The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-01-30

Congressman Hit, the chairman Of
the House committee on foreign affairs
has sent out copies Of his recent speech
defending the presidents course rela-\
tive to the Panama revolution. This
is better than denouncing discussion of
the question, or implying that those
who criticize the administration will
be responsible for any war that might
arise with Colombia. The congress-
mans speech certainly invites COM
ment because it is the only address
yet delivered in either house that is
worth attention as a defense of the
administrations acts. Mr.. Hit.
for many years devoted himself to the
study of our international relations,
and his ready knowledge Of precelents
and principles is probably not surpass-
ed by any Other man in thec branch OF
Congress. on this account his speech
may be examined with special reference
to that part of the question relating
to the recognition by the president Of
Panama as an Independent government
The Republican has at no time con-
sidered this the most vital phase Of
the episode, and has at all times in
sisted that the more important test Of
the legality and propriety of the presi-
dents acts concerns his use OF the
navy under an absurdly forced inter-
probation of the treaty Of 1916, to pre-
vent Colombia from making an effort to
suppress an instruction that was on
the point Of breaking OUTPUT had
not yet broken out-with her own ter
ritory. As Mr. Hoar said, that was an
act of war. Mr.. Hit, it may, be re-
marked in passing, does not meet this
| point at all.
The lesser point Of the hasty recOg
milton of the insurrectionists, Mr.. Hit
does consider, and in this CONNECTION he
attempts to show that the recognition
/ was in harmony with our own prece-
dents He cites four cases in which
/ the United States, through its diplo-
matte representative on the spot, had
speedily recognized new government.
; In order to be entirely fair to Mr.. Hit,
let us give each precedent so called in
4 his own words:
At Paris in 1870 the government of
! the empire was overthrown on the 4th
/ of November. Our minister on the
third day thereafter recognized It, Yet
it was not as unopposed as Panama.
| There were over 100000 men who fought
desperately until they were destroyed
in resistance TO that government, long,
long after our recognition.
The previous French government, in
1848, after the overthrow of the gov
eminent of Louis Philippe, was at once
recognized 10y Mr.. Rush Three days
after the overthrow our minister gave
notice that he would come and pre-
sent his congratulations. Lamartine
he recognized as minister of foreign
affairs and all this was done by our
minister, without any Instructions for
there was no telegraph in those days,
1t was approved BY our government
afterward, and the minister was lauded
everywhere by all parties, because the
policy Of the United States had already
been fixed in regard to such convul-
sions and changes as that
Why, when the dear old Emperor
Dom Pedro, who was here, was over
thrown and put on a ship and sent
away and the empire of Brazil ceased,
a gentleman who is a member of this
House was the minister at that time,
and in two days he recognized the new
government although there were ex-
tensive provinces that had not only not
given their assent but not for two
weeks afterward did they hear of it.
The Spanish kingdom was overthrow
in 1873, and we recognized it in the
same prompt manner.
This is the best that Mr., Hit can do,
and such as they are his four prece-
dents will go far. Senator Foraker
made prompt use Of them in answering
Senator Hoari and Clark Howell Of
! Georgia now pipes up in echo Of Mr.