Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-01-14
THE SITUATION IN
!. PANAMA DISCUSSED
Presidents Message Defining
the Governments Attitude
Goes to Senate.
ITS POSITION IS EXPLAINED
History Which Led Up to Reeogni-
tlon OF Panama Given in Detail
Only Question of Whether Canal
Shall Be Built or Not.

Washington. Jan 4.-President
Roosevelt sent q special message to
congress yesterday in which he takes
strong ground for the Immediate con-
straction of the Panama canal.
He calls attention to the act of June
%. 1902. authorizing the president to
secure control of the property and
franchises Of the Panama canal com.
pany.
This act marked the climax Of the
effort on the part of the United States
70 secure. so far as legislation was
concerned, an intcroceanic canal
ROSE the isthmus. The effort To
secure treaty for this purpose with
one Of the Central American republics
lid not stand on the same footinf
With the effort to secure a treaty
under any ordinary conditions"
He quotes from Secretary Cass who
In 1868 held to show that the Central
American republics have a duty to
perform to sid in the construction of
the canal.
The United States has taken the
shall build the canal and the president
quotes a resolution passing the senate
In 1888 Directing to France helping
out the old Panama canal company.
"Under the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
It was explicitly provided that the
United States shoufa control, police
and protect the canal which was to
be built keeping 1t open for vessels of
all nations on equal terms. The Uni.
ted States thus assumed the position
Of guarantor of the canal and of Its
peaceful use by all the world. The
guaranty Included as matter Of
course the building of the canal. The
enterprise was recognized as respond.
Ing to an international need: and IL
would be the veriest travesty on right
and justice to treat the governments
In possession of the isthmus as hav-
ing the right, in the language Of Mr..
Cass, ito close the gates of intercourse
on the great highways Of the world.
and justify the act by the pretension
that these avenues of trade and peace.
full travel belong to them ana that
they choose to shut them.
"While it was settled that the canal
should be built without unnecessary
Dr. improper delay. 1t was no less
clearly shown to DO our purpose to
deal not merely In a spirit of Justice
but In a spirit of generosity with the
people through whose land We might
build 1t. The Hay-Herran treaty, II
Il erred at all, erred In the direction
Of an over-generosity towards the
Colombian government. In our anxiety
to be fair we had gone to the very
verge Of yielding to weak nations
demands what that nation was help
tessiy unable to enforce from us
against our will. The only criticisms
made upon the administration for the
:erms Of the Hay-Herran treaty were
FOR having granted too much to Colon
eia. not for failure to grant enough.
Neither In the congress nor in the
public press, at the time that this
reaty was formulated, was there COM
plaint that 1t did not In the fullest
Ind amplest manner guarantee to
Colombia everything that she could by
any color of title demand. ..,,....
"That the canal itself was eagerly
demanded by the people Of the locality
through which 1t was to pass, and that
the people Of this locality no less
eagerly longed for It's construction
under American control, are shown by
the unanimity of action In the new
Panama republic. Furthermore, Co.
lombia, after having rejected the
treaty In spite Of our protests and
warnings when 1t was In her power
to accept 1t, has since shown the ut
most eagerness to accept the same
treaty IL only the status quo could be
restored. One Of the men standing
highest In the official circles Of Co.
ombia, on November O, addressed the
American minister at Bogota saying
hat If the government of the United
States would land troups to preserve
Colombian sovereignty and the transit
the Colombian government would de-
STARE martial law; and, by virtue Of
vested constitutional authority, when
public order is disturbed, (would) ap
prove by decree the ratification OF the
canal teaty as signed; or, II the gov
eminent Of the United States prefers,
(would) call extra session Of the con
gress-with new and friendly mem
bers-next May to approve the treaty.
Having these facts In view, there is no
shadow of question that the govern
ment Of the United States proposed
treaty which was not merely rust. but
generous to Colombia. r.,
Finally, the congress definitely
settled where the canal was to be built.
1t was provided that treaty should
be made for building the canal across
the Isthmus OF Panama: and, IL after
reasonable time, It proved impossible
to secure such treaty, that then we
should go to Nicaragua. The treaty
has been made. for 1t needs no argu
ment to show that the intent of the
congress was to insure a canal across
>~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph Jefferson caught tre5passer
fishing In his weli-stocked lake on his
Louisiana farm. the other day. The
venerable actor went up to him and
called his attention to the fact that
he was fishing In a private preserve.
In violation Of the law. The stranger
smiled, sadly. you are mistaken, sir"
ne replied; I'm not catching your
fish; Pm feeding them. haven't