The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-10

would have been suppressed by Colombia
in a few days She is today forbidden TO
land her troops for the purpose OF assert
ing her control and regainlng her SOW
erelgnty over the Isthmus, because the
President IN his message says
The following instructions We're
sent to the War vessels, the Boston,
the Dixie, and the Nashville, Main
tain free and uninterrupted transit.
If interruption is threatened by armed
force, occupy the line or railroad.
Prevent landing Of any armed force
with hostile intent, either government,
or insurgent, at any point within lily
miles OF Panama.
why prevent their landing within fifty
miles Of Panama? If the President wish
ed to protect the transit across the
Isthmus, as was his duty, why not pre-
vent the landing of troops within FIVE
miles. or within ten miles, or twenty-five
miles Of Panama? Either Of these dist
aEces would have been ample for the
purpose. II Colombia could not land
within fifty miles she could not land her
troops at all, and making that the dist
arce made an absolute prohibition against
Colombia's landing her troops anywhere
uron the Isthmus Of course it was a
blCodless revolution. Colombia was TIED
hand and foot, and could not move. She
was helpless. Whether intended or not,
am not here to say, but it had the et
feet to stay Colombia's hands, and weak
as she is Colombia could nos even make
the attempt OF asserting her rights Or Of
regaining and maintainS her sovereignty.
ut is very true that the indeQenderc e
of Panama has been recognized by other
countries as we'll, but no country would,
in my Judgment, have taken such a step
without the example and consent OF the
United States The republic of Panama
is an assured fact, but this order to the
Nashville and the other war vessels was
sent before the independence of Panama
was recognized. Yes, indeed, before even
there was a revolution. The order is
dated on the second day of November,
and the revolution did not occur until
the night Of the third Of November. THIS
III itself was clearly an act Of war. It
is very certain that if such action were
taken against nation OF equal dignity 1t
would mean war.
THE President in his message says, or
page 6, that Secretary Hay warned Gel
ombia time and again that grave conse-
Q(tCilGco NOu4Q lOl-O" 44Sl wv 'iS-l - IAif@
Hay -Herran treaty. But Colombia having
Ike right to make the treaty, she certainly
had the right to reject it. ] voted, Mr..
president for the Hay-Herran treaty, and
|, with everybody else, felt indignant tina.
colombia had rejected it in viow Of the
Reasonable terms proposed, but | deny
! that the fact that she did reject t is \
justification of our subsequent action.
hot he den
8 my President and I have for him the
| .rofoundest respect. When right I defend
aim, when wrong, if wrong, I see no rea-
sor why he should not be criticised in a
spirit Of fairness. l do not subscribe 10
he doctrine. The King can do no wrong
1.-The President always right, right or
wrong, the President" Just criticism of
public servants is always wholesome in a
ice republic May the day never come
| in this country when our public servants
can not be criticised Tho administration
was evidently very much irritated when
the treaty was rejected and very justly
/ so, but extreme strenuousness overcame
| better judgment.
The President admits his irritation in
his message when he says, tpage 6);
g Ny intention was 10 consult the
Congress as to whether under such cir
cumstances Il would not be proper
to announce that the canal was to
lie dug forthwith; that we would give
! the rms that we had offered aed no
others; and that if such terms were
! net agreed to We would enter MO an
/ arrangement with Panama direct, or
take what other steps were necdt'l il:
/ order to begin the enterprise.
| ION November the third, the day affel
| The order-was given to our war ships t.
prevent the landing of troops within fifty
miles Of Panama, the following kilograms
were sent:
Department OF state,
.Washington Nov. 3, 1903
Uprising on Isthmus reported
keep department promptly and full
| w informed.
(sgned. LOOMS
Z" Mr.. Ehrman to Mr. Hay
! Panama, November 3Td, 1893
! Rcceived SIS p. NJ
No uprising yet Reported viii
be in thu night Situation is critical.
| (Signed) GERMAN
! con the night Of November Bird with
our war vessels in sight, FEW men gel
| together and seccde, form q junta, pro
| DUnCiam CDL0 Is 0duC, NlSlSu 49, III "
men. this government is informed and On
! November the 9Th, in seventy-tWo houIs
the new born republic is recognized as 4
free and Independent State.
Never in the history Of the world was
ever such haste displayed IN recognizing
new State, a State without arms. or
ganization, or the ability to let>nd ltself
The President says himself:
I have not denied, nor do Wlsh
! t. deny. either the validity or the
| propriety of the general rule that
new State should not be recognized as
! independent till ii has shown It's aplil-
tv to maintain it's independence.
But he says also that TINS rule IS
subject to exceptions, and departure IN
the present case was justifable. the rule
h. cites. Mr.. President, is good one 70
make the exception is authorized by no
| precedent that I have ever seen OF hef'F''
Of. We recognize a republic without .
constitution. without laws, without
navy, without an army, without anything
but junta composed OF three men Z,
! new Born republic, set up ana recos liiNeo
| in the space of three days. Ho" diIieLsn !
Mr.. President, was the action OF Andfe"