Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1904-10-22
Texas Senator Speaks Of Secession
Movement In Panama.
DUPLICITY CHARGED.
Details of the Revolution Given and
President Roosevelt Taken to
Task, Also Being Accused of
Withholding Facts.

&c massmeeting was held here Thurs
dey night at Carnegie hall at which
Senator Charles A. Culberson of Texas,
was the principal speaker.
Senator Culberson devoted the great
er portion of his remarks to discus
sion of the Panama canal. going into
details with the revolution by which
Panama became an independent state
and the subsequent negotiations which
resulted in the canal treaty. Abiding
to what he termed the spirit of law
lessness which led the president in this
disgraceful affair."" he declared that the
transaction. above all others in bis
career. strikingly typified his contempt
of all legal restraint and his insatia-
BILE passion for personal and arbitrary
government"
Continuing, Senator Culberson said:
Choosing an occasion on which he
could appeal to the avarice of the peo-
pie and thus temper their spirit of re-
sfstanee to usurpation, he respected
neither legal bounds nor national good
faith. and as the incident serves to H.
lustrate not only his imperious and des-
potic nature, but the danger to the
country which is involved in his cleo
ton, IL is well to understand. for, be-
sides want of general information
on the subject, important facts have
been deliberately withheld from the
public"
He then sketched the course OF
events in the passage by congress OF
the bill known as the Spnoner law"
authorizing the canal and charged
that the president, in HIS course with
Colombia, defiantly violated both its
letter and spirit.
He claimed that the Hay Herran
treaty. If not nullified by the unani-
nous vote of the Colombian senate
disappearing It. expired by Limitation
upon the failure of Colombia to ap-
prove i. within the time fixed for its
ratification. He entered with detail
into the legal aspect OF the matter and.
continuing, said:
1T Is astonishing. In view OF these
indisputable facts, that the defense OF
the president with reference to this
statute. shoYd be placed by himself
ana, mas palIy uI2on the ground That
when he entered into the Panamy
treaty the time with which he could
lawfully deal with that route had not
expired"
1T is interesting" added Senator
Culberscn, '1n this connection to read
the presidents message to congress
Jan. 4. 1904. in which he said: AS
events turned out, the question of rea-
sonable time did not enter into the
matter at all. And yet there had not
been lapse of a reasonable time
using the word reasonable in any por-
err sense-such as would Justify the
administration going to the Nicaragua
route"
THAI" he continued, read the fol-
lowing letter from Secretary Hay TO
minister Herran. which has never been
published:
Department OF State. Washington.
Jan. 81. 1so3-Dear Mr.. Herran: / am
directed by the president TO say to
you that, in his opinion, the reasonable
time allowed by the statute to con-
clude Negotiations with Colombia for
the construction OF an isthmian canal
has come TO a close, and cannot be ex-
tended. He authorizes me to sign with
you the treaty OF which ! have the
honor to give you a draft. with this
change, that the sum of 100000 an
uual payment therein mentioned be in
creased to s250.00O. am not author
lied to consider or discuss any other
change whatever. JOHN HAY"
while the president" continued
the speaker. "ln defense Of his revolu-
tionary course. was pressing opposite
view upon the country In his message.
and by his partisanship In congression
al debates, and while public opinion
upon the question was forming. this
letter was significantly withheld. even
from the senate for months. although
others upon the general subject were
transmitted.
THE character OF this occasion
necessarily precludes an extended dis
c'ssion OF details OF the fabricated
revolution In Panama or the legal ques-
tons which pertain TO II. Il must suf-
fee to say that the national adminis-
tration. in precipitate and guilty haste.
anticipated anu ulSNOuultl lilE UNIV
for the revolt. II magnified the num-
Der and character of the insurgents
and officers OF the government. con-
nived at a subterfuge to deceive and
corrupt the forces sent TO subdue the
instruction. Not satisfied with these
illegal and wrongful and discredltable
acts. but proposing 10 complete the In
tended spoliation. the administration.
within two days. recognized the mock
government Il alone credited and up
held within two weeks. In the very
midst o. actual. though bloodlsss war.
II accepted q cessation OF that territory
from a French adventurer who organ
ICED the conspiracy in the shadow OF
the national capitol.
II accept II as true that the executive
ONCE. OF the administration did not
officially and publicly instigate the re-
volt In Panama. but that the admins
ration including the president. pri-
.tely favored and encouraged the
movement. and that this was widely
known. Is susceptible Of demonstration.
md in matter Of this character was
tantamount 10 committing the govern
ment to II. The very atmosphere ~
washington was charged with this be-