Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-01-14

genereaity: which vas hailed with de-
locality through which the canal was to
pass, who were most concerned "A to the
new order OF thlnSs, ana whlcn the Co
lombian authorities now recognize as be-
ing so good that they are willing to prom
ise its unconditional ratification If only
We will desert those who have shown
themselves our friends and restore to
those who have shown themselves un-
friendly the power to undo what they did.
L pass by the question as to what asSuT-
ance we have that they would now keep
their pledge and not again refuse to
for, of course, l Will not for one moment
discuss the possibility of the United
States committing an act of such base.
ness as to abandon the new republic of
Panama.
Third Finally the congress definitely
settled where the canal was to be built.
made for building the canal across the
lsthmus OF Panama; and II, after reason
able time, it proved impossible 70 secure
such treaty. that then we should go TO
Nicaragua. The treaty has been made;
for 1t needs no argument to show that
the intent of the congress was to insure
a canal across Panama and that whether
the republic granting the title was called
New Granada, Colombia or Panama mat.
out. the question of reasonable time did
not enter into the matter at all. AL
though; as the months went by, It be
came Increasingly improbable that tie
Colombian congress would ratify the
treaty or take steps which would be
equivalent thereto, yet all chance for
until the congress closed at the end OF
October; and within three days there
broken out Panama became an inde-
pendent state, and the control of the ter
ritory necessary for building the canal
then became obtainable. The condition
uunder which alone we could nave gone
to Nicaragua thereby became impossible
OF fultilment. If the pending treaty with
Panama ghnIllH ratified
senate. this would not alter the fact that
| we could not 80 to Nicaragua. The con
no alternative under existing legislaton.
The president says that after the
failure of the Colombian congress to
ratify the treaty it seemed that the gov
ernment would have to go to the Near
aqua route, and that he had made the
original draft of his message to congress
along that line. This was one of three
alternatives that confronted the govern
ment Another was that the people OF
| Panama might take the protection Of
their own interests into their own hands
and eStablisi government competent
and willing to do its share In the con
struction of the canal. This is what oc
Cured, and made the reverting to the
Nicaraguan route unnecessary, and, In
fact impossible under the authority OF
! the president as vested in him by the
action of congress.
Report of Commander Hubbard.
The president emphatically denies that
this government had any hand in the
inStigating of this revolution. He knew,
as all the world did, that such was i'm
minent, and the navy department took
necessary measures to protect American
interests, but nothing further He gives
copies of the orders sent to commanding
officers of American warships. and their
various reports upon the situation. He
charges Colombia with virtually making
war upon the United States at Colon, and
quotes the report of Commander Hub
bard of the Nashville. dated November
s. to sustain this charge. In this report
'TFflF no TNft Tor II \ p n
Pending a complete report of the oc-
currences OF the last three days in Colon.
Colombia, | most respectfully invite the
date of Wednesday. November A. which
amounted to practically the making of
war against the United States by the
officer in command of the Colombian
troops in Colon. At one o'clock p. m. on
that date | was summoned on shore by a
the United States consul. vice consul and
Col. Shaler. the general superintendent
of the Panama railroad. The consul in
formed me that he had received notice
from the officer commanding the Colom-
bian troops, Col. Torres, through the
project of Colon, to the effect that If the
Amaya, who had been seized in Panama
on the evening of rhe Sd of November by
We're not released by two o'clock p m,
he, Torres, would open fire on the town
OF Colon and kill every United States
citizen in the place, and my advice and
action were requested. | advised that all
the United States citizens should take
refuge in the shed of the Panama Rail-
road company, a stone building suSCept-
ible Of being put into good state for de-
Tense. and that l would Immediately land
armng the citizens, as the complement
of the ship would permit. This was
agreed to and l Immediately returned on
board arriving at ll5 IN. The order
for landing was Immediately given. and
at ! 80 p. m. the boats left the ship with
a party of Il men under the command of
Lieut.. Commander II. NJ. Witzel with
MidShlpman j. Z. jackson as second in
command, aI1 Time ne ,2 being {vIPr Pressing gave
building above referred to, TO put it into
the best state of defense possible, and
protect the lives of the citizens assembled
there-not firing unless fired upon.
The Colombans surrounded the build
ing of the railroad company almost I'M
mediately after we had taken possession,
and for about one and half hours their
attitude was most threatening, ii being
seemingly their purpose to provoke an
attack. Happily our men were cool and
steady, and while the tension was very
great no shot was fired, AT about 315
Tor an interview and expressed himself
most friendly to Americans claim sng
Lthat the whole affair was a misappre-
hension and that he would like to send
the alcade OF Colon to Panama to see
Gen. Tobal and have him direct the dis
continuance OF the show of force. \ sDe-
Cial train was furnished and SAFE conduct
guaranteed. At about $50 p. m. Col.
Torres made the proposition of withdraw
ing his troops to Monkey Hill, If | would
withdraw the Nashville's force and leave
the town in possession of the police until
the return of the alcalGe on the morning
OF the 9th After an interview with the
United States consul and Col. Shalcr as
to the probability of good faith in the
matter, | decided to accept the PROPOSE
ton and brought my men on board. the
disparity in numbers between my force
and that Of the Colomb!anS. nearly zen
to one, making me dcsirouS of avoid ny
a conflict so long as the object In view
the pro oection of American citizens was
not imperied.
II am positive that the determined at
titudc of our men, their coolneSS and evil
dent intention Of standing their ground,
had a most Salutary and decisive effect
on the immediate situation and was the
initial step in the ultimate abandoning
of Colon b. these troops and their return
to Cartagena the following day
Il feel that | cannot sufficiently strong
ly represent to the department the gross
ness OF this outrage and the insult TO our
dignity, even apart from the savagery of
the threat"