Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1904-01-04


out but the commander Of the United
gtates cruiser Nashville forbade Super
intendent Shaler to allow the railroad 70
transport troops for either party. That is
our story.
call especial attention to the con
Guiding portion of this interview, which
states the willingness Of the Panama
people to fight the Colombian troops
and the refusal Of Commander Hub
bard to permit them to use the railroad
and therefore to get into position
where the fight could take place. 1t
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 revolutions
and attempts at revolution have sue
ceeded one another with m0not0nous
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 sim
liar instructions TO protect the transit.
One of these revolutions resulted in
three years of warfare. and the aggre-
gate of bloodshed and misery caused by
them has been incalculable. The fact
that in this last revolution not a life
was lost save that of the man killed
by the shells of the Colombian gun
boat and no property destroyed was
due to the action which have descrlb-
ed. We. in effect, policed the isthmus
In the interest Of its inhabitants and
Of our own national needs and for the
good Of the entire civilized world. Fail
ure 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 drmness and prudence with which
Commander Hubbard carried out bis
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 will be no unwise conduct on
our part which may encourage Colon.
bia to embark on a war which cannot
result In her regaining control of the
bloodshed and suffering.
Charges Of Completely Resented.
1 hesitate to refer to the injurious in
situations which have been made OF
completely by this government in the
revolutionary movement in Panama
They are as destitute Of foundation a:
OF propriety The only excuse for my
mentioning them is the fear lest un
thinking persons might mistake FOL
acquiescence the silence Of mere sell
respect think proper to say, there
fore. that no one connected with this
government had any part in preparing
melting or encouraging the late revo
luton on the isthmus of Panama anC
that save from the reports of our mill
tary and naval officers, given above
no one connected with this government
had any previous knowledge Of thu
revolution except such as was aceessi
bic to any person of ordinary intelli
gence who read the newspapers anC
kept up a current acquaintance witt
public affairs.
BY the unanimous action Of its PEG
pie. without the firing OF a shot-witl
unanimity hardly before recorded il
any similar case-the people Of Panam;
declared themselves an independent re
public. Their recognition by this gov
eminent was based upon a state O
facts in no way dependent for its justi
ication upon our action in ordinar,
eases. have not denied. nor do / wisl
TO deny. either the validity OF the pro
priety Of the general rule that a new
state should not be recognized as indie
pendent till It has shown its ability t
maintain its independence. This rul
is derived from the principle of non
Intervention and as a corollary Of tina
principle has generally been observes
by the United States. But, ike tn
principle from which it is deduced. tn
rule is subject to exceptions. and Their
are in my opinion clear and imperativ
reasons why q departure from II wa
justified and even required in the pres
ent instance. These reasons embrac
Cd our treaty rights, CO our nationa
interests and safety and 60 the inter
ests OF collective civilization.
The Treaty Of 1886.
l have already adverted to the treat
Of 1S46. by the thirty-fft article o
which the United States secured tn
right to a free and open transit acros
the isthmus of Panama. and to tina
end agreed to guarantee to New Gra
NADIA her rights of sovereignty an
property over that territory. This al
ticle is sometimes discussed as tf tn
latter guarantee constituted It's sol
object and bound the United States {
protect the sovereignty Of New Grs
NADIA against domestic revolution
Nothing, however, could be more errC
neous than this supposition. That on
wise and patriotic ancestors, with a
their dread Of entangling alliances
would have entered into q treaty wit
New Granada solely or even primaril
for the purpose Of enabling that rem
nant Of the original republic Of Colon
bia, then resolved into the states {
New Granada. Venezuela and Ecui
dor 70 continue from Bogota to rul
ever the isthmus Of Panama is a COZ
ception that would in itself be increC
ible. even if the contrary did not cleal
" appear. 1t is true that since tn
treaty was made the United States ha
again and again been obliged forcibl
70 Intervene for the preservation OF O
der and the maintenance of an ope
transit and that this intervention ha
usually operated to the advantage {
che titular government Of Colombii