The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-09-12
A CANAL BY SEIZURE.


The drastic suggestion is made tha
the United States should seize the 18th
mus of Panama and build the canal
irrespective of the rights or wishes o.
Colombia. Daring spirits among the
correspondents of the press say that
President Roosevelt favors this proce.
dure as last resort. believing that the
little band of boodlers at Bogota should
not be permitted TO stand in the way
Of the canal enterprise. Seizure is
presumed to be justified under civil
izatio IS right OF eminent domain %
While it is doubtful indeed that Presi-
dent Roosevelt has ever expressed him
self in this incautious way, the thought
TIT the common interests of the world
would benefit by the removal of local
and Fictitious barriers to progress, does
not have to bark back TO the period
of Suez canal negotiations to find dis
tinguished men who have entertain
e. it.
The truth is, as the Advertiser has
shown in formulating its objections to
the Monroe doctrine, that not only Co
lonbia but nearly all South America
constitutes a dull, inert mass standing
Much idle sentiment inheres to the view
that possession of territory is necessar-
lily sacred. AS a matter of fact the
worlds riches should go to those who
can best use them to the worlds adj
vantage. 1t is this principle which ac-
counts for the sui stitution of white
control of continental regions which
Indians and blacks were the first to
occupy; and it needs but a little
stretching of the same principle to
Justify the control of regions now oc-
cupied by degenerate and irresponsible
whites by those other whites who would
bring to them thrift and industry and
make the best of latent or neglected re-
sources. This paper believes that the
partition of South America among such
powers as the United States, Great
Britain, Germany, France and Italy,
woul6 add billions of dollars to the cur
rent wealth of the world, inspire civ |
llization in the midst of what are now
virgin forests and untenanted plains
and efford relief for congested popula-
ions or a century to come. Perhaps
t may devolve upon the United States
o take the first step by annexing Pan
una and opening gateway between
he Atlantic and Pacific oceans. There
s at least justification by analogy as
+ Argonaut points out in the form
ala: eff, as nation, an individual
nay not block the construction of a
-ailroad why, in world affairs, should
me small country he permitted to block
l vaster enterprise and one more ne
.essary to civilizations welfare?" And
he Argonaut adds:
For such an exercise of power as is
there is plenty of precedent.
A newspaper, the st. Paul Pioneer
Press, cites, for example, the union of
European nations to establish order in
Egypt and preserve the Suez Canal;
The interference of Europe in the
affair: the establishment
,f the Congo Free State by the Euro
pean concert in a territory as distant
from Europe as the isthmus from the
United States; and lastly the IN
Lervention of the United States
IN Cuba. 1.-THE non-use or mis-
use of natural or chartered rights,
the exercise of which is essential |,
to civilization, has been from time i'm
held to be just cause for their
forfeiture, made compulsory at the
hands. of more capable peoples" says
the Press; ION this principle rests the
whole history of civilizations con-
quest over barbarism and savagery. It |
is at the foundation of the present |
possession of the territory of the Uni
ted States by the white race"
1t would be we'll for Colombia to pom
der these things and for all South |
America to study the increase of the |
population and trade in their |
relation to the complete mastery and |
best use of the earth'e surface.