Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-12-09

the president to make treaty with the
power in actual control Of the isthmus
of Panama. This purpose has been
fulfilled
For 400 years. ever since shortly after
the discovery Of this hemisphere, the
canal across the isthmus has been
planned. For twoscore years it has
been worked at. When made it is to
last for the ages. 1t is to alter the
geography of a continent and the trade
routes of the world. We have shown
attempted to negotiate with the peo-
pies in control Of the isthmus and with
foreign nations in reference thereto our
consistent good faith in observing our
obligations. on the one hand to the peO-
pies of the iSthmus and on the other
hand to the civilized world. whose COM
mercial rights we are safeguarding and
guaranteeing by our action. We have
done our duty to others in letter and in
spirit. and we have shown the utmost
forbearance in exacting our own rights.
Reputation of Treaty by Colombia.
Last spring a treaty concluded be-
tween the representatives of the re-
public of Colombia and of our govern
ment was ratified by the senate. This
treaty was entered into at the urgent
solicitation of the people of Colombia
and after 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 draw
ing up this treaty every concession was
made to the people and to the govern
ment Of Colombia. We were more
than just in dealing with them. Our
generosity was such as to make it a
serious question whether we had not
gone too far i'm their interest at the ex-
pense of our own, for i'm 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 pro-
lection and fOrbearance. we yielded in
all possible ways to her desires in
drawing up the treaty. Nevertheless
the government of Colombia not mere
ly repudiated the treaty. but repudi-
ated it in such manner as to make it
evident by the time the Colombian con-
gress adjourned that not the scantest
hope remained of ever getting Il salts
factory treaty from them.
Revolution In Panama.
The people Of Panama had long been
discontinued with the republic of Co.
lombia. and they had been kept quiet
only by the prospect of the conclusion
of the canal treaty, which was to them
matter of vital concern. When it be-
came evident that the treaty was hope
lessly lost the people of Panama rose
literally as one man. Not a shot was
fired by Il single man on the isthmus
in the interest of the Colombian gov
eminent. Not life was lost in the
accomplishment of the revolution. The
Colombian troops stationed on the 18TH
mus. who had long been unpaid, made
common cause with the people of Pan
anna. and with astonishing unanimity
the new republic was started. The
duty of the United States in the prem
iSeS was clear In strict accordance
with the principles laid down by Sec
retaries Cass and Seward, the United
States gave notice that it would per-
NIT the landing of no eXpeditionary
force. the arrival of which would mean
chaos and destruction along the line of
the railroad and of the proposed canal
and an interruption of transit as an
inevitable consequence. The de facto
government of Panama was recog-
niZed
Under such circumstances the gov
eminent Of the United States would
have been guilty of folly and weak
ness, amounting in their sum to a crime
against the nation. had it acted other
wise than it did when the revolution of
Nov. 3 last took place in Panama. This
great enterprise of building the inter-
oceanic canal cannot be held up to
crafty the whims or out of respect to
the governmental impotence or to the
even more sinister and evil political
peculiarities of people who though
they dwell afar off, yet, against the
WISH vi lHt ACTUAL uWellcFS on the lStn-
mus, assert an unreal supremacy over
the territory. The possession of Il ter
ritory fraught with such peculiar ca
pacities as the isthmus in question car
ries with it obligations to mankind
The course of events has shown that
this canal cannot be built by private
enterprise or by any other nation than
our own; therefore 1t must be built by
the United States.
New Treaty with Panama.
Every effort has been made by the
governments of the United States to per-
suade Colombia to follow course
which was essentially not only to our
interests and to the interests of the
world. but to the interests of Colon
bia itself. These efforts have failed.
and Colombia, by her persistence in re-
pulsing the advances that have been
made. has forced us for the sake of
our own honor and Of the interest and
well being not merely of our own peo-
pie, 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 condition of
ft.., htAb no. ~