Evening star., 1904-02-23
ROOT DEFENDS PANAMA
DISCUSSES TIE ETHICS OF THE
CANAL QUESTION.
Maintains Action Of the United States
Was Right Succinct Statement
Of Colombia's Position.

A dispatch from Chicago last night says:
Washington's birthday was observed in
Chicago today by the Union League Club
with two meetings at the Auditorium Thea
ter. one in the morning and the other In the
a1.ernoon. A dinner was given tonight 10
members OF the club.
AT the forenoon meeting 5000 pupils OF
the public schools sang anthems and war
songs of the United States and listened to
addresses on themes of q patriotic nature.
Prominent Speakers.
At the dinner tonight, after Efihu Root,
formerly Secretary of War. had responded
to a toast addresses were delivered by
Judge Emory Speer of the United States
district court of Georgia and DR.. W. ].
Tucker. president of Dartmouth College.
DR.. Tucker talked on What Has Patriotism
the Right to Demand of Educat tion?'
The principal meeting was held in the
afternoon. when Mr.. Root delivered an ad-
dress on THE Ethics of the Panama Ques-
tion." Mr. Roots speech was heard by an
audience that filled the Auditorium Thea
ter. He spoke as follows:
Mr. Roots Address.
'on the Sd Of November, 1908 the people
of Panama revolted against the government
OF Colombia, and proclaimed their independ-
ence. On the 18th of November the United
States recognized the independence of the
republic of Panama by receiving minister
from the new government, and at the open
ing of the regular session of Congress in
December the President asked the consent
of the Senate to treaty negotiated between
our Secretary of State, Mr.. Hay, and the
minister of Panama, Mr.. Varlla. providing
for the construction by the United States of
a ship canal across the isthmus, to be kept
by us open neutral and free upon equal
terms for the use Of all mankind.
After long and exhaustive discussion
that treaty is about to be confirmed In
the meantime the Senate by a great ma
jority has approved the recognition of inde-
pendence by confirming the nomination of
William /. Buchanan as minister from the
United States to Panama
Action by Panama.
1.-The revolutionary leaders have submit
ted their action to the people of Panama,
who have. by popular vote, given 1t their
unanimous approval, and have elected
constitutional convention, framed and
adopted a constitution, chosen president
and congress, and established republican
government according to the forms which
find their model in the constitutions of our
own country.
ernments have followed the United States
in receiving the new republic into the
family of nations. On the 18th of NOyem-
ber, five days after our recognition, France
recognized the republic of Panama; on the
22d China; on the 9th, Austria; on the
3Oth, Germany; and following them Den
mark, Russia, Sweden and Norway, Bel
GUM, Nicaragua, Peru, Cuba, Great Bri-
tain, Italy, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Japan,
Guatemala, Netherlands, Venezuela, Portu-
GAL in the order named.
Accomplished Facts.
THE independence of Panama, the grant
to the United States of tn eright to construct
the canal across the isthmus, and the as
sumption by the United States of the duty
to construct the canal and to maintain 1t
for the equal benefit of mankind, are ac-
complished facts Nothing can do away
with them unless it be some future war of
conquest waged against the liberties OF
Panama and at the same time against the
rights of the United States held IN trust 1or
the commerce of the world.
'"The conduct of the United States gov
ernment in recognizing the independence
of Panama, in making the treaty and In
exercising police power over territory
trayersed by the Panama railroad and
the partly constructed canal during the
period of revolution has been severely
criticised by some of our own citizens
who have said. in substance, that In TINS
rules of international law, has been
grasping and unfair, and has, by the
exercise of brute force, trampled down
the rights of weaker nation, In VIOLA
ton of those principles of justice which
should control the conudct of nations as
of men.
Fundamental Facts.
'I wish to present some of the funda-
mental facts bearing upon the question
of right in the Panama business, although
they have been stated already better than
I can state them, with the hope that they
may thus reach the attention of some o.
the good and sincere citizens who are
troubled about the matter.
1T frequently happens in affairs of
government that most important rights
are created, modified or practically de-
stroyed by gradual processes, and by the
indirect effect of events; and that only
an intimate knowledge of the process
enables one to realize the change until
some practical question arises which re-
auires every one interested to study the
subject.
Oceanic Communication.
"The stupendous fact that has DOM
mated the history and must control the
future of the Isthmus Of Panama is the
possibility of communication between the
two oceans. 1t is possible for human
hands to pierce the narrow forty miles of
solid earth which separate the Caribbean
from the Bay of Panama to realize the
dreams of the early navigators, to make
the pathway to the orient they vainly
sought, to relieve commerce from the
tolls and perils of it's 5000 miles of navi-
cation around Cape Horn through stormy
| seas and along dangerous coasts. with it's
| constant burden of wasted effort and
| shipwreck and loss of life, and to push
| forward by mighty imDulese that in
! accommodation between the distant
| Iatons of the earth which is doing away
with misunderstanding, with race preju-
dice and bigotry, with Ignorance of hu-
| man rights and opportunity for oppres-
sion and making all the world kin
Monroe Doctrine.
| .'The Monroe Doctrine itself upon which
! we stand so firmly is assertion of our
! right for our own interest to interfere with
| the action of every other nation in those
/ parts of this hemisphere where others are
] sovereign and where we have no sovereign
I ity or claim of sovereignity. and to say it You
| do thus and so, even by the consent of the
| sovereign. we shall regard it as an unfriend-
| ly act because it will affect us injuriousty.
| I'll is said that the Monroe Doctrine is
| not a rule of international law 1t is not
| rule at all. 1t is an assertion of right