Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-03
58TH CONGRESS.
Maiden Speech Of Senator
Clark of Arkansas.
Pledges Democratic Support for
Ratification Of Canal Treaty.
Porto Riean Delegate Given Rights OF
Territorial Representative.

saS made his first speech IN the SENATE,
today. He spoke for two hours ana an
nounced his endorsement of every po-
sifion taken by the President III con-
Eection with the Panama revolt ana in
the negotiation of the treaty with the
rev state. He even said that in view
on the provocation given by Colombia
the President might have been expect
eG to go farther than he did in advanc-
ing the cause of Panama. He declared
that there was more popula. support
of the course Of the President ) policy
among Democrats than among Repuh-
Leans and said that the Democratic
votes necessary to ratify We're assured.
Mr. Fairbanks also spoke in support
of the treaty, contending for the regu-
Iarity of all the proceedings of the adj
ministration on the isthmus of Pam
anna.
At it's opening the Senate Witnessed
the unusual spectacle of Il religious
service conducted by Protestant min
lister and a Jewish rabbi. The daily
prayer was delivered by Rabbi David
Philipson, a professor in the Hebrew
College at Cincinnati, who was accom-
panied to the dais usually occupied by
the President pro tempOre by Chaplain
Hale. DIR. Hale was tlad i'm the usual
clerical robes worn by him and he
opened the service with brief Scrip
turai quotation, which was followed by
Rabbi PhilipsOn'S prayer. The RABBI
spoke of this country as the promised
land. the new Canaan. the exemplar OF
Justice, the protector of the weak, the
hA r..fti
of liberty. the haven of peace. Tie
service was concluded with the Lord $
prayer by DR.. Hale.
The business proceedings of the day
were begun by adopting IA resolution
offered by Hoar permitting the COM
mittee to investigate the charges
against Senator DIETRICH, to employ Il
clerk, to send for witnesses and to take
other steps necessary to carry out the
orders of the Senate.
The Bacon resolution looking to the
arbitration claims of Colombia against
the United States on account of the
Panama revolt was laid before the Sem
ate and Fairbanks was recognized TO
speak.
Fairbanks remarks were devOt ed
largely to a discussion of the question
whether the United States was in COM
plicity with Panama in the revolt %
last November. He speaks of the i'm
pOrtance Of showing this charge 10 be
without foundation. saying While We
greatly desire an inter-Oceanic canal,
we are far more anxious that it shall
be constructed without any faint what
ever of national discredit."
He conceded. however. that the rec
ord made by the government must
supply conclusive proof on one side or
the other Of the controversy. BY it
and b. it alone" he said, the admin
istration must be judged" adding thai
for himself he would accept the rec
ord as it has been made by the eXecu-
tive department and submitted to the
Congress unless it is impeached by
something more conclusive than vague
suspicious. unsupported assert y and
wild conjecture We must lrrcead
upon the assumption that TIL cxecu
tive department within its Constitu-
tiOnal prerogatives is actuated by
proper motives and that it is regardful
of the good name Of the country as
either the legislative or the judicial
departments.
Who shall determine what steps
should be taken to make secur" peac"
and protect our people from harm:
upon the line of transit across the 18TH
mus. A determined revolution was 1t
hand under circumstances diSSimiia;
TO any other that preceded it. Blood
shed WIS apparently imminent and in
corruption to the highway .. oss IT,
isthmus WAS among the early prui3-
abilities. MaUifestly the duty devolv-
ed upon the Chief Executive to take
such steps as in his Judgment We're
necessary to preserve the lives of
Americans and to maintain unbrOkrn
peace.
We are not left in uncertainty AZ t.
what was done by the United Stat, :
In connection with the Panama revolt.
for Secretary Hay says emphatiCally
in his note to Gen. Reyes. Jan. ). 1901
Any charge that this government
or any responsible member of il. held
intercourse. whether official or unoNi-
cial with agents of revolution in CO.
onbia is utterly without justification
Equally SO is the insinuatiOn that
any action of this government prior To
the revolution in Panama was the re-
suit of completely with the plans of the
revolutionists. The department sees
fit to make these denials and it make.
them final
This is a complete refutation OF the
charge that this government had any
completely in the revolutionary move
ment.
Fairbanks made the following sum-
mary of conclusions as established by
the iecord in the case of Panama:
The revolution by the people of
Panama was due to a long series OF
wrongs inflicted upon them by the
government at Bogota and more par
ticularly to the rejection to the Hay
fterran treaty.
The revolution was initiated hy the
people of Panama and was not inspired
Ivy the United States
Ii was the duty of the President 70
adopt such measures as he deemed neces-
sary to preserve the freedom of transit
across the isthmus and to protect the
lives and property of .Amerioya citizens
and citizens of other countries upon the
line of transit.
The Independence of Panama was ac-
compIished by the people of the isthmuS
There was no vessel or armed force az
a ~ tad SNnA.