New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-03
FAIRBANKS ON PANAMA.
PRESIDENT DEFENDED.
Il Strong Argument for the Treaty
BIZ the Indiana Senator.
-, - rEIRrNE BuEEAr.l

Tsshias.oa Feb 2-SenatOr Fairbanks dehfereu
an able speech today IN support OF the Fana1aa
treaty He defended the position Of the admins
tration emphasizing the Importance OF this great
work the elimination % centuries OF endeavor.
rot alone 20 the United States, but 10 the enure
world At the close OF his remarks che Indiana
Senator was surrounded by his colleagues. VINO
warmly congratulated him his address.
sIr Fairbanks's speech was devoted largely 20 a
refUtation Of the charge that the United States
in completely with Panama in the revolt OF
last November. He spoke Of the importance OF
showing this charge 10 lie without founoauon-
While greatly desire en interOceanic canal.
he said, I'VE are far more anxious that IL shan
be constructed without any faint whatever OF ma
tional disc.ejit." lie asserted that the record
made by TIE government must supply conclusive
proof side the other OF the controversy.
BY It and by It alone" he said 1.-The administra-
ton must be judged" adding that for himself he
would accept the record IL has been made by
the executive department and submitted to Con-
gress unless it is impeached by something more
conclusive than vague suspicion unsupported as
Eertion and wild conjecture. We must proceed
upon the assumption that the executive depart
ment. within its constitutional prerOgatves, is act
uated by motives. and that IL is regardful
OF the good name Of the country either the legs
letive or the judicial department Who shall de-
termine what steps should be taken TO make Sc
cure peace and protect our people from harm upon
the line OF transit across the isthmUs? deter
mined revolution at hand under circumstances
dissimilar 10 any that preceded II. Bloodshed was
apparently imminent. and interruption TO the high
way across the isthmus among the reasonably
early probabilities. Manifesty. the duty devOlyed
upon the Chief Executive TO take such steps as in
his judgment necessary TO preserve the lives
OF Americans and 10 maintain unbroken peace
We not left in uncertainty TO what was
done by the United States in connection with the
Panama revolt. for Secretary Hay says emphau-
cally in his note TO General Reyes January s. 1904;
ANY charge that this government, or any re-
sPonsibe member II 81 held intercourse. whetheer
Soio,abi oi ~ tt Mt i,b; iIs,iscstio9
Equally so is the insnnation that any action OF
was the result Of corplicty with the plans OF the
these denials. and il makes them finally.
This is a complete refutation Of the charge that
this government had any completely In the revo-
lutionary movement. The American people will &C
cept the emphatic denial If the Secretary CT State
without question doubt"
Mr.. Fairbanks made the following summary OF
conclusions established by the record in the case
OF Panama:
The revolution by the people Of Panama vas due p
70 a long series OF wrongs lnnlcted upon lhem ~
the government at 3Ogota. and more particularly
TO the rejection OF the Hay Herran treaty.
The revolution initiated by the people OF
Panama, and was not inspired by the United
il was the duty OF the President to adopt such
measures as he deemed necessary TO preserve the
go 49, I5,-es 90 ,roTerrv ~ American citizens
and OF citizens OF other countries upon the line OF
The independence o. Panama was accomplished
by the people Of the isthmus. - ,--,..,
States at the city OF Panama and only one vessel
marines we're landed al colon These were landed
TO protect the lives Of American citizens who were
the ship after aeeomPshd,ng their cir, PnrP T
had secured her Independence three days after the
revolution.
In recognizing the independence Of the new Repub-
lie the President acted solely within his consiitu.
tional rights and IN harmony with esta5lshed
him, and having exercised it, his act became bind
The Independence OF the Republic Of Panama
recognized by France and many other powers soon
Within eight days after me first recognition Of
United states through her accredited minister to
Washington granting TO the United States the
When the Republic of Panama concluded the con-
vention with the United States she was in the
fully her domestic and International functions and
had fun capacity to enter into valid convention
Under the treaty Of 1886 the United States OBJ
she bained the r1sht Of free transit across the
isthmus and the right 20 preserve the freedom OF
OF this right and other privileges the sovereignty
sovereignty upon the isthmus the Republic of
Panama. the obligation 10 guarantee her sovereign
states aesi'S' 'o'sS' - si''s''- 1'' "a
ratified by the Senate. the United states viii obtain
adequate concessions, rights and privileges for the
construction and perpetual maintenance OF an 18th
milan canal
The time for decisive action has come" said
Mr.. Fairbanks in conclusion. We have but to
call the roll OF the Senate upon the treaty with
Panama and We will instantly set motion the
machinery which viii soon accomplish the great
desire Others have said that this is an American
question, and it is. II transcends the narrow
bounds OF party. u is wide the ample limits
OF the republic. Who doubts in the present condi-
ton OF affairs that the Panama Canal viii be
built? tt will have back OF IL the best pledge any
vast undertaking have. for n viii have the
assurance Of the United States What
and against Il will swiftly fade away and be gone
forever but the canal-the rich fruit OF four
centuries OF hope and human effort the colossal
tribute OF our people the commerce Of the world
viii stand Yes well believe that Il will
survive the Pyramids