Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-01-04
PANAMA AMPLY JUSTIFIED. % a
IN RECENT REVOLUTION.

In view Of the manifold considerations OF
treaty right and obligation. Of national in
terest and safety, and Of collective civiliza-
tion, by which our government was con-
strained to act, am at loss to compre-
bend the attitude Of those who can dis
Germ In the recognition of the republic Of
Panama only general approval Of the
principle OF revolution" by which given
government is overturned or one portion
of a country separated from another. Only
the amplest justification can warrant
revolutionary movement of either kind.
But there is no fixed rule which can be
applied to all such movements. Each case
must be Judged on it's own merits. There
have been many revolutionary movements,
many movements for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF countries, which were evil, tried by any
standard But in my opinion no dfsinter-
,ested and fair-minded observer acquainted
with the circumstances can fail to feel that
Panama had the amplest justification for
separation from Colombia under the con-
1itions existing, and, moreover, that Its
action was In the highest degree beneficial
70 the interests Of the entire civilized
world by securing the Immediate oppor-
tunity for the building Of the interoceanic
canal. It would be well for those who are
pessimistic as to, our action in peacefully
recognizing the republic of Panama, while
We lawfully protected the transit from in
5vasion and disturbance, to recall what has
been done In Cuba, where we interviewed
even by force on general grounds Of ma
tional interest and duty: When we Inter
fered 1T was freely prophesied that we in
tended to keep Cuba and administer 1t for
our cwn interests. The result has demon
strated In singularly conclusive fashion the
falsity Of these prophecies Cuba Is now
AN independent republic. We governed It
ID It's own interest for a few years, till It
was able to stand alone, and then started
It upon It's career Of elf-government and
Independence. granting It all necessary aid.
We have received from Cuba grant of
/ two naval stations: SO situated that they
/ d no possible way menace the liberty Of
1 the island, and yet serve az important le-
lenses for the Cuban people, rs well as for
! eur own people, against possible foreign at
{ tack. The people OF Cuba have been i'm
measurably benefited by our interference
In their behalf. and our own gain has been
great. So viii 1t be with Panama. The
people Of the .sthmus, and as firmly be-
neye OF the adjacent parts Of Central and
South America, will be greatly benefited by
the building Of the canal and the guaran-
i tee of peace and order along its line; and
u hand In hand with the benefit to them will
70 the benefit to MS and to mankind. By
our prompt and decisive action, not only
! have our interests and those Of the world
Y ut large been conserved, but we have fore
stalled complications which were likely to
be fruitful IN loss to ourselves, and in
kloodshed and suffering to the people OF
I the isthmus. asGzk
Instead Of using our forces, as we were
tnvfted By Colombia to do, for the two
1old purpose Of defeating our own rights
md interests and the interests Of the civil
Y Ned world. and Of compelling the submits
\ sion Of the people Of the isthmus to those
whom they regarded az ,oppressors, we
aAal1, as In duty bound. keep the transit
open and prevent It's invasion. Meanwh;.s.
the only question now before us Is that
the ratification Of the treaty. For !. is =
~ remembered that failure to ratiis- IL.
treaty Will not undo what has been o.;
will not restore Panama to Colombia. IN
Will not alter our obligation to keep ta&
1Eanstt open across the isthmus, and to pre-
1 vsnt any outside power from menacing LIS
txansit. s$ Il n %sssaE N 4 $ ssa