The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-08
REPUTATION OF
TREATY BY COLOMBIA.

Last spring. under the act above referred
to, a treaty concluded between the repre-
sentatives OF the Republic of Colombia and
of our government was ratified by the Sen
ate This treaty was entered into at the
urgent solicitation of the people Of Co.
lombia, and after body of experts. ap-
pointed 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 CO.
lombia. We were more than just in deal
ing with them. Our generosity was such as
to make IL a serious question whether we
had not gone too far in their interest at
the expense of our own; for, in scru-
pulous desire to pay all possible heed not
merely to the real but even to the fan
cied 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. Nevertheless the government of
Colombia not merely repudiated the treaty
but repudiated 1T 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 CO.
lombia made the treaty and yet when the
Colombian Congress was called to ratifyi ii,
the vote against ratification was unanf-
nous. 1t does not appear that the govern
ment made any real effort to secure rati-
fication.
Revolution I'm Panama.
Immediately after the adjournment of
Congress a revolution broke out in Pana-
ma. The people of Panama had long been
Disconnected with the republic of Colom-
bia, and they had been kept quiet only by
the prospect OF the conclusion of the treaty.
which was TO them matter of vital con-
Germ. When it became evident that the
treaty was hopelessly lost, the people of
Panama rose literally man. Not
a shot was fired by a single man on the
isthmus In the interest of the Colombian
government. Not a life was lost in the
accomplishment OF the revolution. The
Colombian troops stationed on the isthmus.
who had long been unpaid, made common
cause with the people OF Panama, and
with astonishing unaninity the new repub-
lie was started. The duty OF the United
accordance with the principles laid down
by Secretaries CaSs ana Seward in the Of
fetal documents above quoted the United
States gave notice that 1t would permit
the landing of no expeditionary force the
arrival of which would mean chaos and de-
struction 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
recognized In the following telegram to Mr..
Ehrman:
THE people OF Panama have, by ap-
parently unanimous movement, dissolved
their political connection with the republic
ence. When you are satisfied that a de
facto government. republican in form and
without substantial opposition from its own
people, has been established in the State
of Panama, you will enter into relations
with IL the responsible government OF
the territory and look to IL for all due
action to protect the persons and prop
erty of citizens of the United States and
TO keep open the isthmian transit, I'm ac-
cordance with the obligations of existing
treaties governing the relations of the
United States TO that territory"
Colombia Notified.
The government CT Colombia was notified
of our action by the following telegram
to Mr.. Beaupre: THE people Of Panama
having. by apparently unanimous move
mert. dissolved their political connection
with The republic OF Colombia and resumed
their independence. and having adopted a
government of their own. republican in
form, with which the government OF the
United States OF America has entered into
relatonA. the President or the United