The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-31
Senator Simmons FaVOrS
Ratification of the
Treaty.
Continued from First Page)


Nicaragua. which would in turn defeat
that provision of the act preferring
Panama Thus, in sticking to the letter
of the law regarding non-essential, not
only the purpose. but one of the most
important provisions of the law would
be defeated.
If, however, the President had no au-
thority to make this treaty under the
Spooner Act, he unquestionably had that
authority under the general power to ne
gotiate treaties with foreign nations.
Whether this treaty was made by the
President under his general powers or by
authority of the Spooner Act is inmate
rial, except as it affects the question of
an appropriation to satisfy it's money
stipulations.
President Mckinley, without legislative
initiative, made the treaty of Paris.
whereby Spain ceded to us the Philippine
Islands for s2O,OOO,OoO, and the appropria-
tion was made afterwards. In this view
it is simply question of whether the APP
preparations provided in the Spooner Act
would be available to satisfy the money
stipulations of this treaty, and the doubt
about that, if there be any, can be re-
moved by amending that act by inserting
pears.
I do not myself think there is any ne
cessity for any amendment of that act
But to remove all possible question of
doubt I had hoped that an amendment
to this effect would be made before the
vote on the treaty was taken, although
1 presume it would answer the purpose
if done afterwards l suppose such an
h
opposition anywhere.
do not think, therefore, Mr.. President,
that -Hay-Varilla treaty can be as
sailed on the ground of lack of power in
the President to contract as he has con-
tracted in this treaty with Panama.
Neither do I think what the President
may have done so far as present informa-
tion discloses in connection with the re-
volution in or the recognition of Panama
is sufficient reason. in law or in con-
science, for the defeat of this treaty, 9th
erwise altogether satisfactory
I do not want nor do I intend to dis
cuss this treaty from a partisan stand
point The people have made the canal
a non-partisan question, and we should
not drag it into politics.
On this side of the Chamber we have
vote on it according to our individual
judgment. If it has been brought into
politics at all, that has been done by
the other side of this Chamber, which is
solidly lined up in favor of it. Therefore
the statement I am about to make I shall
make In no partisan spirit, but simply
as statement of fact
Mr.. President, what has been done in
Panama has been done, and it can not
be undone. 1t was not done by the au
thority or under the auspices of the
Democratic party, neither could that
party have prevented it's doing, and
therefore it is in no way responsible for
its doing. If what has been done in
Panama can be undone at all by this
Government, it can only be undone by
doing a greater wrong to Panama than
has already been done to Colombia
Surely In any event the defeat of this
treaty will not either undo or remedy
that wrong.
I am not here, Mr.. President, to de-
fend the actions of the President, either
in connection with the revolution in or
recognition of the independence of Pana-
ma. There is much in his conduct liz
these connections of which / wholly dis
approve, which l regard as improvdent
and unwise as rash and dangerous to
the peace and welfare of this country; as
contrary to the traditional policy of this
Government IN its dealings with other
nations, especially those on this hemis-
phere, and as not calculated to advance
us in the affections and esteem of other
nations.
l do not think, however, that every
thing the President did in these connec
lions was wrong. From the bottom Of
my heart / would be glad, for the honor
of my country 1 would be glad, il l coulo
reconcile all of his acts in these connep-
lions with my notions OF right and law,
but !. can not and he honest with NY
self
When the revolution was announced to
the world, it seemed to me that The
President, to use the expressive term eff
the Senator from Maine (Mr Hale).
showed too much provision. and 1 will
add preparation for what that provision
enabled him to see would happen in Pana-
ma. But the President has assured us
in formal message to this Senate in the
most emphatic manner that he did not
consciously and Intentionally, in any way,
direct or Indirect, incite, encourage, or
promote this revolution.
The fact, Mr. President, that as long
ago as last August, when the Colombian
Congress had begun an unfriendly dispo
sition toward the treaty, there were NUT
terings of secession; that later when it
became apparent that the treaty would
not be ratified, there were thinly yelled
threats of separation uttered upon the
very floors of the Colombian Congress,
which later broke out into bold. open.
land defiant threats of secession, both at
Panama and at Bogota; the fact that
there was at Panama, long anterior to
the revolt, an organized band actively
engaged in the organization of the insur-
rection; that these conspirators had .un-
der the pretense of organizing fire de-
partment, organized military force of
over 400 picked men in the city of
Panama and arranged for the cooperation
of the Colombian general and the forces
under his command stationed in that city,
as we'll as with the commander and the
marines under him of one of the two
Colombian gunboats then stationed in
that harbor, tends to show that in their
desperation the Isthmians, acting on their