Evening journal., 1904-01-05
LIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


the Panama canal treaty sent TO Con-
gress yesterday. should finally dispose
Of certain questions which have beer
persistently asked. and insisted on with
spirit which implied that the govern
ment OF the United States had acted
in the affair in a manner not betting
the honor and dignity OF a great coun-
try. For political effect curing the last
few years, there has grown up a re-
markable tenderness towards alien
people, and we are not unfamiliar with
the charge that this powerful govern
ment is attempting to Cypress the
weak. Il was little far-fetched
when applied to Colombia, for IL ever
government attempted a hold-up.
that country is Colombia. Then, too,
history reveals that Panama has been
exploited by Colombia. her revenues
applied to the needs OF the Bogota gov
eminent while her own necessities
We're disregarded. A oursory examina-
ton OF the situation reveals that as
between the two countries we must re-
gard Panama as the government that
represented the weak and oppressed.
and therefore entitled to our sympathy.
But II II urged that we were an
interested party. and that In that posi-
ton We We're bound to be more than
ordinarily clroumspect. In other
words. because OF our interests we
were obliged to remain neutral. Ger
tainly this would be asking that we
take a position In international affairs
entirely novel, and one which would
place US at a disadvantage in every
new complication. The better theory
is that this government is strong
enough and honest enough to care for
aQ interests. including her own, and
that she has no occasion or desire to
descend to acts OF injustice.
The Presidents message Is largely a
history Of this whole Panama case. It
begins with the resolution of Con-
gress which authorized the President
to negotiate a treaty for the construc-
ton Of the canal. and reviews every
step, giving the fullest documentary
evidence Of the propriety OF this gov
ernments acts. The President states
most emphatcally that this govern
ment took no part in encouraging or
assisting the rebellion OF Panama. He
does not deny that It was informed Of
the progress OF events on the Isthmus.
but declares that It's information was
not exclusive, but only that which the
newspapers published, and which the
representatives OF all the governments
possessed. This sets at rest the mean
est Of the insinuations against the in
tegrity of our government. Ere the
revolution was declared our conduct
could not have been otherwise than
what It was. unless we had sent down
an armed force with the purpose Of
preventing the rebellion.
Wen. It happened that we recognized
the new government And there were
several reasons. Panama had really
never been an integral part Of the
Colombian government. Il had been
bound under loose ties. and under a
constitution which provided for peace
full secession. Besides. she offered us
reasonable terms whereby we should
be able to build a canal terms which
Colombia had houted. We could
recognize Panama under due forms OF
international usage, and we did it.
That recognition is fact; it was
followed by the recognition of all Of
the governments Of Europe and by
several South American countries. We,
the interested party. have done no
more than England, France. Russia
and Germany, who are not directly in
terested. The President points out
that the Senate has but one question
to consider: the ratification Of the
canal treaty. With the recognition Of
Panama it has nothing to do, but it
must say specifically whether It will
have the canal OF not.