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

generosity: which was hailed with de-
light by the people OF the immediate
pass who were most concerned as TO the
new order Of things, and which the Co
l0mbian authorities now recognize as be-
ing so good that they are willing to prom
Use its unconditional ratification II only
We will desert those who have shown
themselves our friends and restore to
those who have shown themselves un-
friendly the power to undo what they did
! pass by the question as to what assur-
ance We have that they would now keep
their pledge and not again refuse 70
ratify the treaty II they had the power,
for OF course | will not for one moment
States committing an act OF such base
ness as to abandon the new republic OF
Panama.
''Third-Finally the congress definitely
settled where the canal was TO be bullt.
II was provided that a treaty should be
made for building the canal across the
isthmus Of Panama; and IT, after reason
able time, IL proved Impossible 70 seCutc
such treaty, that then we should go 10
Nicaragua. The treaty has been MADE
for II needs no argument to show that
the intent OF the congress was TO insure
a canal across Panama. and that whethet
the republic granting the title was caIleu
New Granada, Colombia or Panama mat,
tered not one whit As events turned
out, the question OF reasonable time ga
not enter into the matter at all. A.
came increasingly improbable that the
Colombian congress would ratify the
treaty or take steps which would pe
equivalent thereto, yet all chance ioL
such action on their part did not vanish
until the congress closed at the end OF
October. and within three days there,
after the revolution in Panama hau
broken out Panama became an inde-
pendent state, and the control OF the yer,
ritory necessary for building the canal
then became obtainable. The CONDITION
uunder which alone we could nave gone
to Nicaragua thereby became Impossible
OF fulhlment II the pending treaty with
Panama should not be rauned by the
senate, this would not alter the TACT thdt
we could not go to Nicaragua, Ihe con-
gresS has decided the route, and there Is
no alternative under existing legislation
The president says that after tne
failure OF the Colombian congress 10
ratify the treaty II seemed that the gov
eminent would have TO go to the Near
aqua route. and that he had made the
original draft of his message 10 congress
along that line. This was one OF three
alternatives that confronted the govern.
ment Another was that the people OF
their own interests into their own hands
and establis" government competent
and willing to do its share In the con
struction OF the canal. This is what oc-
Cured, and made the reverting TO the
Nicaraguan route unnecessary, and, IN
fact, impossible under the authority OF
the president as vested In him by the
action OF congress
Report of Comma n der Hubbard.
The president emphatically denies that
this government had any hand IN me
instigating OF this revolution lie knew
as all the world did. that such was I'M
minent, and the navy department took
necessary measures to protect American
interests, but nothing further. lie gives
copies OF the orders sent to commanding
al. t.YaUN Ia nj
various reports upon the situation. lie
charges Colombia with virtually making
war upon the United States at Colon ana
quotes the report OF Commander hup-
bard. Of the Nashville dated November
g. to sustain this charge. In this report
Commander Hubbard says in part:
Pending n complete report OF the oc-
currences OF the last three days In Colon
departments attention to those, OF the
date OF Wednesday. November 4, which
amounted to practically the making OF
war against the United states by the
officer In command OF the Colombian
troops in Colon At one o'clock p m. on
that date was summoned on shore by
preconcerted signal, and on landing me.
the United states consul vice consul ana
Col Shaler the general superintendent
OF the Panama railroad, The consul IN
formed me that he had received notice
from the officer commanding the Colon
bian troops Col. Torres, through ne
Colombian officers, Gems. Tobal and
Amaya. who had been seized In Panama
on the evening of the 81 OF November by
the independents and held as prisoners
were not released by two o'clock p, m,
he, Torres, would open fire on the town
OF Colon and kin every United States
citizen in the place, and my advice ana
action were requested advised mat an
refuge in the shed OF the Panama Rail
road company, n stone building suscept-
lhle Of being put into good state for de.
tense, and that | would Immediately land
such body OF men, with extra arms for
arming the citizens, as the complement
Of the ship would permit This was
agreed to and | Immediately returned on
board arriving at l.lb y, m. The order
at 1880 y. m, the boats left the ship with
"a party OF e. men under the command Of
Lieut. Commander II, NJ, Witzel with
Midshipman j. T. Jackson AZ second In
command, Time being pressing, ] gave
verbal orders to Mr.. Witzel to take the
building above referred to, to put It into
the best state Of defense possible, and
protect the lives Of the citizens assembled
there-not firing unless fired upon,
The Colombans surrounded the build
ing OF the railroad company almost i'm
mediately after we had taken possession,
and for about one and half hours their
attitude was most threatening, II being
seemingly their purpose TO provoke an
attack, Happily our men were cool and
stehuy, ahu Whllt Nnt ,chS'ul was WHY
great no snot was hreu; AZ apout Slo
p III, w ioIlos oan'' .ll'u VIZ puuulns
for an interview ana expressed himself
as most friendly 70 Americans, claiming
that the whole anair was a misappre.
henson ana that ne would IKE TO send
me alcald9 or Colon 70 f9nama To zee
Gen, Tobal and have him direct the dis
continuance OF the snow OF force spc.
eial train was furnished ana safe conduct
guaranteed At ABOUT b.So y m Col
Torres made the proposition Of withdraw.
withdraw the NashNille's force ana leave
the town In possession OF the police untl
the return OF lhe alchlde ON the morning
OF the 9th. AFTER an interview with the
United states consul ana Col shaler as
20 the probability OF good tath In the
matter, ! decided To accept the proposi.
ton ana brought my men on board, the