The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-04

preventing any movement whether by the
Colombians or the Panamans. which would
tend TO produce bloodshed. ON Nov. he
prevented a body OF the revoutionists
from landing at Colon. Throughout he
behaved In the most creditable manner.
In tho New York Evening Post, under
date OF Panama. Dec. 3. there Is an arti'
Gle from a special correspondent. which
sets forth In detail the unbearaole op-
preston OF tine Colombian government In
Panama In this article Is an interesting
interview with a native Psnaman, which
runs as follows
-. We looked upon the building OF
the canal as a matter OF life or death 10
us. We wanted that because 81 meant.
with the United States ip control OF II.
peace and prosperity for ue. President
Marroquin appointed an Isthmian TO be
governor ~ Panama: and we looked upon
that as OF happy augury Soon we heard
that the canal treaty was not likely TO
be approved at Bogota: next we heard
that Our Isthmian governor Obaldia, who
had scarcely assumed power, was 10 be
superseded by soldier from Bo-
gota
Notwithstanding all that Colombia has
drained us of In the way OF revenues she
did not bridge for us n single river. nor
make a single roadway. nor erect a single
college where our children could be edu-
Gated nor do anything at all TO advance
our industries Wen, when the
new generals came we seized them. ar
rested them, and the town OF Panama was
in Joy Not a protest was made. except
the shots fired from the Colombian gun
boat Bogota, which killed one Chinese
lying In his bed. We were willing to en-
counter the Colombian troops at Colon
and fight II out. but the commander OF
the United States cruiser Nashville for
bade Superintendent Shaler TO allow the
railroad TO transport troops for either
party. That Is our story"
READY TO FIGHT.
call especial attention 10 the conclud-
ing portion Of this interview which states
the willingness of the Panama people 20
fight the Colombian troops and the re-
fusal OF Commander Hubbard to permit
them to use the railroad and therefore
to get into position where the fight
could take place. II thus clearly appears
that the fact that there was no blood
shed on the isthmus was directly due
and only due--to the prompt and firm en-
forcement by the United States OF its
traditional policy During the past ~
years revolutions and attempts Mt revolu-
ton have succeeded one another with mo-
notonous regularity on the isthmus. and
again and again United Stsfes sailors and
marines nave Deen lanucu as tHey were
landed In this instance and under similar
instructions 10 protect the transit.
One Of these revolutions resulted In
three years of warfare; and the aggregate
OF bloodshed and misery caused by them
has been incalculable. The fact that IN
this last revolution not n life was lost,
save that Of the man killed by the shells
OF the Colombian gunboat, and no prop
erty destroyed, was due To the action
II a In.
Iced the isthmus I'm the interest OF It's
inhabitants and Of our own national
needs ard for the good OF the entire civ
ilized world. Failure to act as the ad-
ministrator acted would have meant great
waste OF life great suffering. great de-
struction OF property. all OF which was
avoided by the irmness and prudence
with which Commander Hubbard carried
out his orders and prevented either party
from attacking the other Our action
was for the peace both of Colombia and
OF Panama IL is earnestly hoped that
there will be no unwise conduct on our
part which may encourage Colombia to
embark on a war which can not result
i'm her regainlng control Of the isthmus.
but which may cause much bloodshed and
suffering
INJURIOUS INsINCAT1oNs,
I
situations which have been made OF COM
pliclty by this government in the revolu-
tionary movement In Panama. They are
as destitute OF foundation as of propriety.
The. only excuse for my mentioning them
is the fear lest unthinking persons might
mistake for acquiescence the silence OF
mere self-respect. ! think proper TO say.
therefore that no ono connected with this
government had any part In preparing.
81. lot. snft
ton on the isthmus Of Panama, and that
save from the reports OF our military and
naval officers. given above no one con-
nected with this government had any pre-
vious knowledge OF the revolution except
such as was accessible To any person OF
ordinary intelligence who read the news
papers and kept up current scquaint-
ance with public AFFAIRS.
BY the unanimous action OF It's people.
without the firing of a shot-with a unani-
nifty hardly before recorded In any similar
case-the people of Panama declared
themselves an independent republic. Their
recognition by this government Was based
upon state OF facts I'm no way depend
ent for it's Justification upon aur action
I'm ordinary cases. Z have not denied. nor
do | wish 10 deny, either the validity
or the propriety OF the general rule that
new state should not he recognized as
maintain its Independence.
This rule Is derived from the principe
OF noninterventlon, and as corollary OF
that principle has generally been observed
BY the United States. But. like the prin
ciple from which Il II deduccd. the rule r.
subject 10 exceptions. and there are In my
opinion clear and Imperative reasons why
"A departure from n was Justified and even
required In the present instance. These
reasons embrace. first. our treaty rights;
second. our national interests "a safety;
and. third, the interests of collective
civilization.
have already adverted TO the treaty
OF 1896. by the thirty NTH article ~
which the United States secured the
right to a free and open transit across
the lsthmus of Panama. and to that end
agreed TO guarantee to New Granada her
rights of sovereignty and property over
that territory. This article IL some
times discussed as II the latter guaran-
tee constituted It's sole object and bound
the United States TO protect the sover-
eighty OF New Granada against domestic
revolution. Nothing however could be
more erroneous than this supposition.