The Monticellonian., 1903-12-10


 western streams.
 He notes the increase in the number of government employees under the civil serN= ice rules, and pronounces the results ad- Nantageous to the government, In con necttOn with the army he recomme ends the procuring of suitable maneuVer grounds tn different sections of the country, and some provision that will enable the department to recognize merit i'll making promotions where such are deserved. For the navy ke wants naval base established in the Phil ippines without unnecessary delay, and recommends the establishment of naval general staff along lines similar 10 those of the army
 The Isthminn Canal.
 More attention is given the isthmian 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 10 the Nicaraguan route, and pronounces present conditions ripe for 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- ton, 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 10 the name which for the moment the territory bore on the map. The purpose of the law was to au- thOriZe the president to make q treaty with the power in actual control of the isthmus of Panama. This purpose has been fulfilled"
 
 ment with Colombia relative to the mat ter of transit across the isthmus from the t.ne of the signing of the treaty guaran- teelng right of Way Of transit across the isthmus to the citizens of this country, 1S46. down to the present time. For an ln- depreciation of the meaning Of the treaty he quotes from the state papers ot preVlous government ofiictais. including Secretary Cass and Secretary Seward. Says We are under obligations to the world to build the canal; notes the repudlation of the canal treaty by Colombia and says:
 Nevertheless the government of Co.om- bia not merely repudiated the treaty, but repudiated it in such manner as to make it evident by the time the Colombian con gress adjourned that not the scantest hope treaty from them The government of Colombia made the treaty, and yet when the Colombian congress Was called to rat fy 1t the vote against ratification was unanimous It does not appear that the governme mt 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 ot the treaty guaranteeing peace able transit across the tsthmus, and could not have been otherwise. He reviews at considerable length the disturbances that have occurred in Panama since 1S47 and the efforts Of the United States 10 preserve the rights guaranteed it's citizens by treaty
 Tn short. the experience of over half century has shown Colombia to be utterly incapable of keeping orde- on the istkmus. Only the active interference Of the United States has enabled her to preserve so much as a semblance Of sovereignty. Had II not been for the exercise by the United States of the police power in her interest, her connection with the 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 10 land in or der to patrol the isthmus, to protect life d nd fn [ haf hn f+af4 st across the isthmus was kept open. In 1861. in 1892 in 1885, and in 1900 the Colombian government asked that the United States government would land troops to protect it's interests and maintain order on the isthmus."
 CoIombin's Latest Proposition.
 Knowing that revolution has already commenced In Panama Ian eminent Co- the United States will land troops 10 pre- serve Colombian sovereignty, and the transit, If requested by Colombian charge i affares, this government will declare martial law; and by virtue of vested con- stitutional authority when public order is disturbed will approve by decree the ratification of the canal treaty signed: or, if 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. An emi- nent Colombianl has the perfect confidence of vice president, he says, and if 1t became necessary will go to the isthmus or send representative there 10 adjust matters along above lines to the satisfaction of the people there
 This dispatch is noteworthy from two standponts. Its offer of Immediately guaranteeing the treaty to us is in sharp contrast with the positive and contempt uous refusal of the congress which has just closed it's sessions to consider faVorably such a treaty; 1t shows that the govern ment which made the treaty really had ab solute control over the situation but did not choose to exercise this control. The dispatch further calls on us to restore or .Hg ,N,f the iSt hmus from which the Colombian gov ernment has just by it's action decided to bar us by preventing the construction of the canal.
 Considering the canal question in all it's phases, and the inability ot Colombia to maintain order on the isthmus, and It's repudiation 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 a crime against the nation. had 1t acted otherwise than it did when place in Panama. This great enterprise of building the interoeeanic canal cannot be held up to gratify the whims or out of respect to the governmental impotence, or to the even more sinister and evil polit- teal peculiarities. of people who. though they dwell afar off, yet, against the wish of the actual dwellers on the iSthmus, as- sert an unreal supremacy over the terri tory. The possession of territory fraught 
 mus in question carries with Il obligations 10 mankind. The course Of events has shown that this canal cannot be built by private enterprise, or by any other nation than our own therefore 1t must be built by the United States"
 The New Canal Treaty.
 He refers to the new canal treaty recent ly made with Panama. which he submits with the message. and says of IL:
 By the provisions Of the treaty tae United States guarantees and Xi.l main tain the indepe ndence of the republic of Panama. There is granted to the United States in perpetuity the use, occupation extending three nautical miles into -he sea at either terminal. with all lands lying outside of the zone necessary for the con- struction of the canal or for its auxiliary works. and with the islands in the bay of Panama. The cities of Panama and Colon