The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-03
ONE COLOMBIAN VIEW OF THE
CANAL.
MIR. Raul Perez Explains Further His
Arguments and Attitude.


Arguments and Attitude.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Your
editorial article in this mornings issue,
under the heading. "A Colombian on the
Canal Transaction" contains appropriations
and conclusions that call for certain en-
plantations on my part.
consider-and my opinion is that OF the
sane and true Colombian element-that
the sum OF $40 600 900 as sole compensation
for our rights over the Isthmian strip is in
adequate, not because we covet more mil
lions. but because we have dreamed OF a
loyal and upright copartnership with the
United States on an equal footing The
blessings OF such ideal copartnership are
not reckoned by Ills in dollars and cents, but
In the inestimable good the moral influence
OF our great sister republic would have in
our domestic affairs For us Colombians,
there Ia no doubt that the ominous tyranny
and msrule that exist to-day in our coun-
try would be greatly minimized. and proba-
bly, totally eradicated when the doings OF
our Government would be daily discussed
in the American press as having bearings
on the great enterprise of the canal.
My words in the North American Repiew
do not convey different meaning.
The fact Of my being an exile for years
cannot mean my lack Of patriotism or Of
knowledge Of what is most convenient for
my country. l am and have always been in
direct touch with that dear country Of mine,
and the fact that 1, and all of mine. have
greatly suffered for it and by it only in
creases and enhances that affection. do
not wish my bitterest enemy to have ever
to talk Of the Government Of his own coun-
try In the manner in which we Colombians
are sometimes compelled to speak Of ours.
The only consolation for me in telling the
truth about the Colombian Government
is the fact that such Government is COM
posed of Jesuits and the Jesuits have no
nationality, and all love of country is for
hidden them. Besides, the Jesuits who
rule supreme in my country are not Colom-
bians by birth.
THE Sun cannot be in position to discuss
with me the morality, the patriotism the
righteousness, the legality, and all the other
qualities Of the Colombian Government,
until The Sun goes down to Colombia to
live during forty-eight hours under the
present Colombian rule.
My argument when quote Article Fl Of
the Salgar- Wyse contract is not principle
of law. know, as well as The Sun does,
that legal disposition can be derogued by
subsequent one. provided, however, that
the latter should be constitutional.
The bearings Of Article 81 of the Salgar-
Wyse contract on the Herran-Hay treaty
are not, in my augmentation, of a legal
character, but of a very different order My
meaning, clear TO those who have read
calmly my article in the North American
I7eriep, is that for the case of a world Power
coming to be the builder of the canal il is
necessary to make an entirely new contract
fixing with rs much accuracy as possible
the status of the builder said that as l
might have said that the cage made for a
squirrel would hardly be fit for an elephant.
But I may add that even supposng that
the Colombian Congress should approve the
Herran-Hay treaty. az that act of Congress-
would he unconstitutional nasmuch as
an ordinary Congress- cannot lawfully sane
ton a cession Of territOry-Article 81 of the
SalgarWyse contract would still be in full
force.
Whether am an exile or not or whether
love or hate and have to be painfully
ashamed OF the Government OF my most
unhappy country, the question remains
the same. to wit That the great ambition
and hope Of the Colombians is that the
United States should build the Panama
Canal: that its building, in order to he salts
factory to us, must be permanently bene-
fetal to Colombia that all the steps taken
by the present Colombian Government are
unconstitutional and illegal, and finally.
that it ia to the interest Of all concerned that
the United States should put good order in
all those matters, so as 10 make the trans
action square. more for the sake of its own
good name and cearness of its title than
for any other consideration.
NEW YORK. June 30. RAUL PEREZ.