Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-12-10

they number So for tho 81 years II VIII
be noted that ono Of them lasted for near
~ three years before Il was quelled; an
other for nearly a year. 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 a sembiance OF sovereignty. Had
Il not been for the exercise by the United
States OF the police power IN her interest.
her connection with the isthmus would
have bees sundered long ago. In 1856, in
1850 IN 1873, In 1885. In 1901, and again in
1902 sailors and marines from United
States war ships we're forced TO land In
order to patrol the isthmus. to protect
life and property, and 10 see that the
transit across the isthmus WAS kept
open. In 1851. IN 1862, In 1886. and In 1900
the Colombian Government asked that the
United States Government would land
troops TO protect it's interests and main
tain order on the isthmus. Perhaps the
most extraordinary request In that which
has Just been received and which runs
as follows:
Knowing that revolution has already
commenced in Panama ian eminent Co
lombianl says that n the Government OF
the United States will land troops 10 pre-
serve Colombian sovereignty. and the
transit. II requested by Colombian charge
daffaires. this Government will declare
martial law; and by virtue Of vested con-
stltutional authority, when public order
Is restored. will approve By decree the
ratification OF the canal treaty as signed:
or, II the Government OF the United
States prefers. win call extra session OF
the Congress-with new and friendly
reimbursement May to approve tho
treaty. IAN eminent Colombianl has the
perfect confidence Of vice-president he
says. and II It became necessary wifi go
TO the isthmus or send representative
20 a. AZ al a.
to the satisfaction of the people there"
This dispatch Is noteworthy from two
standpolnts. Its offer OF Immediately
guaranteeing the treaty. to us Is I'm sharp
contrast with the positive and contemp-
tuous refusal Of the Congress which has
Just closed its sessions TO consider ia
vorably such treaty; 1t shows that the
Government which made the treaty really
had absolute control over the situation,
but did not choose to exercise this con-
troll The dispatch further calls on us
TO restore order and secure Colombian
supremacy in the isthmus from which the
Colombian Government has just by its
action decided to bar us by preventing
the construction of the canal.
Importance OF Peace in lsthmus.
The control, in the interest of the COM
merce and traffic OF the whole civilized
world of the means of undisturbed tran
sit across the Isthmus Of Panama has
become OF transcendent Importance to,
the United States. We have repeatedly
exercised this control by intervening in
the course of domestic dissension, and
by protecting the territory from foreign
invasion. In 1853 Mr.. Everett assured
the Peruvian minister that we should
not hesitate to maintain the neutrality
OF the isthmus In the case OF war be-
tween Peru and Colombia. In 1864 Co
lombia, which has always been vlgilant
to avail itself of Its privileges conferred
aNa..~
that in the event of war between Peru
and Spain the United States would carry
into effect the guaranty of neutrality.
There have been few administrations of
the State Department IN which this
treaty has not. either by the one side
or the other, been used as a basis of
more or less important demands II was
said by Mr.. Fish In lSI1-that the Depart
ment of State had reason to believe that
an attack upon Colombian sovereignty
on the isthmus had, on several occa-
sions been averted by warning from this
Government In 1856, when Colombia was
under the menace OF hostilities from
Italy in the Cerruti case, Mr., Bayard ex-
pressed the serious concern that the
United States could not but feel, that q
European power should resort to force
against sister republic of this hemis-
phere. as TO the sovereign and uninter-
rupted use of part OF whose territory
we are gnarantors under the solemn faith
OF q treaty.
Treaty With Republic of Panama.
Every effort has been made by the Gov
eTnment OF the United States 70 persuade
Colombia to follow a course which was
essentially not only TO our interests and
TO the interests OF the world but to the
interests OF Colombia itself. These eff
forts have faned and Colombia. by her
persistence In repulsing the advances that
have been made, has forced us Tor the
sake Of our own honoE and OF the inter-
est and well being. not merely OF our own
people. but OF the people OF the Isthmus
Of Panama and the people of the civilized
countries of the world TO take decisive
steps to bring to an end condition OF
Affairs which had become intoierable.
The new Republic OF Panama immediate
ly offered to negotiate a treaty with US.
interests are better safeguarded than In
the treaty with Colombia which was rati-
ned by the Senate at its last session. 1t is
better in its terms than the treaties Of
fered to us by the Republics OF Nicara-
qua and Costa Riea. At last the right
to begin this great undertaking is made
available, Panama has done her part.
All that remains is for the American Con-
gress to do its part and forthwith this
Republic viii enter upon the execution
OF a project colossal in It's size and OF
well-nis-- incalculable possibilities for the
good Of this country and the nations OF
mankind
Provisions Of Treaty.
BY the provisions OF the treaty the
United States guarantees and wiil main
tain the independence OF the Republic OF
Panama There is granted to the United
States in perpetuity the use, occupation.
and control Of a strip ten miles wide and
extending three nautical miles into the
sea at either terminal with all lands ly-
Ing outside Of the zone necessary for the
construction OF the canal or for IT'S aux
Hilary works. and with the islands In the
Bay of Panama. The cities OF Panama
and Colon arc not embraced in the canal
zone. hut the United States assumes
their sanitation and. in case OF need. the
maintenance Of order therein; the United
States enjoys within the granted limits
an the rights. power. and authority which
II would possess were IL the sovereign CT
the territory TO the exclusion OF the exc
srcise Of sovereign Tishts by tbs Republic,
All railway and canal property rights be-
longia8 10 Panama ard needed FOR tho
cnnnI pass to che United Stetes, inclnd-