Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-01-13

Panama" the President says:
Did Not Fomeut Revocation.
They are as destitute OF foundation as Of
/ prcpriet Z. The only excuse for my men
| tioning them Is for the fear lest unthinking
persons might mistake for acqulesc enee the
silence OF mere self-respect. | thiak prop,
/ er 70 say, therefore, that no one connected
! with this government had any part In pre-
pairing. melting. or encouraging the late
/ revolution on the Isthmus of Panama, and
save from the reports Of our military and
naval officers, given above. no enc con-
/ nected with this government had any pre-
vioug knowledge OF the revolution. except
sneh as was accessible TO any person OF or
! binary Intelligence who read the newspa-
I pers and kept up a current acquaintance
with public affairs.
by the unanimous action OF Its, people,
1 without the firing OF shot-with unail-
unity hardly before recorded IN any similar
case-the people OF Panama declared them
selves an independent republic. Their rec
ognition by this government WIS based up
on state OF facts In no way dependent for
! Its justification upon our ection In ordi-
nary cases. / have not denied, nor do |
wish TO deny. either the vaiidity or the pro-
/ priety Of the general rule that new state
should not be recognized as independent till
| it has shown its ability TO maintain its
independence This rule is derived from
the principle OF non-intervention, and as
| eorollary OF that principle has generally
been observed by the United States. But,
I like the principle from which it is de-
dueed, the rui is subject TO exceptions;
and there are In my opinion clear and Inn
peratiye reasons why a departure from 1t
was JUSTIFIED and even required In the pres
ent instance. These reasons embrace, first,
our treaty rights; second, our national In
terests and safety: and. third, the inter
ests OF collective civilization"
The Canal Must BE Built.
Here the message discusses the treaty Of
| 1S46, showing that under It's provisions the
United States was IN duty bound TO main
tain free and uninterrupted transit across
the isthmus, but "he disclaimed any duty
against domestic lnsurr sction or against
| the erection Of an indept ndent government
on the lsthmus OF Panama"
Long before the conclusion of the Hay
| Herzan treaty" says the President, THE
| course Of events had shown that a canal
| to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
must be built by the United States or not
| at all. Experience had demonstrated that
| private enterprise was utterly inadequate
| for the purpose; and a hxed policy. de-
! clared by the United States on many mem
practically unanimous voice Of American
| opinion, had rendered It morally impossible
| that the work should be undertaken by
| European powers, either singly or In COM
| bination."
| But Colombia had refused to allow the
work TO be undertaken by us, and had In
consequence lost sovereignty over the 18TH
mus. III was under these circumstances,
| says the message, TINT the United states,
| instead Of using its forces to destroy those
| who sought to make the engagements OF
| the treaty a reality, recognized them as the
proper eustodians Of the sovereignty Of the
! isthmus.
Nothing Else So Important.
This recognition" the President con-
| tinues, was In the second place, further
! justified by the highest considerations OF
/ our national interests and safety. In all
the range of our international relations.
| l do not hesitate to affirm that there is
| nothing Of greater or more pressing i'm
portance than the construction OF an inter
| ore nfyfa an ri tnyx-1 adr n
essential to our commercial development,
It has become, as the result Of the recent
extension OF our territorial dominion, more
| than ever essential 10 our national SELF
| defense. In the light Of our pres
! ent situation, the establishment Of easy
| and speedy communication by sea between
| the Atlantic and the Pacific presents Itself
not simply IS something to be desired, but
/ as an object to be positively and promptly
attained. Reasons Of convenience have been
| superseded by reasons Of vital necessity,
which do not admit Of indefinite delays"
But Colombia was going to prevent this
| In order to confscate the property OF the
| canal company, when the concession should
| have expired next year, and then claim the
| $4,000 900 voted by the United States to
pay for the canal cOmpanys property as
| well as the compensation to be paid by the
| United States for the privilege OF complet-
| ing the canal This might have involved
/ us I'm war with France now friendly ma
| ton, and we we're justified In employing all
| proper means to avoid It,
1 -
| in the third place." says the President,
| 81 confidently maintain that the recogni-
| ton OF the republic Of Panama was an act
| justified by the interests OF collective civ
/ ilization. II ever government could be
said to have received a mandate from CIV
| illzation to effect an object the accomplish
| ment Of which was demanded in the In
| terest Of mankind, the United states hoids
! that position with regard to the Inter
| oceanic canal Since our purpose to build
| the canal was definitely announced, there
| have come from all quarters assurances or
approval and encouragement, In which even
/ Colombia herself at one time participated;
and to general assurances were added spe-
| ciic acts and declaration. In order that
| no obstacle might stand in our way, Great
/ Britain renowned important rights und@r
| the CLAYTON Bulwer treaty and agreed 20 Its
| abroZation receiving In return nothing but
| cur honorable pledge TO build me canal
/ and protect II as an open highway.
/ Our position as the mandatary or CIV
ilization" is further shown by ire prompt
| recognition by many powers OF the ihoe-
| pendence Of Panama.
A in Cuba. So in Panama.
| The President cannot see how he can be
charged with "a general approval Of the
principle Of revolution, Ia MS opinion,
| mo disinterested and falr-mihGed observer
| acquainted with the circumstances can fall
to feel that Panama had the amplest Jus
| tidcation for separation from CoiofpIA uh-
| der the conditions existing. and, moreover.
| that IFS action was In the highest degree
| beneficial TO the interest of the entire CIV
! fIlzed world by securing the immedlate OPP
| nortunItv for the building OF the inter
oceanic canal" Then the President cites
the beneficial results OK our interference
IN Cnba- and predicts that similar results
VIII follow like action in Panama a The he
| iieye Of the adjacent parts Of Central and
south America. viii be greatly be, benefited ei.s
1 by the building Of the cqnal and the guar
| ai,ee az peace and order along It's line,
| and hand In hand with the 5eneft 20 them
| will go the benefit 70 ns ana 10 mhnklna.
| nv our prompt and decisive aetl02. rot only
| have our Interests and those Of the world
| at large been conserved. but we have fore
| stalled complications which were likely TO
| be fruitful in loss to ourselves and IN
bioodshed and suffering to the people OF
| the isthmus.
| invited BY Colombia to do, for the twof1ld
purpose Of defeating our own rights and In,
| terests and the interests Of the civilized
world. and Of compelling the submission Of
the people Of the isthmus to those whom
| they regarded as oppressors, we shall, as
in duty bound. keep the transit open and
| prevent Its Invasion.
"MeanwhIle" adds the President, with
immense Significance, the only question