The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-12-03

Then, after a lapse of seemingly
Unconscious quiet, the new born ma
ton suddenly arose to take exception
to Uncle Sans goings-on and it must
be said that the finger Panama points
across the gulf today reflects no great
credit upon the administration at
Washington. This is the expression
of belief of Americans here. who
claim no desire to be hypercritical
or to show partisan feeling. This
is their argument:
WITHOUT QUESTION PANA-
MAS INDEPENDENCE WAS MADE
TO ORDER FOR THE PURCHASES
REALIZED. THE BLOODLESS REV
OLUTION OF A YEAR AGO. WHEN
WITHOUT A SHOT. PANAMA
CEDED FROM COLOMBIA AND
THE ARMY OF THAT NATION
FLED FROM SOLON BEFORE
THE YAwNING MUZZLEs OF THE
GUNS OF THE CRUISER NASH
WILLIE WHILE THE DIXIE WAS
APPROACHING FROM KINGSTON.
WAS ENGINEERED BY A CLIQUE
OF INFLUENTIAL CITIZENS OF
PANAMA. WHOSE MOTIVES WERE
NOT ENTIRELY PATRIOTIC. AND
WHO UNQUESTIONABLY HAD A
VERY DEFINITE UNDERESTIMATE
ING WITH THE POWERS THAT
BE AT WASHINGTON.
The precipitate recognition of the
new republic by President Roose-
welt followed and very soon Ameri-
ca had purchased through treaty
for $10.000,000 the canal zone and
for $40,000,000 took up the valuable
vlaims and properties of the old
French caual company whose failure
to complete the project Is years be-
fore had been the result of political
grating and an astonishing reckless
waste of money and material.
Sure enough Uncle Sam had been
dealing with slippery customers at
Bogota. Certainly Colombia's nego-
tiations were hedged on every side
by the popular game of graft-an
art. by the way. which cocoanut
peddler in the streets of Colon knows
better than to do some of the sue
cessful devotees OF the game in the
United States, who prey upon the
public by way of Wall-st. or politics.
Colombia wanted to hold of signing
the treaty until the claims of the
French company had expired, and
then Bogota would have had free
rein in her hold-up project.
The defenders OF the powers at
Washington argue that the means
to defeat this game of graft were
justified by the end gained. Presi-
dent Roosevelt's critics, declaring
that the whole program was prear-
ranged and that not only everybody
in Colombia and the isthmus knew 1t,
but President Roosevelt and Secre-
tary Hay were cognizant of all that
was about to and did happen, point to
the simple question of right and
wrong with the American constitu-
tion and international law as the
basic principles.
Everything in relation to the mat
ter had shady aspect at least. The
Nashville and Dixie. under sealed
with remarkable promptness.
There was no time lost at Colon
There was no time los at Washington
in the treaty negotiations. and the
whole matter was an established fact
before Colombia knew where she
| stood. So, as it appears, 1t was all
right with chuckling Panama for
time, for she was glad to be freed
from the scalding yoke of Bogota.
| But. evidently, the rough shod tread
| Of the United States on the zone and
| a reading Of the crude treaty. coupled
with the subsequent orders of the
President. set Panama's eras up. and
thereupon hungs tale of curious
dealings.
There are those who still argue
that while the president and Secre-
tary Hay had cognizance of the inn
pending revolution they did not ac-
tually connive with the revolution
lists.
PRESIDENT ARMADOR HAS
MADE THE STATEMENT TO
FRIENDS HERE THAT WHEN HE
VISITED THE UNITED STATES A
FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE
/ OUTBREAK HE REQUESTED THE
ASSISTANCE. THROUGH PROTEC-
TON, OF THE UNITED STATES
AND HE SAID THAT THIS WAS
FTATLY REFUSED BY PRESIDENT
ROOSEVELT AND SECRETARY
HAY.
1t was common gossip In the 18TH
mus and Bogota for weeks prior to
the revolution that an outbreak would
surely follow refusal by Colombia
to sign the treaty. So. say the de-
tenders of the administration, II
would require no remarkable sagacity
on the part of Roosevelt to keep a
close eye upon the isthfnus and be
prepared to protect the transit and
at the same time sieze advantage
OF new and moro promising situa-
ton to effect the desire the United