The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1904-01-09
Reasons for Ratification.

He reviews these reasons at considerable
length and Justiiies the speedy recognition
on either and all OF them. He refers to
precedents to show that treaties concluded
with one nation are binding upon the sue
cessors OF that nation thus the treaty Of
1886 with New Granada was transferred
iirst to Colombia and now 10 Panama. OF
IN second reason he says:
This recognition was, in the second
place, further justified by the highest con-
slderations OF our national interests and
safety. In all the range Of our interna-
tionaI relations, | do not hesitate to al
firm that there is nothing Of greater or
more pressing importance Than the con-
struction OF an interoceanic canal Long
acknowledged to be essential to our com
mercial development. 1t has become, az
the result OF the recent extension OF our
territorial dominion. more Nan ever es-
sential to our national self-defense. =.
In the light OF our present situation the
establishment OF easy and speedy com
munication by sea between the Atlantic
and the Pacific presents Itself not simply
as something to be desired, but as an OBJ
)ect 10 be positively and promptly at
talned Reasons OF convenience have been
superseded by reasons OF vital necessity,
which do not admit Of indefinite delays"
In the same connection he charges Co
lombia with attempting to so delay tho
ratincation OF any canal treaty as TO
place that government In position not
only to secure the 100000 offered 1t as
compensation by this government, but to
secure the $40. eco promised the Panama
Canal company for its franchise and
rights as well. BY waiting until Octo-
Der 81, 1904, the franchise OF the Panama
company would have expired, and the
Colombian government be In a position
TO seize Its property and rights on the
isthmus, ana then be In position to de-
mand Of the United States the payment
TO that government OF both sums In
this connection he says:
Such is the scheme TO which It was
proposed that the United States should
be invited to become a party. The con-
struction OF the canal was to be rele-
gated to the indefinite future, while CO.
lombia was, by reason OF her own delay,
to be placed IN the more advantageous
position of claiming not merely the com
pensation to be paid by the United States
for the privilege Of completing the canal,
but also the $40 900 600 authorized by the
act OF 1902 to be paid for the property Of
the New Panama Canal company. That
the attempt to carry out this schema
would have brought Colombia into con-
fiict with the government Of France can
not be doubted, nor could the United
States have counted upon immunity from
the consequences Of the attempt, even
apart from the indefinite delays to which
the construction OF the canal was to be
subjected on the first appearance OF
danger to Colombia, this government
would have been summoned TO interpose,
in order to give effect to the guarantees
Of the treaty OF 1876; and all this in sup
port OF a plan which. while character
lied IN its first stage by the wanton dis
regard Of our own highest interests, was
fifty to end I'm further injury to the cit
liens OF a friendly nation, whose euor-
nous losses in their generous efforts to
pierce the isthmus have become u mat
ter OF history"
OF the third reason for speedy recog-
milton the president says IN part:
In the third place, ! confidently main
tain that the recognition Of the republic
OF Panama was an act justified by tho
interests OF collective civilization II ever
a government could be said to have re-
ceived mandate from civilization to
effect an object the accomplishment OF
which was demanded In the interest OF
mankind, the United States holds that
position with regard to the interoceanic
canal Since our purpose to build the
canal was definitely announced there
have come from all quarters assurances
Of approval and encouragement; in which
even Colombia herself at one time par
ticipa ted and to general assurances were
added specific acts and declarations. In
order that no obstacle might stand In our
way, Great Britain renowned important
rights under the Clayton Bulwer treaty
and agreed 70 its abrogatlon, receiving IN
return nothing but our honorable pledge
to build the canal and protect II as an
open highway