Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-07
REAsoNsaFoR STAND.
Continued from Page 8.)

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was lost. save that Of the man killed
by the shells of the Colombian gum
boat, and no property destroyed, was
due to the action which have
described. We. in effect, policed the
isthmus In the interest of it's inhab-
sitants and of ouriown national needs,
and for the good of the entire civilized
world. Failure to act as the admins
stration acted would have meant great
waste, of. life, great suffering, great
destruction of property; all Of which
was avoided by the frnlness and ,pru-
dence with which Commander Hubbard
carried out his orders and prevented
either party from attacking the 9TH
er. our action was for the peace both
of Colombia and Of Panama. 1t is
earnestly to be hoped that there will
be no unwise conduct on our part
which may encourage Colombia to EN- :
bark Oh q war which can not result
in her regaining control of the sisthmus
but which may cause much bloodshed
and suffering. S
hesitate to refer to the injurious
'instnuations which have been made of
completely by this government in the
revolutionary movement in Panama.
They are as destitute of foundation as
OF propriety. The only excuse for men,
tioning them is the fear lest unthink-
ing persons might mistake for sacques-
cence the silence of mere self Prospect.
l think proper to say, therefore that
no one connected with this govern
ment had any part in preparing, in
citing, or encouraging the late revo-
luton on the isthmus of Panama, and
that save from the reports of our
military and naval officers, given above
no one connected with this governs
ment had any previous knowledgke OF
the revolution except such as was ac-
cessible to any person of ordinary in
telligence who read the newspapers
and kept up a current acquaintance
with public affairs.
Declaration Of Independence. !.
K BY. the unanimous action of its peo-
pie. without the firing Of a shot-with
d unanimity hardly before recorded in
any similar case-tfe people of Pam
anna declared themselves an independ-
dent republic. Their recognition by
this government was based upon q
state of facts in no way dependent for
its justification upon our action IN
ordinary cases. have not denied, nor
do | wish to deny, either the validity
or the propriety Of the general rule
that new state, should not be ,recog-
mzed as Independent till 1t has shown
it's ability to maintain It's independ-
ence. This rule is derived from the
principle of nonintervention, and as
corollary of tht principle has gener-
ally been observed by the United
States. But, like the sprinciple from
which it is deduced, the rule Is subject
to EXCEPTIONS; and there are in my
opinion clear and imperative reasons
why a departure from it was justified
andteven required in the present i'm
St1nna-r EThpga ar,,1 Nroo A,,c.f
our treaty rights; second, our nation
al interests and safety, and, third, the
interests of collective civilization.
Treaty Of 1916.
have already adverted to the trea.
.ty of 1916, by the tfirty-fifth article
Of Which tile United States secured
the right to a free and open transit
across the isthmus Of Parma, and tc
that end agreed to guarantee. to New
Granada her rights of sovereignty ant
property over that territory This ar
ticle is sometimes discussed as il the
latter guarantee constituted its sole OBJ.
ject and bound the United States tt
protect the sovereignty Of New Gra-
NADIA against domestic revolution
Nothing. however, could be more err
roneous than this supposition. Thai
our wise and patriotic ancestors, with
all their dread of entangling alliances
would have entered into treaty with
New Granada solely or even primar-
lily for the purpose of enabling tina,
remnant of the original republic OF
Colombia then resolved into the states
Of New Granada, Venezuela and &c.
uador, to continue from Bogota tt
, rule over the isthn1us of Panama, is 6
conception that would in iself be in.
credible, even If the contrary did mo-
clearly appear 1t is true that since
the treaty was made the United Stat.
es has again and again been Obliged
forcibly to intervene for the preser-
walton of order and the maint enance
Of an open transit. and that this in
PREVENTION has usually operated to the
advantage of the titular government Of
Colombia, but it is equally true tina,
the United States in intervening, with
or without Colombia's consent, for the
protection of the transit has dis
claimed any duty to defend the Colon
bian government against domestic in
surrection or against the erection of ar
independent government on the 18TH
mus of Panama. The attacks against
which the United Stalks engaged te
protect New Granadf1n sovereignty
We're those of foreign blowers; but this
engagement was only a means to the
accomplishment of Dyet more impor-
tant end. The great design of the ar
ticlei was to assure the dedication OF
the isthmus to the purposes of free
and unobstructedt interoceanic transit
the consummation of which would be
found in an i.tsfoceanic canal. To the