The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-04

nextsColombsn congress should have met
In ordinary session.
BY that time. as the report goes on 10
say the extension Of time granted TO the
New Panama Canal company by treaty
In 1899 would have expired. and the new
congress would be I'm position 10 take
the question whether the company had
not. in spite OF further extensions that
had been granted by Legislative acts. for
feited all Its property and rights. When
that time arrives" the report Significant
ly declares. the Republic. without any
impediment will he able to contract. and
will be I'm more clear, more definite. AND
more advantageous possession, both legal
ly and materially" The naked meaning
OF this report is that Colombia proposed
TO wait until, by the enforcement OF
forfeiture repugnant- 10 the ideas OF JUS
tice which obtain In every civilized ma
tion. the property and rights OF the New
Panama Canal company could be confis-
Gated
Such is the scheme to which II was pro-
posed that the United States should be In
Tted 20 become a party. The construction
OF the canal was 20 be relegated 10 the
indefinite future. while Colombia was, by
reason OF her own delay 10 be placed In
the more advantageous position OF
claiming not merely the compensation to
be paid by the United States for the
privilege OF completing the canal, but al
so the forty millions authorized by the
act OF 1907 10 be paid for the property or
the New Panama Canal company.
That the attempt to carry out this
scheme would have brought Colombia In
10 conflict with the government OF France
can not be doubted; nor could the United
States have counted upon indefinite de-
lays 10 which the construction OF the ca
nal was 20 be subjected On the first APP
pearance OF danger 10 Colombia, this gov
ernment would have been summoned to In
terpose in order TO give effect 10 the
guarantees OF the treaty OF 1876: and all
this I'm support OF plan which. while
characterized In Its first stage by the
wanton disregard OF our own highest In
terests. was ftly TO end In further injury
10 the citizens of n friendly nation, whose
enormous losses in their generous efforts
10 pierce the Isthmus have become n mat
ter OF history.
A JUSTIFIED ACT.
In the third place. confidently MAIN
tain that the recognition OF the Republic
OF Panama was an act justified by the In
terests OF collective civilization II ever
a government could be said TO have re-
ceived a mandate from civilization TO eff
feet an object the accomplishment OF
which was demanded In the interest OF
mankind, the United States holds that po-
stion with regard to the interoceanio ca
nal. Since our purpose TO build the canal
was definitely announced, there have
come from all quarters assurances OF ap-
proval and encourage gement. In which even
Colombia herself at one time participated; |;
and 90 general assurances were added
specific acts and declarations
In order that no obstacle might stand
in our way. Great Britain renouncsd i'm
portant rights under the Clayton Buiwer
treaty and agreed TO Its abrogation. re-
to- k,,.t h.xa
able pledge to build the canal and protect
IL as an open highway. 1t was I'm view
OF this pledge, and OF the proposed enact
ment by the congress OF the United States
OF legislation TO give IL immediate effect,
that the second Pan-Amertcan confer
ence, at the city Of Mexico. on jan Y,
1909. adopted the following resolution:
The republics assembled at the inter-
national conference OF Mexico to applaud
the purpose of the United States govern
ment TO construct an fnteroceanic canal,
and acknowledge that this work will not
only he worthy of the greatness OF the
American people. but also In the highest
sense work OF civilization. and TO the
greatest degree beneficial to the develop
states and the other countries OF the
world"
REYES S1GNER
Among those who signed this resolution
on behalf OF their respective governments
was Gen. Reyes. the delegate OF Colon
bia. Little could II have been foreseen
that two years later the Colombian gov
ernment, led astray by false allurements
OF selfish advantage. and forgetful alike
or It's International obligations and OF the
duties and responsibilities OF sovereignty,
would thwart the efforts OF the United
States TO enter upon and complete
work which the nations OF America. re-
echoing the sentiment OF the nations of
Europe. had pronounced TO be not only
worthy OF the greatness OF the Ameri-
can people" but also "in the highest
sense a work OF civilization"
That our position as the mandatory OF
civilization has been by no means miscon-
ceived Is shown by the promputude with
which the powers have. one after an
other, followed our lead I'm recognizing
Panama as an Independent state. Our
action in recognizing the new republic
has been followed by like recognition on
the part OF France, Germany Denmark.
Russia, Sweden and Norway. Nicaragua.
Peru, China. Cuba, Great Britain. Italy,
Costa Rica. Japan and Austria Hungary.
In view OF the manifold considerations
OF treaty right and obligation. OF national
interest and safety, and OF collective civi-
lization, by which our government was
constrained to act | am n a loss to com
prehend the attitude OF those who can
discern in the recognition OF the Repub-
lie Of Panama only general approval OF
the principle OF revolution" by which a
given government Is overturned or one
portion OF a country separated from an
other. Only the amplest justification can
warrant revolutionary movement Of
either kind. BJt there is no fixed rule
which can be applied to all such move
ments. Each case must be judged on its
own merits. There have been many
revolutionary movements. many move
nfents for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF coun-
tries. which were evil. tried by any
standard. But I'm my opinion no disin-
terested and fair minded observer ac-
qusinted with the circumstances can fail
TO feel that Panama had the amplest JUS
tifcation for separation from Colombia
under the conditions existing. and, more
over. that Its action was in the highest
degree beneficial TO the interests OF the
entire civilized world by securing the i'm
mediate opportunity for the building OF
the inter canal
lt would he well for those who are
pessimistic as to our action I'm peacefully
recognizing the Republic OF Panama
while we lawfully protected the transit
from invasion and disturbance. TO recall
what has been done in Cuba whore we
interviewed even by force on general
grounds of national interest and duty.
When we irterfered II was freely prpphe-
sled that We intended 10 keep Cuba and
administer Il for our own interests The
result has demonstrated i'm sing,ilarly
conclusive fashion the falslty OF these