The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-23
ETHICS OF
panama
QUESTION.

Chicago. Feb 23.-iwashingtons q. Birth
day was observed in Chicago yesterday
BY the Union League club with two meet
inss at the Auditorium theatre. one in
the morning and the other I'm the after
noon A banquet was given last night to
members OF the club The principal meet
ing was that IN the afternoon, when Elihu
Root former secretary OF war. delivered
an address on THE Ethics OF the Panama
Question"
Mr. Roots speech was heard by an au-
dience that filled the Auditorium thea
tire. Mr.. Root spoke as follows
On the 80 OF November 1908. the people
Of Panama revolted against the govern
ment OF Colombia, and proclaimed their
Independence.
ON the 13th OF November the United
States recognized the independence OF the
republic OF Panama by receiving a min
fster from the new government and AT
the opening of the regular session or con-
gress IN December the president asked the
consent OF the senate 10 q treaty negot-
ated between our secretary of state, Mr.
Hay, and the minister OF Panama, Mr.
Varllla. providing for the construction by
the United States of a ship canal across
the isthmus, 10 be kept by us open neutral
and free upon equal terms for the use or
all mankind.
REAL, OWNERS OF ROUTE.
Colombia and Panama both held out TO
US the ofrer OF the right and opportunity
20 build the canal Colombia said, we
will ratify the treaty-we viii raufy IL
by decree. or we win call a congress Sc
lected for the purpose OF raufying the
treaty as the preceding congress was Sc
lected for the purpose OF rejecting it-if
you will preserve our integrity"
Panama said. Recognize our independ-
ence and the treaty follows, OF course
for the building OF the canal r. our dear
est hope" There was no question OF IN
terest on the part of the United states;
the treaty was secure: the canal was Sc
cure but there was question OF right.
question of Justice a question of national
conscience TO be dealt with. What was the
duty OF the United States toward the peo-
ple OF Panama and the dictator at Bo-
gotta?
The people OF Panama were the real
owners of the canal route; II was De-
cause their fathers dwelt in the land,
because they won their Independence from
Spain, because they organized civil So
ciety there. that IL was not TO be treated
as one of the waste places OF the earth.
They owned that part OF the earth's SUR
face Just as much the state or New
York owns the Erie canal. When the
sovereign state OF Panama confederated
itself with the other state OF Colombia
under the constitution of 1863 IL did not
part with Its title or it's substantial rights.
bat constituted the federal government Its
trustee for the representation or its rights
in all foreign relations, and imposed upon
that government the duty OF protecting
them The trustee was faithless 10 Its
trust: II repudiated its obligations with
out the consent OF the true owner; its
seized by the strong hand OF military
xya
protect: Colombia herself broke ths bonds
OF union and destroyed the compact upon
which alone depended its right TO repre-
sent tho owner of the soil
GROUNDS OF COMPLAINT.
BY all the principles OF justice among
men and among nations that we have
learned from our fathers and all peoples
and all governments should maintain, the
revolutionists In Panama were entitled tc
be free again. the isthmus was theirs and
they were entitled to govern II; and II
would have been a shameful thing. for the
government OF the United States TO return
them again 10 servftude.
The conduct OF the United States gov
srnment I'm recognizing the independence
OF Panama, in making the treaty and "
exercising police power over territor,
traversed by the Panama railroad and tho
partly constructed canal during the pc
y1od or the reVOlutlOn mas beth SeNcieis
criticised by some OF our own citizens
who have said. in substance. that In this
business our government has violated the
rules of international law, and has. by the
exercise Of brute force. trampled down the
rights OF a weaker nation. in violation o'
those principles OF justice which shouit
control the conduct OF nations as of men
II was not the neutral force or !.
marines and bluejackets or anything thai
the American government or American
officers said or did that led the 450 Co
lombians to retire from Colon; IL was
the fact that they found themselves alone
among a hostile and unanimous people
with an overwhelming insurgent force ir
arms against them, which left no alterna'
tive but capture or retreat
The recognition OF Independence ane
the treaty with Panama are the real
grounds OF Colomblas complaint and
upon the justice OF those acts America
stancs. fairly, openly. with full disclos'
ure OF every step taken and every OBJ
sect sought.
TluEQT0M