Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-01-12

i.A1y hafCiS before recorded In any similar
case the people Of Panama declared them
selves an independent republic Their rec
o2nltion 10y this government was based up
on 4 state of facts In no way dependent for
Its Justification upon our action In erdi-
nary cases l have not denied, nor do
wish &c deny, either the validity or the pro-
prlsty Of the general rule that a new state
keuld not lie recognized as Independent TIL
Il has shown its ability to maintain its
Independence. This rule Is derived from
the principle of aon-intcrVeEtieh. and as a
corollafy of THAT principle has generally
been observed hy the United States But.
Ike tee principle from which Ii Is de-
dnced. the rule is subject To exceptions;
and there are IN my opinion clear and Inn
perative reasons why departure from II
was Justified and even required IN the pres
ent instance. These reasons embrace, INST,
our treaty rights; second, OR national IN
terests aud safety; and, third, the inter
ests OF collective civilization"
The Canal Must he Built.
Here the message discusses the treaty OF
1916, showing that under its pI~visions the
United States was in duty bound to main
tain free and uninterrs Yted transit across
the isthmus, but she Z sclaimed any duty
10 defend the Columbian government
against domestic insnrrection or against
the erection Of an Independent government
on the isthmus OF Panama
Long before the conclusion of the Hay
Herran treaty" says the President, the
course of events had shown that a canal
10 connect tue A{lantlc ana Iacluc oceans
must be built by the United States or not
at all Experience had demonstrated that
private enterprise was utterly inadequate
Tor the purpose; and a fxed policy, de-
clared by the United States on many mem
orable occasioas aid supported by the
practically unanimous voice Of American
opinion, had rendered 1t morally impossible
;iiSt the work should be undertaken by
European powers, either singly or In com
bination"
R,.f 81 he
work to be undertaken by us, and had In
consequence lost sovereignty over the 18TH
mus. 1t was under these circumstances,
says the message. that the United States,
who sought to make the engagements OF
the treaty reality, recognized them as the
proper custodians of the sovereignty OF the
isthmus
Nothing Rise So Important.
This recognition the President CON
tinues, was, In the second place, further
justified by the highest considerations of
our national interests and safety. In all
the range of our International relations.
| do not hesitate to affirm that there Is
nothing of greater or more pressing Inn
portanee than the construction Of an inter
oceanic canal. Long acknowledged to be
essential TO our commercial development,
1t has become, as the result of the recent
extension Of our territorial dominion, more
than ever essential TO our national self
defense. IN the light Of our pres
ent situation, the establishment of easy
and speedy communication by sea between
the Atlantic and the Pacific presents itself
not simply as something to be desired, but
as an object to be positively and promptly
attained. Reasons OF convenience have beeA
superseded by reasons of vital necessity,
which do not admit of indefinite delays"
But Colombia was going to prevent this
In order to confiscate the property of the
canal company, when the concession should
have expired next year, and then claim the
$4oOOO,OoO voted by the United States to
pay for the canal companys property as
well as the compensation TO be paid ty the
United States for the privilege Of complet-
ing the canal, This might have involved
us In war with France, now friendly ma
ton, and we were justified In employing all
proper means to avoid II.
Interests of Collective Civilization"
In the third place. says the President,
II confidently maintain that the recogni-
ton Of the republic OF Panama was an act
justified by the interests of collective civ
iliZation. If ever government could be
said TO have received mandate from civ
ilization to effect an object the accomplish
ment of which was demanded IN the In
terest Of mankind, the United States holds
that position with regard to the inter
oceanic canal Since our purpose to build
the canal was definitely announced, there
have come from all quarters assurances of
approval and encouragement, In which even
Colombia herself at one time participated;
and to general assurances were added spe-
cific acts and declaration. In order that
no obstacle might stand In our way, Great
Britain renowned important rights under
the Clayton Bulwer treaty and agreed TO Its
abroCation receiving In return nothing but
our honorable pledge to build the canal
and protect II as an open highway.
Our position as the mandatory of civ
ilizatlon" is further shown by the prompt
recognition by many powers OF the indie
pendence Of Panama.
AS In Cuba, So in Panama.
The President cannot see how he can be
charged with "a general approval OF the
principle of revolution" In his opinion,
i'no disinterested and fair minded observer
acquainted with the circumstances can fail
to feel that Panama had the amplest JUS
tihcation for separation from Colombia un-
der the conditions existing, and, moreover,
that it's action was In the highest degree
beneficial to the interest of the entire civ
ilized world by securing the immediate OPP
portunity for the building OF the inter
oceanic canal" Then the President cites
the beneficial results of our interference
in Cuba, and predicts that similar results
will follow like action In Panama, me
people of the isthmus, and as ] firmly be
South America, will be greatly benefited
by the building OF the canal and the guar
antce of peace and order along Its line;
and hand in hand with the benefit to them
Will 90 the benefit to us and to mankind.
By our prompt and decisive action, not only
have our interests and those Of the world
Mt large been conserved, but have fore
stalled complications which were likely to
be fruitful In loss 10 ourselves and In
bloodshed and suffering to the people OF
the isthmus.
Instead of using our forces, as we were
Invited by Colombia TO do, for the twofOld
purpose Of defeating our own rights and In
ferests and tie interests of the civilized
world and of compelling the submission of
the people Of the isthmus 10 those whom
they regarded as oppressors, we shall, as
in duty bound. keep the transit open and
prevent its invasion.
MEANWHILE" adds the President, with
Immense Significance, "the only question
now before us is that Of the ratification of
the treaty For 1t Is TO be remembered
that failure TO ratify the treaty viii not
undo what has been DONE will not restore
Panama 10 Colombia, and will not alter
our obligation to keep the transit open
across the isthmus, and to prevent any out
side power from menaeing this transit"
Then. after quoting John Quincy Adams
in support of his position, the President
closes follows:
I'm conclusion let me repeat that the
question actually before this government
is not that of the recognition of Panama as
an Independent republic. That Is already
an accomplished fact The question. and