The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-02-13
LOINGLA DAY
DULY OBSERVED
CONCLUDED from First Page.)

vim forbid the creation of a compe
itor for the monopoly and viii d
1rivo labor Of much profitable an
ployment
1t must not be forgotten that i
1903 the Democratic party in Mass,
ehusetts declared III favor of rec
procity with Canada ana seyera
! Democratic congressman have recent
| ly made speeches in support of tina
\ proposition. This will probably b
an Issue in the next campaign Th'
Dingley tariff act authorized the ne
gotiation of reciprocity treaties, anC
President Mckinley appointed Hon
John A. Kasson, of my own state
special commissioner TO conduct ne
gotiations He signed numerous con.
Yentions. all Of which were submitted
4 q the senate for ratification Not one
was ratified, and because of a paryail-
ing impression the grand old states
nan ami diplomat had surrendered
more than he had acquired
Just now public attention is being
conferred upon the independence of
Panama and the acquisition of a right
If way for an interoceanic canal The
administration of President Roosevelt
has been criticised by some, con
lemned by others, and exeroiated by
rot few Of the opposite party, Per
nit. therefore brief review OF the
situation
First this country is on record in
support Of the proposition that when
ever any form Of government becomes
destructive of inalienable rights, a
declaration OF independence is justi-
fable. We date our national exis-
erca from such an event More re
Gently we embarked in a general al
tl1lstlc war in defense Of a people
who had rebeled against a mother
country, and, at no small expense
to ourselves in blood and treasure,
we fore ID Spain to relinquish her
sovereignty. and the Republic Of Cuba
holds its place on the map Of the
world as evidence that the great re-
public sdll believes in the principles
promulgated at it's birth This position
is in strietest harmony with It's corol-
larry that in a government actually of
the people, actually for the people
and actually BY the people, no cause
can arise to justify separation Of
states.
Now take the case of Panama Tn
der the Colombian constitution Of 1863
Panama enjoyed absolute autonomy
Her representative to the federal con.
gTcss was denOminated a plenipoten.
tiary. 4 majority Of the states could
annull any act Of the federal congress.
The right Of revolution was expressly
guaranteed, and the republic was re-
cairoi t9 recognize any de facto state
yoyc amaut THAT could establish itself
5s revoi ftionary methods upon the
ruins Of its predecessor, The right
to negotiate treaties and contracts
with foreign governments and foreign
persons embraced nearly everything
reserved to the republic.
In 1885 the then president of Colon
bia, seeing his term Of Office about
ID ezpira. and the constitution pro
hibiting his reelection, without the
semblance Of authority appointed a
provisional governor for each state
Including Panama, and directed these
governors 10 send representatives to
Bogota 20 formulate a new constitu.
ton This was done and series of
resolutions. having the force Of d
constitution we're passed. and, /
scarcely need add. the president was
reelected The fact that the people
Of Panama did not at once rebel
raises no presumption Of any thing
more thln nominal asquiescence. Az.
ter series OF unsuccessful revolu-
tons, the vice president in 1900 seized
the PRECEDENT, thrust him in prison
and thew relying upon the contsitu-
tiUnal provisions the vice president
should act in the absence of the
president assumed the office OF the
nominal president. and exercised the
functions of an absolute dictator. Up.
on the t1e1ry that it would be unsafe
to convene congress. he excused him.
self for nromulgating laws in tho man.
ner described in ancient histories
SO much for Panama'8 relation to
Columbia.
by treaty negotiated with New
Granada in 1876. the United states
acquired the right Of free and open
transit Of the isthnus. BY the same
convention and by subsequent treaties
with other countries this government
guarantee to an the world the right
Of unob3trdcted interoceamc travol II
gave notice that under no circum
stances shall ,hts one strip of Ground
be deyasted by opposing armies, and
whoever undertakes T., r,clo..