The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-01-08
MESSAGE 10 CONGRESS
President Roosevelt in defense Of His
Panama Policy.
COMPLETE STORY OF fHE AFFAIR.

Details OF III. Revoiutio1 and the Administra'
tion.s Connection With It Ma1e Puo!ic-lu-
sinustions Of Completely o1 thu Part OF the
Government Empaaiical Denied Duties
Of the United States. M
Washington. D. C.. pecial).-With-
in lew minutes after Re reasseroling
of Congress Monday noon, spe-
cial message from President on
Panama was received the Senate and
read.
Before this had done, IN the
Senate, Mr. Lodgs i've notice that
he would address Senate on the
Panama question, bill was pass
ed, making Chestd southport Of
entry.
At the opening 81 the House the
chaplain prayedf for peace between ia
pan and R.-lssia. The resignation OF
n Ms H:d''s''an 'Ns" s'FS' was an
THE message sent in by the Presi-
dent is nearly 1900 words in length.
/
up to this timen in executing the
Spooner act providing for the con-
struction OF canal He denies the
injurious insinuations" that this coun-
try had anything to do with promot-
ing the revolution, saying no one con-
nected with this Government had any
part in preparing, melting or encour-
| aging the late revolution on the 18th
mus OF Panama.
On October IS Commander Hub
bard OF the navy notified the Navy
Department that, though things Mere
| quiet on the isthrnus, revolution had
broken out in the State OF Cauc9 On
October 10 Capt c. B. Humphrey and
Lieut. Grayson Mallet- Provost JMur-
ply, who had just returned from four
month tour through the northern por-
lions OF Venezuela and Colombia, told
the President that plans were practic-
ally ripe on the isthmus for revolu-
ton, and that the people there seemed
unanimous for it.
In view OF all these facts, he says,
he directed the Navy Department to.
issue instructions such as would in
sure our having ships within easy
reach OF the isthmus; and on November
2. when the Colombian Congress had
adjourned. it was evident that the out
break was imminent, instructions were
sent to the commanders OF the Boston,
Nashville and Dixie to maintain free
and uninterrupted transit and to pre-
vent the landing OF any armed force
with hostile intent. either Government
or insurgent, at any point within so
miles OF Panama.
Quoting in full two reports OF Com
mander Hubbard OF the Nashville. who
was at Colon. the President says that
on November q, the day after the
revolution began, the commander OF the
Colombian troops at Colon INDUCED in
wanton and violent threats against
American citizens. and practically be-
gan war against the United States. He
adds:
This plain official account of the
occurrences of November 4, shows that |
instead OF there having been too much |
provision by the American Government |
for the maintenance OF order and the |
protection of life and property on the
isthmus. the orders for the movement |
OF the American warships had been |
too long delayed 1t thus clearly |
appears that the fact that there was no |
bloodshed on the isthmus was directly !
due-and only due-to the prompt and /
firm enforcement by the United States |
OF its traditional policy.
Defending his prompt recognition OF |
the new republic the President says /
that while it is a general rule not to
recognize new State until it has shown
its ability to maintain its independ
ence, the rule is subject to exceptions,
and there are, in my opinion, clear and
imperative reasons why a departure
from it was justified and even required
in the present instance. These s'rea-
sons embrace. first, our treaty rights
to guarantee transit across the 18th
mus; second, our national interests and
safety, and. third, the interests of co.'s
lective civilization" The treaty of
1916. he declares. never meant that the
United States should protect the Sow
ereignty OF New Granada against do
nestle revolutions.
After quoting the Hay Pauncefote
treaty to show Great Britain's desire
to have us build the canal and the rec
ignition by many nations to show their
attitude in desiring us to build the ca
nal. the President says:
There have been many revolutionary
many movements Tor the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF countries, which
were eVH, tIleu ny any StdHudIu. Dut
in my opinion no disinterested and fair
minded observer acquainted with the
circum tances can fail to feel that Pan
anna had the amplest justification for
separation from Colombia under the
conditions existing, and, moreover. that
its action was in the highest degree
beneficial to the interests OF the en-
tire civilized world by securing the i'm ,
mediate opportunity for the building
Of the inter-oceanic canal.
In conclusion" the President says.
''let me repeat that the question act :
ually before this Government is not
that OF the recognition OF Panama as an
Republic That is already
all accomplished fact. The question.
and the only question. is whether or
not we shall build an isthmian canal"
Accompanying President Roosevelt's ;