The leader., 1903-12-12


He reports steady progress being made |
In both Porto Rico and the Philippines and /
asks for the latter new tariff arrange
He believes that new laws are needed In |
connection with the administration Of the /
public lands, and wants them held 50 far
ports steady progress being made in irrt-
cation in the west under the irrigation law, |
this line 10 needed now. He urges the con-
tlnuation of the work OF forest preserva.
tion, and the reservation OF the public |
lands lying about the headwaters Of the
lie notes the Increase In the number OF
government employees under the civil serv-
vantageous to the government. In. con-
nection with the army he recommends the
procuring Of suitable maneuver grounds in
different sections Of the country, and some
provision that will enable the department.
to recognize merit In making promotions
where such are deserved. For the navy he
wants a naval base established In the Phil,
ippines without unnecessary delay, ana
recommends the establishment of a naval
general staff along lines similar 10 those
OF the army.
The Isthmian Canal.
More attention Is given the sthmian
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 to the Nfearaguan route. ana
pronounces present conditions ripe for the
connection says:
when the congress directed that We
should take the Panama route under treaty
with Colombia, the essence or the condt-
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 to the name which
for the moment the territory bore on the
map: The purpose of the law was to au-
iRGFze }S the to- make Feab IF bs
isthmus of Panama. This purpose has
been fulfilled"
He reviews the relations of this govern
ment with Colombia relative to the MAJ
ter of transit across the isthmus from the
time Of the signing of the treaty guarall-
isthmus to the citizens of this country,
1916, down to the present time For an in
depreciation of the meaning of the treaty
he quotes from the state papers of previous
Cass and Secretary Seward. Says we are
under obligations to the world to build the
canal; notes the reputation of the canal
treaty by Colombia and says:
Nevertheless the government of Colom-
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 scantiest hope
remained of ever getting satisfactory
Colombia made the treaty, and yet when
the Colombian congress was called to rat
fy it the vote against ratification was
unanimous 1t does not appear that the
government 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 of the treaty guaranteeing peace,
able transit across the isthmus, 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 to preserve
the rights guaranteed its citizens by treaty
and says:
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 semblance of sovereignty. Had 1t
not been for the exercise by the United
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
der to patrol the isthmus, to protect life
and property, and to see that the transit
in in 1862 in in 1885, and in 1900, the Colombian
government asked that the United States
government would land troops to protect
its interests and maintain order on the
isthmus."
COIombia's Latest Proposition.
knowing that revolution has already
commenced in Panama Ian eminent CO.
lombian] says that if the government of
serve Colombian sovereignty. and the
transit, if requested by Colombian charge
daffaires, 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 as signed;
or, if the government of the United States
prefers, will call extra session of the con-
gress-with new and friendly members
1ne nent c@oiombianj Colo B has the he perfect confidence
of vice president, he says and if it became
necessary will go to the isthmus or send
representative there to adjust matters
along above lines to the satisfaction of
the people there"
This dispatch is noteworthy from two
guaranteeing the treaty to us is in sharp
| contrast with the positive and contempt
uous refusal of the congress which has just
| closed its sessions to consider favorably
such a treaty; it shows that the govern
| ment which made the treaty really had abb
solute, control over the situation. but did
| dispatch further calls on us to restore or
| der and secure Colombian supremacy in
the isthmus from which the Colombian gov
bar US by preventing the construction of
| the canal
Considering the canal question in all its
phases, and the inability Of Colombia to
maintain order on the isthmus, and its
reputation 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 it acted otherwise than 1t did when
l. the revolution of November last took
| place in Panama. This great enterprise of
building the interoceanic canal cannot be
held up to crafty the whims, or out OF
respect to the governmental impotence,
| or to the even more sinister and evil polit-
| ical 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
with such peculiar capacities as the 18TH
mus in question carries with 1t obligations
| to 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
Every effort has been made by the gov
ernment of the United States to persuade
Colombia to follow blow a course which which was was
| to the interests of the world but to the in
terests of Colombia itself. These efforts
ence in repuising the advances that have
been made. has forced US, for the sake of
i our own honor, and of the interest and
but of the people of the isthmus of Pan
| anna and the people of the civilized coun-
tries of the world. to take decisive steps
/ to bring to an end condition of affairs
| which had become fntolerable.
The New Canal Treaty.
/ He refers to the new canal treaty recent
lily made with Panama, which he submits
with the message, and says of 1t:
by the provisions of the treaty the
| United States guarantees and will 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 Sne
/ 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
i are not embraced in the canal zone, but
/ the United States assumes their sanitation
/ and, in case of need, the maintenance of
order therein; the United States enjoys
within the granted limits all the rights,
! sess were it the sovereign of the territory
| to the exclusion of the exercise of sover-
i eign rights by the republic. AL railway
/ and canal property rights belonging to
| Panama and needed for the canal pass to
the United States, including any property
/ of the. respective companies in the cities
] of Panama and Colon; the works, property