The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-01-05

JANUARY 8, 1904
as it shall be given us in some form
or other " We are not idiots
Much more was said by these two
speakers in and around the extracts
cited But they contain the condensed
milk of the cocoanut. This is not
a party issue, as we are happy to show
on the authority of men in a position
to know. To paraphrase a remark
which Senator Hoar says was once
made concerning Senator Lodge and
himself, the democracy never had
conscience while the republicans have
one but never use it. In this condi-
ton of affairs, the little dissectng
knife Of Independent inquiry can be
hourshed at its best. Party interests
delighted over such an opportunity
to play the lone hand in political sur
gerry
Our government, It appears, has land
ed at the isthmus company of ma
rines from the Prairie, their destination
being San Miguel gulf and the Tuira
river. These men have machine guns
in their camp equipage and are equip
ped for war with any force that may
invade from the south, by land, the re-
public of Panama. If the republic of
Panama We're able to defend itself
and maintain its independence, at the
same time protecting the freedom of
traffic across the isthmus, the United
States government would not be I'M
dertaking that belligerent function in
behalf of a government which is still
officially regarded as a foreign power.
Our troops are being used in defense
of Panama because Panama is incap-
able of standing alone. And that Pa
mama is incapable of standing alone is
proved by the use of our forces in her
behalf. Now, how does this condition
of affairs bear upon the recognition Of
Panama's independence and sovereign
ty last month?
/ Evidently the United States govern
ment was in error in recognizing the
insurgent iunta of Panama as an in
dependent republic. The course of sub
Isequent events has proved it. When
one government recognizes the inde-
|pendence and sovereignty of an as
pirant to membership in the family of
nations, on the theory that it's act is
not unfriendly to the parent country,
! the assumption must be that the new
government thus recognized is capable
of maintaining itself, unaided, against
the government whose authority it has
thrown off. But Panama has not been
able to maintain itself. without the aid
of the original recognizing power, a
single day. The mere fact that our
military forces are now being used in
the new governments defense is alone
sufficient to demonstrate that the act
of recognition was premature and in
defence of all the we'll considered and
reasonable rules Of International law
bearing upon this phase of the ques-
ton.
1t is Illuminating now to read the
Geographic correspondence between
Secretary Hay and the governments
diplomatic representatives on Novem-
Der G. At 72.51 p. m. on that date Mr.
Hay wired to Consul Ehrman at Pa
mama:
When you are satisfied that a dc
facto government, republican in form
its own people, has been established il
the state of Panama, you viii enter
into relations with it as the responsible
government of the territory, and looI
to it for all due action to protect the
persons and property of citizens of the
United States and to keep open the
isthmian transit in accordance with
the obligations of existing treaties gov.
erning the relation of the United States
to that territory.
Here then, was an instruction thai
the Panama government would itsel
be expected 10 perform the work o
protection and OF maintaining the free
dom of transit. Panama was to b.
the responsible government" of tn,
territory. Surely a responsible gov
eminent" capable Of protecting transi
and the property of foreigners should
also be able to maintain its own indie
pendence, without external aid, for
/ few weeks. Dut not for moment ha
our presidenf, after recognizing tina
responsible government dared t
leave to it the task of standing on it
own legs. He has not looked to it Z
= perform the most ordinary functions o
a government. The dispatch of Nov
: ember g. sent at 1851 p. M, has beel
shown by the course of events to hav
been a farce.
We do not have to study the cours
Of events, however to prove that tina
dispatch was a mere pretense. Les
, than two hours later without waiting
to hear whether Consul Ehrman ha
entered into relations with the Pana
ma junta as the responsible govern
ment," in accordance with the condi
tions outlined in the dispatch of 1875
o'clock, Secretary Hay wired to Minis
ter Beaupre at Bogota, that the peopl
= of Panama had already adopted a re
publican form OF government-is a sci
appointed junta of three men a re
public ?-and that the United States ha
already entered into relations with it
Int n