The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-28

President Has Done Was Wrong.
Accomplished and That 1t Cannot
BE Righted by Greater Wrong
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE proceed
ings of the Senate to-day included a
speech by Mr.. Simmons of North Car
Dina, on the Panama canal treaty, and
the passage of number of bills and
resolutions. Mr.. Simmons spoke in
support of the treaty, being the first
Democratic senator to take that posi-
ton on the measure on the floor of the
Senate. He announced his conviction
that both under the Spooner act and
under his general treaty making power,
the President had authority to enter
into a treaty with Panama. after 1t
became an Independent state. for the
construction of canal via the Panama
route. He said:
What has been done in Panama has
been done and cannot be undone. 1t
was not done by the Democratic par
ty, neither could that party have pre-
vented it's doing. and therefore, it is in
no way responsible for it's doing. If
what has been done in Panama can be
undone at all by this government, it
can only he undone by doing greater
wrong to Panama than has already
been done to Colombia. Surely the de-
or remedy that wrong.
Il am not here to defend the actions
of the President. either in connection
with the revolution or in recognition of
the Independence of Panama. There
is much in his conduct in these con-
nections which 1 disapprove; which 1
regard as improvident and unwise: as
rash and dangerous to the peace and
welfare of this country; as contrary to
the traditional policy of this govern
ment in dealing with other nations, es-
pecially those on this hemisphere, and
as not calculated to advance us in the
affections and esteem of other nations.
President Not All Wrong.
Il do not think, however, that ev-
erything the President did in this con-
nection was wrong. From the bottom
of ms heart / would be glad for the
honor Of my country; l would be glad
If l could reconcile all of his acts in
this connection with my notions of
right and law, but | cannot and be
honest with myself. l am bound to
say, and L have no pleasure in saying
it, that the course OF the President
both in connection with the revolution
in Panama, and the recognition of it's
independence was, to say the least,
hasty, rash, improvident, and danger
Gus to the peace and welfare of this
country; and justifies the feeling of
many of his political friends as well as
his political opponents that he lacks
conservatism which considerations of
national stability and safety make
necessary and desirable in the chief
executive of the nation"
Mr.. Simmons said he believed that
the President and the Secretary of
State should be relieved of all charge
of completely in the Panama revolt.
He said he did not believe that the
possession of information concerning
an approaching revolution should be
accepted as discrediting the statement
of the press, and added: "In entire
Difference to the views of others on
this side of the chamber, who may
differ with me in this opinion, l think
that the statement of the President in
this respect should be accepted. I'm
doubtedly the President knew of the
forthcoming revolution in Panama. 1t
was his duty, i'm view of imminent in
surrection, to have on the ground a
sufficient force to protect the lives
and property of American citizens.
This he did. and if he had done no
more than this he would have done
no more than his duty under the law"
Convinced of Honesty.
Mr.. Simmons announced his belief
that the change of recommendation by
the Isthmian Canal Commission from
the Nicaraguan to the Panama route
had been the result of honest convic-
ton. He also accepted the Spooner
act as a deliberate announcement by
Congress in favor of Panama and a
direction to the President to construct
the canal by that route, IF possible to
acquire title in reasonable time"
Interpreting the phrase reasonable
time" on broad principles. he did not
believe there was any lapse of reason
able time which would have made it
the Presidents duty to turn to the al
tentative route designated in the stat
utes.
Mr.. Simmons continued: 1T is in
sisted and vehemently asserted by
some of the opponents of this treaty
that a vote for its ratification, under
the circumstances. is tantamount to
condoning the action of the admins
tration, both as to the revolution and
to the recognition. If I thought that
as favorably as / regard this treaty.
as deeply important to us as is the
immediate construction of the canal,
and az vexafiOug as I am sure will he
the delays in the commencement of
that great work, If this treaty should
be defeated, do not think 1 could vote
for it.
Condemns, IL They Did 1t.
IT join my colleagues on this side
of the chamber in condemning what
ever wrong the President and the adj
may have done In con-
nection with bringing about the in
dependence of Panama, but in my vote
upon the treaty, l propose to recog
nize, and act upon the fact that Pan
anna is an Independent state, possess
ed, Of equal rights and powers to
make this treaty as we ourselves pos
sess, not only with our consent, but
the practically unanimous consent of
all the civilized nations Of the world.
ITO my mind you might as well say
that ] cannot administer on the es-
tate of a dead man without approving
of his death. as to say that l cam
not act upon the admitted fact that
Panama is an independent nation
without approving of the means by
which that independence was achiev-
ed B."
Mr. Simmons announced his intention
10 vote for the various resolutions Of
inquiry, and closed with the express