupted or en-
barrasscd in any future time while this
treaty exists and in consequence the
United States guarantee in the same man
ner the rights OF sovereignty aud property
which New Grenada has and possesses
over the territory
THE close connection thus created he
tween the two governments was well set
forth by President Polk in his message
transmitting the treaty to the senate. lie
said.
"Thc importance of the concession to
the commercial and political interests of
the United States cannot be ovorraicd.
The route by the lsthmus Of Panama Is
the shortest between the two oceans, and
from the information herewith eommuni-
Gated II would seem TO be the most prac-
| ticable for railroad or canal. The vast
| advantages to our commerce which would
| result from such communication, not
only with the west coast of America, but
with Asia and the islands Of the Pacific,
are too obvious to require any detail Such
passage would save IFS from a long and
dangerous navigation OF more than 1000
miles around the Horn and render our
communication with onr possessions on
the northwest coast of America compara-
lively easy and speedy. The treaty does
not propose 10 guarantee treaty 10 a Tor
eign nation in which the United States
will have no common interest with that
nation. On the contrary, we are more
deeply and directly interested in the sub.
jeet OF the guarantee than New Grenada
herself or any other country.
These considerations, the controlling
nature Of which were once recognized so
long ago have become more and more inn
portanl III every year that has elapsed since
the treaty WAS written.
Our acquisition Of Hawaii and lhc Phil
ippincs has given them n greatly enhanced
validity. The control. in The interest Of
commerce and traffic Of the whole civilized
world Of the means Of undisiinhe1 transit
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