The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-10
ASKING FOR INFORMATION. Evidently Intended to Delay Canal
 Consideration.

Consideration.
 Brooklyn Eagle.
 Mir. German has put before the Senate a resolution calling for information. He wants the President to give the details of every occasion when the United States intervened in the domestic quarrels of New Granada or Colombia to enforce the treaty of 1S46. He also wants MT. Roose- welt to quote the language of the treaty which. in his opinion, authorizes this country ito enter by military force and uninvited into the territorial Jurisdiction of New Granada or Colombia, in order to prevent the interruption or embar- rassment of free traffic across the Isth- mus" The Senate has not adopted tho resolution and we hope that it will not do so.
 All the facts requested in the resolution are of public record and as such are easily accessible to MT. German without unduly taxing either his inclination or capacity for original research.
 When Mir. German consults the pub lished text of the Bidlack- -Mallarino trea- ty, concluded December F, 1S46, ratified 1S4S. and printed with other treaties at the expense of the United States govern ment in 1S89 he will find that the United States not only guaranteed Colombian ter ritorial rights on the 1sthmus of Pana- ma, "with the view that the free transit from the one to the other sea may not be interrupted or embarrassed at any future time," but that New Granada made this agreement: -"The government or New Granada guarantees to the gov ernment of the United States that the right of way, or transit, across the Isth- mus of Panama upon any modes of com munication that now exist or that may hereafter be constructed, shall be open and free to the government and citizens of the United States" MT. Germans evil dent solicitude lest his country violate it's pledges to Colombia may lead him to forget that Colombia has on various oc- casions displayed unwillingness or .con- fessed inability to make good the pledges 1850 and the close of 1902 there were more than fifty civil disturbances on the aIstb- mus of Panama, ranging in size from at- tempts at general revolution to local riots which were yet sufficiently serious to destroy American property, to imperii American lives, and gravely to interfere with American commerce. In l856 in 1880 fin 1873, in 1885, in 1901 and in 1902, Ameri- can marines were landed at various points on the 1sthmus to protect the interests of American residents. In 1861, in 1882 in 1885 and in 1900, the Colombian govern ment requested aid from the United States government in restoring order. These facts will serve to show that, while the United States scrupulously discharged the obligations imposed by the treaty of lS46, the corresponding obligations laid upon the other party to the treaty have been constantly and shamefully ignored. The Colombian government has invaria- bly, failed to keep the avenues of isth- milan transit free from obstruction.
 In his fourth annual message, sent to Congress on December 2, 1855. a little more than eight years after the treaty with New Granada became effective Franklin Pierce, referring. to- the out rages committed in the previous spring upon the lives and property of Americans in the City of Panama. used these words: Recent incidents tend to show that the local authorities cannot be relied on to maintain the public peace of Panama" Because he had no confidence in these local authorities MT. Pierce stationed American warships on both sides Of the Isthmus and policed the streets of Colon and Panama with American marines. others in which the United States in terfered with conspicuous credit under the authority vested in the government here by the treaty of 1SA6. -
 In lS60 the administration of Andrew Johnson was confronted with af1 on portunity to sustain the government of Colombia against a force of insurgents who threatened to dominate the Isthmus At that time William IT. Seward as Sec retary or State. announced that the united States would maintain a strict neutrality in all civil disturbances in Colombia: but to this declaration be added the following qualifying sentence:
 The United States will nevertheless nold themselves ready to protect the tram sit trade across the Isthmus against the invasion or either domestic or foreign disturbers of the peace of the state of Panama" "A
 Precedent is double edged knife It cuts both ways. By invoking 1t now in ms mlsd1rected effort to convert na- tlonal purpose into partisan issue MT, Gorman may gain time, but he cannot obtain credit, nor can he support his contention that this government was precipitate in recognizing the Republic of Panama and dis1oyal to it's written pledges in interfering nf a domestic dis turbance on the Isthmus. MT. German is doubtless aware that during the presi- deney of MT. Pierce the United States recognized no fewer than five successive revolutionary governments in Mexico within a period of few months! As Tor the precedents growing out of the treaty of 1S46 a candid examination of the facts will show that most of them establish the consistency of the present administration. The policy of isthmian supervision born of the Bidlack- -Mallar- Tho treaty would of necessity survive were the treaty abrogated by mutual consent or by the act of the United States Tn protesting against the frequent viola ton Of 1t by the Colombian governnent The application of 1t in November last was merely a recognition of the precedent created by Mr. Pierce sustained bv Mir Seward. and observed by successive in- cumbents of the presidency during inc last forty years.