The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-01-07


ON the Isthnns OF Panama, and that save
from the reports Of our military and naval
with this government had any previous
knowledge Of the revolution except such
as was accessible 70 any person OF ordi-
nary intelligence who read the newspa-
peTs and kept up 2 current acquaintance
with public affairs"
After thus treating extensively the
luton the president refers to the recogni-
ton Of the new government by the United
States. and in this connection he says:
by the unanimous action or its peo-
pie. without the firing of shot--with a
unanimity hardly before recorded In any
similar case-the people of Panama de-
/ nc: Their recognition by this government
was based upon state Of facts in no
way dependent for its Justification upon
denied, nor do ! wish to deny, either the
validity or the propriety OF the general
rule that a new state should not be rec
its ability to maintain it's independence.
This rule Is derived from the principle OF
nonintervention, and as corollary OF that
the United States But, like the principle
from which 1t is deduced the rule Is sub
ject to exceptions; and there are In my
opinion clear and imperative reasons why
departure from II was justified and even
required in the present instance. These
reasons embrace, first, our treaty rights;
second. our national interests a0d safety;
and. third, the interests Of collective civili-
zation."
Reasons for Ratification.
He reviews these reasons at considerable
length and justifes the speedy recognition
| on either and all of them He refers to
presidents to show that treaties concluded
with one nation are binding upon the sue
cessors of that nation, thus the treaty Of
1916 with New Granada was transferred
first to Colombia and nowto Panama. OF
tn second reason he says:
place, further justified by the highest con-
siderations of our national interests and
| safety. In all the range Of our interna-
| firm that there is nothing of greater or
more pressing Importance than the con-
| struction of an interoceanic canal. Long
| mercial development, 1t has become, as
| the result of the recent extension of our
! territorial dominion, more than ever es-
sential to our national self-defense. .
In the light of our present situation, the
establishment Of easy and speedy COM
munication by sea between the Atlantic
as something to be desired, but as an OBJ
| ject to be positively and promptly at
| tanned. Reasons of convenience have been
superseded by reasons Of vital necessity
which do not admit Of indefinite delays,@
| In the same connection he charges Co
| lombia with attempting to so delay the
ratitcation of any canal treaty as to
only to secure the SlOOOO,Oo0 offered it as
compensation by this government. but to
secure the $4O,oOo00o promised the Panama
GsRf ss Re sy W 5s Ta
| Der 81. 1904, the franchise Of the Panama
company would have expired, and the
Coiombian government be in a position
/ to seize it's property and rights on the
| isthmus, and then be in position to de.
mand of the United States the payment
| to that government of both sums. Ir
| this connection he says:
H. Such is the scheme to which 1t was
| proposed that the United States shoult
be invited to become a party. The con
| struction of the canal was to be rele
gated to the indefinite future, while Co
lombia was, by reason of her own delay
to be placed in the more advantageous
II position OF claiming not merely the com
pensation to be paid by the United State
for the privilege Of completing the canal
act of 1902 to be paid for the property 0
the New Panama Canal company. Tha
| the attempt to carry out this schem
would have brought Colombia into con
fiict with the government of France can
not be doubted; nor could the Unite
, States have counted upon immunity fror
the consequences Of the attempt, eve
! the construction OF the canal was to b
subjected. On the first appearance {
! danger TO Colombia this soyernmer
in order to give effect to the guarantee
: OF the treaty of 1886; and all this in SUI
9 Of is Rsn sa ash by While t ws 81
regard of our own highest interests, wa
! fifty to end in further injury to the eli
I nous losses in their generous efforts /
: pierce the isthmus have become ma
ter of history ..-
II OF the third reason for speedy recoe
: | milton the president says in part:
I'm the third place, l confidently mair
tain that the recognition of the, reepublt
of Panama was an act justified by tn
! interests OF collective civilization. II eve
! a government could be said to have re
ceived mandate from civilization
: effect an object the accomplishment {
, | which was demanded in the interest {
, mankind, the United States holds tina
position with regard to the interoceani
! canal was definitely announced, ther
have come from all quarters assurance
! of approval and encouragement, in whic
even Colombia herself at one time pal
ticipated: and to general assurances wer
| added specific acts and declarations.
order that no obstacle might stand in on
| way, Great Britain renowned importar
, | rights under the Clayton-Bulwer treat
! and agreed to its abrogation, receiving 1
return nothing but our honorable pledg
to build the canal and protect 1t as a
| open highway.
! Justified by Collective Ciyiliza tioI
THAT our position as the mandatory {
, | civilization has been by no means mis-
CONCEIVED is shown by the promptitud
! with which the powers have, one afte
: another, followed our lead IN recognAi
Panama as an Independent state. gu
/ action in recognizing the new republi
has been followed by like recognition o
the part of France, Germany, Denmark
! Russia, Sweden and Norway. Nicaragua
Peru, China, Cuba, Great Britain, ItalJ
/ Costa Rica, Japan and Austria Hungary
, I'm view. OF the manifold consideration
] of treaty right and obligation, of nationa
! interest and safety, and of collective civ
, 1llzatlon, by which our government wa
constrained to act l am at loss t
; comprehend the attitude of those VIII
J can discern in the recognition of the ri
! | public of Panama only a general ar
, prevail of the principle of revolution
, which given government is overturne
l or one portion of a country separate
| from another. Only the amplest JUST
ficauon can warrant a reYolutionar
movement of either kind. But there
no fixed rule which can be applied to a
II such movements. Each case must b
! | judged on It's own merits. There haV
been many revolutionary movement!
many movements for the diSmembermen
of countries, which were evil, tried b
: any standard. But in my opinion no dis
: interested and fair minded observer az
r quainted with the circumstances can IA
I'll to feel that Panama had the amplest jui
tification for separation from Colombo
under the conditions existing, and, NOR,
: over. that It's action was in the highe.
1 IN h. Init - -,