The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-05
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1904.
The President Explains.

The President Explains.
35 President Roosevelt yesterday trans
mttted to Congress n statement of his
NJ action up to this time in executing tho
act entitled IAN act to provide for the
4 construction OF a canal connecting the
IN waters Of the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans" approved Juno Is, 1908
4 Tho President makes 1t plain that when
he opened negotiations with Colombia 1t
IN was his determination to build the canal
with or without the consent of that re-
w public He did not think that Colombia
should be permitted to stand in the way
CT such an enterprise. Indeed, he says
"a In SO many words that that was the set
3 tied policy of the United States, and no
n saws further that IL after the treaty was
e I, rejected Panama had not revoltod, 1t was
lis intention TO consult the Congress as
u to whether under such circumstances 1t
would not be properto announce that the
canal was to be dug forthwith; that wo
would give the terms that we had offered
and no others, and that If such terms
I were not agreed to, we would enter into
an arrangement with Panama direct. or
take what other steps were needtul IN
order to begin the enterprise"
35 This declaration OF the President will
cause no surprise, for he let it be known
II some time ago that he had prepared q
message to that effect, which he would
Il have sent to Congress had not the seccs-
L sion movement In Panama made It I'M
necessary. Moreover, those who know
MIR. Roosevelt for a rough rider and an
imporialist, would not have been sur
IS prised even il ho had not already let the
secret out He believes that this country
is big enough to have Its own way, and
Ions is streRuousness. MIR. Roosevelt has
now given the country another manifesto
ton of his dangerous daring.
But Panama seeded and tho President
recognized the new republic as speedily
as possible, and the necessity for whip
ping Colombia into subsection was avert
ed.
Eut in the main the Presidents message
Is satisfactory. He is right in saying
that we offered Colombia very liberal
terms and that our offer should have
4 been accepted without bubble. Instead
the offer was rejected, and an absurd
counter proposition made. Yet as soon
as Panama seeded the President says
that lone * .the pen standing highest
Is in the ofntiaf"cncles Of Colombia on No
vernber 9Th addressed the American min
lister at Bosota, saying that, If the gov
M crnnent of the United States would land
troops TO preserve Colombian sovereignty
and the transit, the Colombian Govern
ment would declare martial law, and by
virtue of vested constitutional authority,
when public order Is disturbed, (would)
approve by decree the ratification OF the
canal treaty as signed; or, If the gov.
s$ (would) call extra session Of tho Congress
e with new and friendly mcmbers-ncXl
I, May to approve the treaty.
In purusuing this course Colombia
brought herself into contempt and for,
feited all claim to the sympathy Of the
United States or any other nation. She
played a game Of grab and lost every
thing for being too greedy. Nor do WI
4 blame the people Of Panama for seeding
II The only question with us has beer
whether or not the United States Govern
ment instigated and aided the revolution
On that point the President is explicit
He says:
~ hesitate TO refer to the injuriou
insinuations which have been made o
X completely by this government In tn
revolutionary movement in Panama. The
n of r,ro
priety. The only excuse for my mention
$s Ing them Is the fear lest unthinking pei
sons might mistake for acquiescence tn
silence OF mere self-respect. think PROF
or to say, therefore. that no one connccte
a WITH this government had any part
"a. preparing, melting or encouraging the lat
4i5 revolution on the lsthmus of Panams
En- and that save from the reports OF on
$ military and naval officers, given abov,
no one connected with this gorernmer
had any previous knowledge Of the reyt
M luton except such as was accessible
any person OF ordinary Intelligence WI
Eg read the newspapers and kept up
% current acquaintance with public affairs
81 President Roosevelt's yeracity is not
IN be questioned, and We must accept h
IN statement as being the truth. the who
VI truth and nothing but the truth, tn;
b brings us to the concluding paragraph
5 his message, In which he says that Il
question Of recognizing the Republic 4
Panama IL not under discussion, as tn
W. Is an accomplished fact. The question
whether or not the United States shou
80 build the Isthmian canal. That questit
ia has already been decided by the peop
8 pf the Cnited States.
EsGtal s----==-------==
4at Maryy1an6'c profect