Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-08

\ 10 Tue people anu 10 the government or
Colombia. We We're more than Just in
dealing with them. Our generosity
! was such as to make it serious Ques-
ton whether we had not gone too far
in their interest at the expense of our
own, for 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. Nevertheless the government
of Colombia not merely repudiated the
treaty, but repudiated it in such man
ner as to make it evident by the time
the Colombian congress adjourned that
not the scantiest hope remained of ever
getting q satisfactory treaty from
them. The government of Colombia
made the treaty. and yet when the Co
lombian congress was called to rntify
1t the vote against ratification was
unanimous. 1t does not appear that
the government made any real effort to
secure ratification.
Revolution In Panama.
Immediately after the adjournment
of the congress a revolution broke out
in Panama. The people of Panama
had long been discontinued with the
republic of Colombia, and they had
been kept quiet only by the prospect
OF the conclusion of the treaty, which
was TO them matter of vital concern
When 1t became evident that the treaty
was hopelessly lost the people of PAN
ANA rose literally as one man. Not a
shot was fired by single man on the
lsthmus in the interest of the Colon.
biun government. Not life was lost
In the accomplishment of the revolu.
ton. The Colombian troops stationed
on the isthmus, who had long been un-
paid, made common cause with the
people of Panama. and with astonish-
ing unanimity the new republic was
started. The duty of the United States
In the premises was clear. In strict
accordance with the principles laid
down by Secretaries Cass and Seward
in the official documents. above quoted
the United States gave notice that it
would permit the landing of no expedi-
tionary force, the arrival of which
would mean chaos and destruction
along the line of the railroad and of the
proposed canal and an interruption Of
II transit as an inevitable consequence.
4 1ihe de facto government of Panama
was recognized in the following tele.
gram to- Mr.. Ehrman,ii u II III
THE people OF Panama have by ap-
parently unanimous movement, dis
solved their political connection with
the republic of Colombia and resumed
their independence. When you are sat
isfed that de facto government re-
publican in form and without substan-
ual opposition from its own people,
has been established in the state Of
Panama, you will enter into relations
with it as the responsible government
Of the territory and look to it for all
due action to protect the persons and
property of citizens Of the United States
andito keep open the isthmian transit
4 In meeordance with the obligations Of
existing treaties governing theIrelations
Oh the United States to that territory"
4 The government of & Colombia was
notified of our action blythe following
telegram to Mr.. Beaupre. Istf
The people OF Panama having by
an apparently unanimous movement
dissolved their political connection with
the republic of Colombia and resumed
4 their Independence aud having adopted
government Of their own, republican
in form. with which the government of
the United States of America has en-
tered into relations, the president of
the United States, in accordance with
the ties of friendship which have SO
long and so happily existed between
the respective nations, most earnestly
commends to the governments of Co
iombla and of Panama the peaceful
2 and equitable settlement of all ques-
tons at issue between them. He holds
that he Is bound not merely by treaty
Obligations, but by the interests of civil
hzation, to see that the peaceful traffic
OF the world across the isthmus of
Panama shall not longer be disturbed
by constant succession of unneces.
sary and wasteful wars"
Disturbances on Isthmus Since 1886.
When these events happened, fifty
seven years had elapsed since the Unit
ed States had entered into its treaty
with New Granada. Diving that time
the governments of New Granada and
of its successor, Colombia, have been
in constant state Of fux. The follow
ing is partial list of the disturbances
on the isthmus Of Panama during the
period in question as reported to us by
our consuls. 1t is not possible to give
a complete list, and some Of the reports
that speak of revolutions must mean
unsuccessful revolutions.
May q, 1s5o.-outbreak; two Americans
Killed. War vessel demanded to queli out
break.
October, lS5o.-Revolutionary plot to
bring about independence of the isthmus
July %. ls5l.-Revolution in four south
ern provinces.
Nov. II. 1s51.-outbreak at Chagres.
Man-of-war requested for Chagres
June n. lsS3.--Insurrection at Bogota and
consequent disturbance on isthmus. War
VeaIa1 damn pdad