The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-06
LODGE LED IN TALK
ABOUT PANAMA IN THE SESSION OF
THE SENATE.
FUNCTION OF THE PRESIDENT
Is THE RECOGNITION OF A NEW
NATION, HE SAID.

Massachusetts Senator Held That 1t
Is the Exclusive PrerOgative of
the President to Recognize the
Independence of New Gov
ernment-Instances He Cited-Dif-
ferent Views Expressed by the
Democrats.
Washington, Jan. 5.-Practically the
entire session of the Senate to-day was
devoted to a speech by Mr.. Lodge on
the situation on the ,isthmus of Pan
anna. He discussed the abstract ques-
ton of the right of the President to
recognize the independence of a new
nation and concluded that such a pre-
rogative pertains exclusively to the
office of the chief executive. He also
contended that there had been d gen.
eral expectation of an uprising in Pan
ana in case of the failure of the Hay
Herran treaty, and declared that the
President could not have done less than
inform himself of the prospect
Mr. Lodge argued that our interven-
ton in Panama had been only in the
interest of peace and contended that
the President had not gone a step be-
yond what the proprieties called for
Mr. Lodge made reply to those who
contend that preventing the secession
of the Southern States in the Civil
War debars this country from recog-
nizing any nation which has come into
existence through secession, as
has Panama. He deemed this ar
gument unworthy Really, under pres
ent circumstances, there could now be
no formation of a new nation except
by secession. The right of secession is
the right of revolution and has moth
ing to do with law.
Many instances in which recognition
had been purely executive were cited.
and the Senator asserted that President
Taylor had prepared to recognize the
independence of Hungary before a gov
eminent had been established.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Bacon,
Mr. Lodge said he had voted for the
resolution declaring that "the people Of
Cuba are and of right ought to be
free and independent" but he said that
as there was no government in Cuba,
his vote then had not been inconsis-
tent with his present attitude. His
contention was that the recognition of
government is purely executive
function.
Quoted Senator Morgan.
Mr.. Lodge read from a speech made
by Mr.. Morgan in the Fifty-seventh
Congress, protesting against the rati-
fication of the treaty with Colombia.
Mr.. Morgan construed Mr.. Lodges ac-
ton to be an inference that he (Mr.
Morgan) had altered his Views con-
corning the rights of Panama to the
proceeds of the sale of the Panama
canal concession. Explaining that he
had not changed in any particular his
views on the matter, Mr.. Morgan said
he supposed the speech had been
brought into the debate for the pur-
pose of approaching him. He then
asked Mr. Lodge:
I'm the absence of any agreement
with condemned felons in France, con-
shutting the Panama Canal Company,
, would you be willing now to take this
$40,000,0O0 to be paid by the United
States and give it to the Panama re-
public?"
Mr. Lodge answered that he would
not be willing to so divert money
which he believed to belong rightfully
to the Panama Canal Company
Mr.. Lodge declared the question in
volved to be an American question,
and one in which all the American
people are deeply interested. The
question is neither partisan nor sec
tional, and the Senator thought all
should unite in sustaining the course
that had been pursued. For the life
of him he could not see the wisdom
of the course of some of the Demo-
Gratis in this instance. AS a Repub-
lican he would like no better issue in
the pending presidential campaign
than the Panama canal but as an
American he would regret a division
on this important question.
Scored C1eveIand's Administration
In this connection. Mr.. Lodge refer
red to last nights Democratic banquet
in New York. Quoting Mr.. Olney's
reference to "the needless war in Gu
ba," Mr.. Lodge said he believed the ad-
jective had been well chosen, because
If Mr.. Claveland's administration had
taken the proper course with reference
to Cuba. we might have been saved
that war. Mr.. Lodge said that Mr..
Cleveland's nomination would afford
him great pleasure, for Mr.. Cleveland's
administration had never been discuss
| ed. Say what you like of the silver
ISSUE" he declared, lit was a better
issue than what had gone before"
Mr.. German introduced a resolution,
| asking the President to supply the Sen
ate with information as to the various
! instances of intervention on the part OF
the United States on the isthf1us OF
Panama. saying that the information
requested would be in the line of Mr.
Lodges speech. He asked for imme-
date consideration os the resolution,
but Mr.. Allison objected and the con-
sideration of the resolution was post
poned.
The Senate adjourned until to-mor-
, row.