The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-05
ROOSEVELTS LAWLESSNESS Hill Speaks on Panama
 Incident.
 ----e-- TRANSGRESSED HIS RIGHT Ex-Senat0r Reviews Course of the President. An Address Before the Albany Consti- tutioasi Club, in whicA the Nations chief Executive
 is Severely Arraignea.
 

first speech of the Democratict cam paign here tonight before the Albany Constitutional Club, In the Humane So- ciety Hall. The speech was devoted to an attack upon the course pursued by President Roosevelt in connection with the Panama Canal treaty and the rev olution which resulted in the cessation of Panama from Colombia
 Senator Kill said in part:
 Mir. Hill. after briefly discussing other issues, said that the subject he particularly proposed to discuss was the 'Iawlessness of President Roose- welt. displayed in the Panama affair" He declared that the Republican plat from adopted at Chicago did not com mend the Dig stick" diplomacy of President Roosevelt. It merely said that the possession Of a route now is an accomplished fact and that work on the canal lis at last begun, and it is due to the Republican party"
 The essence Of the reproach of Presi- dent Roosevelt made in the Democratic national platform, the speaker con tinued. is that he has as President been 'lawIess" in the sense of American law and Of International law. The Demo- cratic platform intended to assert that President Roosevelt did on the Panama affair violate plain treaty obligations, plain international usages and the con- stitution of the United States.
 When Roosevelt became President. the relations of Colombia and the United States to Panama had been fixed by the treaty of 1s46 which was then in full vigor.
 interpreted in Message.
 President Roosevelt In his speciai message to Congress of January 1, 1904, e@., 4~n made on the initiative of Mir. Polk and that its purpose was above aIls to secure tho construction of an inter- oceanic canal, HA told Congress Tt was the opinion of eminent irterna- tionaI jnristsp that Coloplsla could not under the engagefnents of 1866 refuse 10 enter Into proper arrangement, with the United States to building a canal, but he failed to mention ths names of the jurists and to send their opinions to Congress and to explain that Colombia was entitled to have an opinion regarding the propriety of any arrangement. It was on the day after the date of the Presidents message that Secretary Hay wrote "that it is true that the treaty (1s4s) DID NOT require Colombia to permit such pas sage to be constructed.
 Why did New Granada propose to us such a treaty2 Secretary Hay an- swers that it was because New Grana- dA feared certain European govern ments and particularly Great Britain would by some means get possession of the transit route? Her object was to obtain a pledge by the United States that it would maintain for Colombia her sovereignty and property and the neutrality of the isthmus of Panama. To secure that object she promised to the United States a Iree and open transit The treaty was negotiated, signed and ratified on the theory that New Granada had a right m law to close, fl sine saw 1t. against the United States and all nations. a transit across the isthmus, or to open it on her own terms"
 Events Leading to Revolt.
 The former Senator recounted the events leading up to the revolt which gained Panama her independence
 At that time. he said. the alternative before President Roosevelt was wheth- or to treat Panama as an integral part of Colombia or aid her as a province rightfully in revolt, or soon to be in revolt. He chose the latter. He re- pudiated the treaty of 1s46. He con- fessed to Congress that, without con- sulting 1t. he did, November 2, 1903. when "it was evident that the outbreak was imminent" send orders to our ma val forces not to permit any coIom- bian armed force to come with a hos tile intent" at any point within fifty miles of Panama, and to prevent the landing of any armed forces by Colom- bia in defence of her sovereignty which the treaty of 1s46 bound the President to respect.
 Those orders were executed. The revolt of November {. 1903. was, of course, successful. President Roose- welt upheld 1t and created Panama as an independent state; two days here after he recognized as independent the. state he had created by an act of war. and fourteen days later made a treaty with the new state for the excavation of a ship canal. which treaty the new Iy created state ratified December 2. 1903.
 "A pleading by the President in be. half of such extraordinary condNet. he set forth in his special message to Con gress fourteen days later. which con- tains correspondence between Gen eral Reyes, a special commissioner of Colombia, then in Washington, and Secretary Hay, whose uterances are to be assumed as expressing the Presi- dents views, any one can discern whether or not the accuatlon of law iessness made in the Dempcratic plat form is we'll founded. The issue of the Democracy can be safely rested upon these two documents"
 Analyses of Messages.
 MT. Hill took up the messages of the President referred to and analyized them In detail.
 The Presidents view of treaty rati- ficatIon as a means of protecting d state from unfit agreements, he con- tended, is as novel as it Is lawless. No State can be held bound to ratify 8 treaty beyond the power of the state to make, because of incompatibility with its foundamental law, or if in conflict with a former treaty in force. or if there has been a misconception of facts, or if for any reason the govern Enent branch having power to reject deema the treaty unwise and unsafe. The Senate of the United States is free to exercise it's discretion on treaty rat ifieation, not wantonly to be sure. kut wisely. The United States executive has repeatedly withdrawn from the Senate and condemned treaties ssnt