Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-12-19

then the other formerly exercised over
endures. the mere geographical fact of it's
existence. and the PECULIAR interest there
In which Is required by our position,
binds the holders OF the territory to re-
spect right to freedom of transit
across it, and binds us in return to safe
guard for the isthmus and the world the
exercise of that inestimabie privilege
The true Interpretation of the obliga-
tions upon which the United States
repeatedly In the utterances of Presi-
dents and Secretaries of State Secretary
Cass in 1855 offieially stated the position
of this Government as follows:
1.-THE progress of events has rendered
the interoceanic route across the narrow
portion of Central America vastly impor-
cially to the United States, whose pos
sessions extend along the Atlantic and
and easiest modes Of communication
While the rights of sovereignty of the
states occupying this region should al
ways be respected we shall expect that
these rights be exercised in a sririt be-
fitting the occasion and the wants and
circumstances that have arisen Sover-
eighty has its duties well as its rights.
and none of these local governments.
even If administered with more regard to
the just demands of other nations than
they have been. would be permitted. in
gates of Intercourse the great high
ways of the world. and justify the act by
trade and travel belong to them and that
they choose to shut them. what is
almost equivalent. to cucumber them
with such unjust relations would pre-
vent their general USE
Seven years later. in 1865. Mr.. Seward
in different communications took the fol-
lowing position:
1.-THE United States have taken and
will take no interest in any question of
internal revolution in the State of Pan
anna. or any State of the United States of
10 hut xrrfll
neutrality in connection with such do
nestle alterations. The United States
will. nevertheless. hold themselves ready
to protect the transit trade across the
isthmus against invasion of either do
nestle or foreign disturbers of the peace
of the State of Panama. Neither
the text nor the spirit of the stipulation
in that article by which the United States
engages to preserve the neutrality of the
Isthmus of Panama. imposes obliga-
ton on this Government to comply with
the requisition [of the President of the
United States of Colombia for a force to
protect the Isthmus of Panama from a
body of insurgents of that countryl. The
purpose of the stipulation was to guar
antee the isthmus against seizure or in
vasion by foreign power only
For four hundred years. ever since
shortly after the discovery of this hem
isphere, the canal across the isthmus has
been planned For two score years it
has been worked at When made it is to
last for the ages 1t is to alter the
geography of continent and the trade
routes of the world We have shown by
every treaty have negotiated or at
tempted to negotiate with the peoples in
control of the iSthmuS and with foreign
ma tions in reference thereto our consis-
tent good faith in observing OUR ob1iga-
tons, on the one hand to the peoples. of
the 1SthmuS, and the other hand to
the civilized world whose commercial
rights we are safeguarding and guaran-
teeing by our action. We have done our
duty to others in letter and in spirit and
we nave shown the utmost forbearance in
exacting our own rights.
Last spring, under the act above re-
ferred to, treaty concluded between the
representatives of the Republic of CO.
lombia and of our Government was ratf-
fed by the Senate. This treaty was en-
tered into at the urgent solicitation of
the people of Colombia and after a 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 drawing up this treaty every
concession was made to the people and
to the Government of Colombia We were
more than just in dealing with them Our
generosity was such to make it Sc
rious question 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 fancied rights of our
weaker neighbor, who already owed so
much to our protection and forbearance
We yielded in all possible ways to her
desires in drawing up the treaty. Never
theless the Government of Colombia not
merely repudiated the treaty but repu-
d1ated 1t in such manner as to make it
evident by the time the Colombian Con-
greSs adjourned that not the cantiest
hope remained of ever getting It's
factory treaty from them. The Govern
ment of Colombia made the treaty and
yet when the Colombian Congress was
called to ratify it the vote against rati-
hcatfon was unanimous 1t docs not ap-
pear that the Government made any real
effort to secure ratification.
Revolution in Panama
Immediately after the adjournment of
the Congress a revolution broke out in
Panama The people of Panama had
of Colombia. and they had been kept quiet
only by the prospect of the conclusion
of the treaty, which was to them a mat
ter of vital concern When it became
lost. the people of Panama rose literally
one man. Not shot fired by a
single man the isthmus in the interest
of the Colombian Government Not
the revolution The Colombian troops
stationed on the isthmus. who had long
been unpaid. made common cause with
the people of Panama and with aston
ishing unanimity the republic was
started. The duty of the United States
in the premises was clear. In strict ac-f
cordance- with the principles laid down
by Secretaries Cass and Seward in the Of
fetal documents above quoted, the United
States gave notice that it would permit
the landing of expeditionary force
the arrival of which would mean chaos
and destruction along the line of the rail-
interruption of transit Inevitable
consequence. The de facto Government
of Panama was recognized in the follow
ing telegram to Mr. Ehrman:
1.-THE people of Panama have. by APP
parently unanimous movement. dissolved
their political connection with the