The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-01-08
WASHINGTON.
From our Reeulnr Correspondent.

and is there promoting campaign a.
ganst the ratification of the canal
treaty which his successor, DR..
Herrara, is endeavoring to negotiate
with the United States. Colombia
claims that she is now receiving an
income of $5oo,ooo from the
zone of land which the United States
demands as a sine qua non to the
completion of the canal. This a.
mount may be somewhat exaggerated
but 1t is known that the Panama Rail
way pays Colombian government an
annity OF $25o,ooo and from the ex-
orbitant charges made for every pri-
vllege accorded to commerce it is rea-
sonable to assume that the exaggera-
ton is not great. Secretary Hay is
endeavorlng to secure the leasehold at
a much lower figure. 1t has alre ady
decided that the amount fixed in the
treaty is to stand indefinitely and that
the United States is to receive
century lease with the privilege OF re-
newal at its pleasure, the only ques-
tion remaining to be determined being
the annual compensation.
XIX
The menace ofthe Monroe Doctrine
lies in the following argument which
Senior Concha is advancing. he urges
the sale of The canal privilege to Ger
many, who already controls a large
portion of the trade of South America
and who would be greatly benefited
by the ownership of the canal He
says this course could not be constru-
ed as a violation of the Monroe
Doctrine because, when it was urged
that the Colombian constitution for
bade the REIMBURSEMENT OF any por-
tion Of her territory, Secretary Hay
pointed out that there was no relinqu.
ishmept of territory In the granting
to the United States of a perpetual
lease. Colombia, according to Secre-
tary Hay, would still be the owner of
the territory. The same argument
must apply equally to Germany and
there is little reason to believe that
Germany would be as 10th to pay a
fair value for the privilege as is the
United States. 1t may be said that
the United States will build the canal
along the Nicaraguan route, argues
Senor Concha, but that would not
prevent Germany's completing the
Panama canal which offers many ad-
vantages among them the susceptible
lity of completion years before the
Nicaragua canal. Colombia would
of course, cede no territory to
Germany, only lease it, and so there
would be no violation of the Monroe
Doctrine. Thus 1t would seem that
further delay on the part of the Sec
retary of State or of Congress might
result in the formers being "hoisted
by his own petard.
XXX
After days of anxious and pains
taking labor, the President is being
forced to a realization of the utter I'M
practicability of expecting statesman
ship from the leaders of his party.
After concluding treaty with Cuba
which, however unfairly its benefits
may be distributed in the United
States, certainly secure for this count
ry benefits out of all proportion to the
concessions allowed to Cuba, the Pre-
sident is learning that it is not Unjust
ice to American industries that is
at the bottom of republican opposition
to Cuban reciprocity but a selfish de-
termination not to permit the lowering
OF a single schedule of the Dingley
tariff for any reason. Headed by
Senator Aldrich, the present high
priest of extreme protection, there Is
a coterie of Senators which is deter
mined to defeat the new treaty ano
every other which lowers a single
tariff schedule, and as no reciprocity
is possible without some tariff reduc
tion the reciprocity policy of Blaine
and Mckinley and Roosevelt is to bt
relegated to campaign talking
point" by the servltors of the protect
ed interests of the country.
XXX
An examination of some OF the croI
statistics of the year throws an inter
esting light on the claims ofrepubical
prosperity. According to the govern
ment statistics, the farmers OF the
United States have taken from TIT
soil crops having value of $a,55h-
8os,4I6 during the past year. Thes
are the largest crops ever garnered Il
the United States. Wheat, corn
oats, barley, rye, buckwh-a -at, potatoes
etc. have all contributed their shar
to this magnificent yield and as re
suit the farmers of the country ar