The Red Cloud chief., 1903-12-11

w hlh SOiflllhNts do " SbN
ceeded to the rights which first one and
then the other formerly exercised over
the sthmus But as long as the isthmus
endures. the mere geographical fact OF its
existence. and the peculiar interest there
In which is required by our position.
pCrpetuate the solemn contract which
binds the holders of the territory to re-
spect our right to freedom of transit
across II, and binds us in return to safe
guard for the isthmus and the world the
exercise of that inestimable privilege.
The true Interpretation of the obliga-
tions upon which the United States en-
tered In this treaty OF 1916 has been given
repeatedly in the utterances of Presi-
dents and Secretaries of State. Secretary
Cass In 1858 officially stated the position
of this Government as follows:
The progress of events has rendered
the interoceanic route across the narrow
portion Of Central America vastly impor-
tant to the commercial world. and espe-
cially to the United States. whose pos
sessions extend along the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts. and demand the speediest
and easiest modes OF mun ton.
While the rights Of sovereignty OF the
states occupying this region should al
ways be respected. We shall expect that
these right be exercised in a spirit be-
fitting the occasion and the wants and
circumstances that have arisen. Sover-
eighty has its duties as well as its rights,
and none Of these local governments,
even IL administered with more regard to
the just demands OF other nations than
they have been. would be permitted, In a
spirit OF eastern isolation. to close the
gates OF intercourse on the great high
ways OF the world. and Justify the act by
the pretension that these avenues OF
trade and travel belong to them and tina
they choose to shut them. or. what is
almost equivalent. to cucumber them
with such unjust relations as would pre-
vent their general use"
Seven years later. I'm 1865, Mr.. Seward
In different communications took the fol-
lowing position:
THE United States have taken and
will take no interest in any question OF
internal revolution In the State OF PAN
anna. or any state OF the United States OF
Colombia. but will maintain n perfect
neutrality In connection with such do.
nestle alterations. The United States
Will. nevertheless. hold themselves ready
to protect the transit trade across the
isthmus against invasion OF either do
nestle or foreign disturbers OF the peace
of the State Of Panama. . Neither
the text nor the spirit OF the stipulation
In that article by which the United States
engages to preserve the neutrality Of the
lsthmus OF Panama. imposes an obllga-
ton on this Government to comply with
the requisition LOT the President of the
United States OF Colombia for a force to
protect the Isthmus OF Panama from n
body OF insurgents OF that countryl. The
purpose OF the stipulation was to guar
antee the isthmus against seizure or in
vasion by a foreign power only"
FOR four hundred years. ever since
shortly after the discovery OF this hem
isphere. the canal across the isthmus has
been planned. For two score years II
mas oeen worked at. When made 1t Is to
last for the ages. II Is to alter the
geography OF a continent and tue trade
routes or the world. We have shown by
every treaty We have negotiated or at.
tempted to negotiate with the peoples I'm
control OF the isthmus and with foreign
NATIONS IN reference thereto our consis.
tent good faith In observing OUR obljca-
tons; on the one hand to the peoples of
tne isthmus, and on the other hand TO
the civilized world whose commercial
rights we are safeguarding and gunran-
teeing by our action. We have done our
DUTY TO others In letter and in spirit. and
we nave shown the utmost forbearance in
exacting our own rights.
Last spring. under the act above re-
ierred 10. a treaty concluded between the
representatives Of the Republic Of CO.
lombia and OF our Government was roti-
neu py the Senate. This treaty was en-
tered into at the urgent solicita ton Of
the people OF Colombia and after n BODY
or experts appointed 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 Colombia. We were
more than Just In dealing with them. Our
generosity was such as to make IL n Sc
rious question whether we had not gone
too far In their interest at the expense of
our oWh' tor IN our scrupulous desire to
pay all possible heed. not merely To the
real but even to the fancied 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. Never
theIess the Government of Colombia not
merely repudiated the treaty, but repu-
dated II In such manner as to make II
evident by the time the Colombian Con-
gress Adjourned that not the sea ntiest
nope remained OF ever getting n salts
factory treaty from them. The Govern
ment OF colombia made the treaty. and
yet when the Colombian Congress was
called to ratify 1t the vote against rati-
ncation was unanimous. 1t does not an
pear that the Government made any real
effort to secure ratification.
Revolution In Panama.
Immediately after the adjournment OF
the Congress a revolution broke ont in
Panama. The people Of Panama had
long been discontinued with the Republic
OF Colombia, and they had been kept auIet
only by the prospect of the conclusion
of the treaty, which was to them a mat
ter OF vital concern. When II became
evident that the treaty was hopelessly
lost. the people Of Panama rose literally
as one man. Not a shot was fired bv a
single man on the sthmus I'm the interest
Of the Colombian Government. Not n
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 aston
lshing uranlmity the new republic was
started. The duty of the United States
In the premises was clear. In strict ac.
cordance with the principles laid down
by Secretaries Cass and Seward In the Of
icial documents above quoted, the United
States gave notice that II would permit
the landing of no expeditionary force.
the arrival of which would mean chaos
and destruction along the line OF the rail
road and of the proposed canal, and an
interruption of transit as an ineyitable
consequence. The de facto Government
of Panama was recognized in the follow
ing telegram TO Mr.. Ehrman:
THE people OF Panama have, by an.
parently unanimous movement. dissolved
their political connection with the Re-
public or Colombia and resumed their in
dependence, When YOU are satisfied that