The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-01-01
MARLBOROUGH, MARYLAND, JANUARY l, 1904.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

OUH LElEl FIJI.
WASHINGTON, d. c, December 29st.
Mr.. ED1ToR:-"A studied effort is ap-
parently being made to misrepresent the
! position of Democratic Senators and
place them in a wrong attitude with re-
ference to this NATTER This statement
was made by Senator Stone, democrat
from Missouri, in speaking of the attitude
Of his party on the question Of ratifying
the Panama canal treaty. He continued
II believed l would be absolutely within
the lines Of accuracy to say that with
possibly three or four exceptions every
Democratic Senator heartily favors the
propositions to construct an isthmian
canal. But there is a wide spread belief,
shared by many Senators, that the part
taken by our government in the insur
rection or revolution in Panama was not
honorable and therefore that the treaty
itself is tinctured with dishonor. What
Senator German is seeking to do, is to
have the President and Secretary of State
furnish the Senate with the facts show
ing the connection of this government
with the transactions out of which the
republic of Panama hiss grown. They
insist upon having the facts that they may
be better enabled to determine intelligent
ly and satisfactorily what their duty is in
the premises"
Senator Hale, republican from Maine,
condemned the course of the A~dministra-
ton, although like Senator Hoar, he will
vote for the ratification of the treaty. He
said, II do not like the situation and am
afraid it will involve US in an expensive
and profitless war, but I have seen no
way from the beginning, except to ratify
the treaty and make the best of it. Our
government moved rather rapidly and
with some provision when the insurrec-
ton broke out"
The republicans realize that it is in the
power of the democrats to prevent the
ratification of the treaty, for even when
out the instructions of their state legisla-
ture to vote for it, the re publicans a:e
still one vote short. They willfully mis-
represent the democratic attitude toward
the treaty in order to discredit the party
with the people. The democrats want
facts and an open discussion, while the
republican Senators threaten to continue
the consideration of the treaty in secret
session, so that the public will not hear
the criticisms of the Administration.
General Rey es, the Colombian emissary
at Washington, has presented his note to
Secretary Hay, protesting against the
action of the United States in recogoniz
ing Panama and is now awaiting his
answer before returning to Columbia to
take personal command of the army. "Be
patient and remember that war with
Panama means war with the United
States" is the substance of the cablegrams
which be has sent to his countrymen,
advising them strongly. against a warlike
course. The General sees the hopeless
ness of a struggle in which Colombia op-
poses the United States, and he is inclin-
ed to recognize Panama, and strive to
save what he can by having the question
of the division of Colombia's debt re
ferred to the Hague Tribunal. At the
same time he is by no means certain that
his people will accept his advice, in spite
of the fact that he is their president and
chief of the army.
Advices from Colombia show that the
patriotism of her citizens has been arOus-
ed and that men, women and boys are
offering their services and their money
for an expedition against Panama. Wo-
men and boys however are always loudest
in wal talk and this is no unusual phe-
1t is possible that their Latin
American recklessness, coupled with tie
ignorance of the United States, will lead
them to make war in which they would
get nothing but defeat and we neither
glory nor honor. The present Admins
tration may have to answer for this
natural consequence of its W. act.