Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-14
DEFENDED BY SPOONER
The Administrators Course
in Regard to Colombia.
KEPT WITHIN THE LAW
ISTHMIAN CANAL DEBATE RE-
sUMED IN THE SENATE.
Carmack Calls the President Head
long - Thinks He Should Have
Negotiated With Nicaragua.

Mr. Spooner delivered a speech on the
Panama question in the Senate yesterday
afternoon. In terse and forcible language
the senator replied to much that has been
said in criticism of the administration in
It's course in dealing with the affairs of the
isthmuS.
After The Stars report closed yesterday
Mr.. Carmack charged that for the past
fifty years the United States had been made
the dupe of British diplomacy in the matter
of an isthmian canal.
Attacks the Presidents Character.
Mr.. Carmack declared that a mob has as
much right to hang its victim as has the
President to secure what he wants by disre-
gard of the law President Roosevelt, he
said. loses the power of reasoning and his
moral sense when he becomes involved in ac-
ton and he exclaimed: Into what difficulties
may we not be led by this headlong mani.
He did not agree that the President would
have hesitated IL Colombia had been a
stronger nation. On the contrary the PreSl-
dent would have welcomed such an oppor-
tunitc He makes history as he would
order a melodrama. making certain that the
star performer Is always in the center of
the stage" He went on to say that the
Presidents course In this matter was not
merely an act, but policy. and indicative
of his character. 1t was not meant for Co
lonlbia alone, but was the beginning or
system of intermeddling with the affairs or
the countries of Central and South America.
and such policy must inevitably Involve
US In war, not only with the South Ameri-
can nations themselves. but with European
nations eff" he declared, 1.-The President
wishes to put to the test whether one man is
superior to the law and the Constitution he
has taken the proper course to do so.
In closing Mr.. Carmack said that. while
he was for the canal. he could not vote for
the treaty. because he could not indorse the
lawless acts of which 1t is the fruit.
When Mr. Carmack took his seat Mr.. Al
drich asked what practical system Mr.. Car
mack had to offer.
Defeat the treaty" responded Mr.. Car
mack.
Then what?'
Build the Nicaragua canal"
'Ahr responded Mr.. Aldrich: that is the
milk in the cocoanut.' Mr.. Aldrich pro-
ceeded to say that he was in favor of build
ing the canal, and building it now. He
charged the democrats with faultiindinE ana
without making any reasonable sugges-
ton. Under the circumstances. the Mica
ragua canal was impossible and impracti-
cable, and he charged that Mr.. Carmack
was opposed to building canal unless by
an impracticable route.
Mr.. Carmack responded sharply that this
was not true. and declared that he wanted
a canal. but that he wanted 1t under the
law. He was not particular as to routes.
mI. SpooucI hcp11eS.
Mr.. Spooner replied to Mr. Carmack. say
ing that he had felt regret at hearing the
criticism Of the President, who had regis
tered an oath In heaven to discharge his
duties. Mr.. Carmack had made a sinister
and unsupported statement when he said
that this country had begun a systematic
encroachment on the rights of the South
American republics No man had stood
"a n
had President Roosevelt, he declared. and
In support of his statement he fnstanced the
course of the President In the Venezuelan
difficulty. No President In our history had
stood more staunchly for the Monroe doc
trine. He hoped the southern republics
would turn deaf ear to any individual pro-
nunciamento to the effect that the United
States would ever interfere in their affairs
except in their interest
Mr.. Spooner also gave attention to the
charges of disobedience of law by the Pres
ident. 1.-The only enemies he has in the
United States are the result of his ODE
dience to and enforcement of the law. He
has thought not of himself. but only of his
oath. He has said again and again. speak
ing of the relation of capital and labor. that
they have an equal right to combine. but
that both must keep within the law
Mr.. Spooner expressed regret that the
canal question could not be ASSOCIATED from
politics. for the question is degraded by the
association. No subject had ever made
stronger appeal to the high sentiments of
humanity than this He denied that the
Presidents course was such as to subject
him TO the criticism of any political party.
True he said, the President had been elect
ed by the republican party, but he is the
President Of all the country, and he is en-
titled to fair and decent treatment as the
chief executive of all the people.
AS the author of the SpoOner act, the
speaker said, ne wished to express the opfn-
ion that the law had not been violated by
tta had nd he en-
tered upon an analysis of the law in sup
port of this proposition.
The law said Senator Spooner, recognized
the superiority of the Panama route. be-
cause it was shorter and susceptible or
being made q sea level canal. The selec-
ton was he went on, the result of long
elaboration and not of any sudden deci-
sion. Mr.. Spooner agreed with Mr.. Nor
gan in predicting that the time would come
when more than one inter-oceanic canal
would be needed to meet the demands or
the worlds business We should not per-
NIT our vision to be limited by today or to-
morrow. Not only the business but the
defense of the. country might demand a
canal through which our warships could
pass without going through locks. Hence
the Importance OF a line which could De
converted into sea level route.
After reviewing the events relating to the
canal negotiations. Mr.. SDooner asked
whether any senator would under the cir
cumstances have turned his back on Pana-
ma 40 long as there was bill pending in
the Colombian congress. and he put the
question especially to Mr. Tillman, who
was OH his feet.
Mr.. Tillman's Remedy.
The latter said he would have entered
inte negotiations with Nicaragua and
would have reported back to Congress for
further instructions He would then have
said TO Colombia: You are NANCY lot;
ret a. tho face of the earth; well take the
<,r,s,t,frvs and fs,ild thu canal" The remark