The San Francisco call., 1903-12-10
THE MESSAGE ON PANAMA.


ship that any oppose the policy we have
Il pursued in Panama, after reading the Presidents
message that subject. He has followed strictly in
the line of principles laid down by eminent Demo
cratic authority as Polk and Cass The latter, Secre
tary of State said: "None of the local governments
having sovereignty of the sthmus ii administered
with regard the just demands of other nations
than they BEEN would be permitted in the spirit
of Eastern isolation, close the gates OF intercourse
on the great highways of the world and justify the act
by the pretension that these avenues of trade and
travel belong 10 them, and that they choose to shut
them, or, what is equivalent, to ncumber them with
such unjust relations would prevent their general
use"
Secretary Seward, interpreting the treaty OF 1916, in
its guarantee of the sovereignty of New Granada over
the shmus declared that its was to guarantee
the sthmus only against seizure INVASION by for
eign power This view concurred in by Attorney
General Speed and there exists nowhere any dissent
that view by any American statesman of any party.
1t is entirely beyond dispute that either Cass or
Seward Secretary of State and Buchanan Lincoln
President exactly the would have been
pursued that has been taken by Roosevelt and Hay.
Buchanan, in discussing this thmian canal went far
declare for the of the Sandwich Islands,
a safeguard the Pacific end of the canal, and of
planting protection of the other terminus by the same
sort of measures in the Caribbean Sea-
The governments of New Granada and Colombia
proved themselves utterly incapable of maintaining
order the sthmus. In the fty-seven years elapsed
since the treaty of 846 there have been ytwo serious
outbreaks and revolutions there, involving loss of life
with equal number of minor riots and disorders,
which disturbed commerce and rendered the use of
sthmian transit dangerous all and expensive to the
United States, since have had to naval
forces to discharge treaty obligations and keep
faith with the world by keeping open the gateway of
intercourse.
Colombia failed to do her reciprocal duty. 1t is
easy say that must be policeman the SOW
eregnty of Colombia the isthmus but she has done
nothing dignity that sovereignty, by making it toler
able those who under it. Her duty plain.
She had the opportunity to discharge it by ratifyng
the canal treaty in requtal of half century
guardianship of her property. During all that time
Bogota not in any way hndered obstructed in
her ishman administration She had every opportunity
make strong, enlightened and progressive and she
took advantage OF none.
The President tells the story concisey, forciby and
with dignity He makes it plain that the whole peo-
pie of the sthmus concur in the revolution and the
erection of the republics and that the unpaid
national troops enlisted from other Colombian states,
who were on the ground when the change pro-
claimed, in active sympathy with the isthmans.
The de facto authorities of the state being, by
the law of nations endoMed with the treaty king
power have used that power in concluding the new
treaty, which they have now ratified and the duty Of
the United States Senate also ratify it is now
plain, patriotic and American duty, which sure
will be discharged.
For the circumstances under which this treaty is
made the Democrats have the authority of President
Monroe who said the de facto governmen, country
is. the for deal with How? If not by dplo-
recognition that carries the treaty-maing power
with it, how deal with de facto government? !?
The treaty sketched by the President more
advantageous than any can hope to make with
Nicaragua and Costa Rca for the other 1t gives
absolute control of strip Panama twenty miles
wide and equal control of three marine leagues of the
water each terminus with the right fortfy; and
exemption from taxation other than the annual sub
venton of $25oooo 1t us also the right of
sanitary control of Panama and Colon, that we may
exercise from them yellow fever and other pestlence
did from Havana. This is of special Importance as
epidemics harmfuy impair entirely suspend trade
The treaty of I846 binds much to maintain the
sovereignty of health the isthmus
any political sovereignty. 1t would be than ma
tiona folly reject this treaty. and with the oppor-
tunity complete the canal which has been in the air
for century and a half 1t was the dream OF Jefferson
of Bolivar, of Humboldt and OF every President of the
United States since 1901 1t remained opportunity
to knock at door and be invited in by Roose-
welt and Hay. Let them be supported in a spirit Of
patriotism that forgets partisanship
Russia is fastening arms, ammunition and provisions