The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-12-12


western streams.
He notes the Increase in the number OF
government employees under the civil serv-
| ice rules. and pronOunces the results ad-
| vantageous 10 the government. In con-
nectlon with the army he recommends the
procuring OF suitable maneuver grounds in
| different sections Of the country, and some
provision that Will enable the department
to recognize merit in making promotions
where such are deserved. For the navy he
wants naval base established in the Phil
| ppines without unnecessary delay, and
| recommends the establishment of naval
general STAFF along lines similar TO those
OF the army
The Isthminn Canal.
More attention is given the lsthmian
canal and the Panama revolution than TO
any other subject The legislation leading
up TO the present condition is discussed
and reviewed. He sees no necessity for
reverting to the Nicaraguan route, and
pronounces present conditions ripe ter the
building Of the Panama canal and in this
connection says.
when the congress directed that We
should take the Panama route under treaty
with Colombia, the essence or the condi-
tion Of course, referred not TO the govern
ment which controlled that route, but TO
the route itself, to the territory across
which the route lay, not to the name which
Tor the moment the territory bore on the
map. The purpose of the law was to au-
thorize the president TO make treaty
with the power in actual control Of the
isthmus Of Panama. This purpose has
been fulfilled
He reviews the relations Of this govern
ment with Colombia relative TO the mat
ter Of transit across the isthmus from the
time OF the signing of the treaty guaran-
teeing right OF way Of transit across the
isthmus to the citizens Of this country,
1886 down to the present time, For an in
depreciation Of the meaning Of the treaty
he quotes from the state papers Of previous
government officials including Secretary
t'lSS and Secretary Seward
under obligations TO the world to build the |
canal; notes the reputation Of the canal
treaty by Colombia and says:
Nevertheless the government Of Colom- |
bia not merely repudated the treaty, but
repudiated IL in such manner as to make !
1t evident by the time the Colombian con-
gress adjourned that not the scantiest hope |
remained Of ever getting a satisfactory |
treaty from them. The government OF
Colombia made the treaty, and yet when |
the Colombian congress was called to rat
fy It the vote against ratification was
unanimous. 1t does not appear that the
government made any real effort to secure
ratification"
The Panama Revolution.
He reviews the incidents Of the Panama
revolution and says the action Of the
United States was in accordance with the
terms OF the treaty guaranteeing peace
able transit across the isthmus, and could
not have been otherwise, He reviews at
considerable length the disturbances that
have occurred In Panama since la7, and
the efforts Of the United States to preserve
the rights guaranteed It's citizens by treaty
and says:
In short. the experience Of over half a
century has shown Colombia to be utterly
incapable Of keeping order on the isthmus
Only the active interference of the United
States has enabled her to preserve so much
as semblanCe Of sovereignty Had 1t
not been for the exercise by the United
States OF the police power in her Interest
her connection with tho isthmus would
have been sundered long ago. In 1856 In
1860, in 1873, In 1885, In 1901, and again IN
1902 sailors and marines from United
States warships were forced to land In or
der TO patrol the isthmus, TO protect life
and property, and to see that the transit
across the isthmus was kept open. In 1861
in 1862, in 1885, and in 1860 the Colombian
government asked that the United states
government would land troops 10 protect
It's interests and maintain order on the
isthmus."
Colombin's Latest Proposition.
knowing that revolution has already
commenced In Panama Ian eminent Co
lombanl says that II the government Of
the United States will land troops TO pre-
serve Colombian sovereignty, and the
transit, II requested by Colombian charge
d 'analres, this government will declare
martial law; and. by virtue OF vested con-
stitutonal authority, when public order
is disturbed, will approve by decree the
ratification OF the canal treaty as signed,
or II the government Of the United States
prefers, Will call extra session OF the con-
gress-with new and friendly members
next May to approve the treaty. IAN emil
nent CoombianI has the perfect confidence
OF vice president, he says, and II 1t became
necessary will go to the lsthmus or send
representative there to adjust matters
along above lines to the satisfaction Of
the people there"
This dispatch is noteworthy from two
standpoints Its ofIer Of Immediately
guaranteeing the treaty to us is In sharp
ali he ts l,r..
uous refusal OF the congress which has Just
closed It's sessions 20 consider favorably
such a treaty; II shows that the govern
ment which made the treaty really had alb
soute control over the situation but did
no, choose TO exercise this control The
dispatch further calls on US to restore or
der and secure Colombian supremacy IN
the isthmus from which the Colombian gov.
eminent has Just by It's action decided TO
bar us by preventing the construction Of
the canal
Considering the canal question In all IT.,
phases and the inability OF Colombia to
maintain order on the lsthmus, and rs
reputation OF the canal treaty which would
have guaranteed permanent peace there.
the president says.
Under such circumstances the govern
ment OF the United states would have been
guilty Of folly and weakness amounting
In their sum to crime against the nation,
9Hd !, Sf,GG 0GGrysS Haq Ss T6 6SH
place IN Panama This great enterprise ot
building the intcroceAnic canal cannot be
held up 10 stautS the Nhlms, or out OF
respect TO the 8oNethmthtal impotence
or TO the even more sinister ana evll po,lt'
they dwell afar on yet, against the wish
OF the actual d",'Iers on ihe iSlhmuA, as
sert an unreal supremacy over the terri
tory, me possession OF aitrrtoiy ifaugh'
with such peculiar capacities az the 18th
mus In qucetion carries with i obligations
10 mankind Tho course OF events hAs
shown that this cana. cannot be built by
private enterprise or by any other nation
BY the united states
Every tnorl ms been made by the gov
crnmcni OF the United states 10 persuade
colombia to follow a course which was