The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-04

whether by the Colombians or the Pan
amans, which would tend to produce
bloodshed. On November he pre-
vented body Of the revolutionists from
landing at Colon Throughout he be-
haved in the most creditable manner.
COLOMBIAN OPPRESSION.
The message then quotes an inter-
view with native Panaman. published
in the daily press. in which Is set forth
in detail 1.-The unbearable oppression
Of the Colombian government in Pan
anna The interview follows:
Welooked upon the buiidingof
the canal as a matter Of life or death
to US. We wanted that because II meant
with the United States in control Of it.
peace and prosperity for US. President
MarrOquin appointed an isthmiaE TO be
governor CT Panama. and we looked
upon thai as of happy augury- Soon
we heard that the canal treaty was not
likely to be approved at BOgota; next
we heard that our isthmian governor.
Obaldia, who had scarcely assumed
power. was to be superseded by = sol
der from Bogota-
Notwithstanding all that Colombia has
drained US of in the way OF revenues.
she did not bridge for US a single
river. nor make a single roadway, nor
erect a single college where our chill
dren could be educated. nor do anything
at all TO advance our industries +"
Well. when the new generals came we
seized them. arrested them. and the
town OF Panama was in joy. Not a
protest was made. except the shots fired
from the Colombian gunboat BogOta.
/ which KILLED one Chinese lying in his
bed. We were willing 10 encounter the
Colombian troops at Colon and fight it
I out; but the commander OF the United
States cruiser Nashville forbade Super
intendent Shaler to allow the railroad
/ 70 transport troops fo- either party.
/ That is our story"
OUR TRADITIONAL POLICY.
The message comments on the inter-
.iew:
/ J call especial attention to the con-
GLIDING portion of this interview which
states the willingness Of the Panama
people to fight the Colombian troops
and the refusal Of Commander Hubbard
to permit them to use the railroad and
{ therefore 10 get into a position where
| the fight could take place. II thus
clearly appears that the fact that there
was no bloodshed on the isthmus was
| directly due-and only due-to the
prompt and firm enforcement by the
United States of its traditional policy.
! During the past forty years revOlu-
lions and attempts at revolution have
succeeded one another with monotonous
regularity on the isthmus. and again
and again United States sailors and
marines have been landed as they were
landed in this instance and under
similar instructions to protect the
. -
suited in three years Of warfare and
the aggregate Of bloodshed and misery
caused by them has been incaIcuIabIe-
EFFECTIVE POLICING.
The fact that in this last revolution
not a life was lost. save that OF the
man killed by the shells of the Colon
bian gunboat, and no property destroyed.
was due to the action which 1 have
described We. in effect, policed the
isthmus in the interest OF lis in
habitants ard of our own national needs.
and for the good of the entire civilized
world.
Failure to act as the Administration
acted would have meant great waste OF
life. great suffering. great destruction
/ of property; all of which was avoided
by the firmness and prudence with
which Commander Hubbard carried our
his orders and prevented either party
from attacking the other. Our action
was for the peace both of Colombia and
of Panama.
1t Is earnestly to be hoped that there
win he no unwise conduct on our part
which may encourage Colombia to en-
bark on war which cannot result in
her regaining control Of the isthmus.
but which may cause much bloodshed
| and suffering.