Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1904-01-04

The people or Cnpa nave been immeas
urably benefited by our interference
in their behalf. and our own gain mas
been great so viii it be with Panama
The people of the isthmus and. as !
firmly believe of the adjacent parts Of
Central and South America, will be
greatly benefited by the building Of the
canal and the guarantee OF peace and
order along its line. and hand in hand
with the benefit to them will 60 the
benefit TO us and to mankind. BY our
prompt and decisive action not only
have our interests and those of the
world at large been conserved, but we
have forestalled complications which
were likely TO be fruitful in loss TO our
selves and in bloodshed and suffering
to the people OF the isthmus.
Ratification Only Question Now.
Instead Of using our forces. as we
were invited by Colombia TO do, for the
twofold purpose OF defeating our own
rights and interests and the interests Of
the civilized world and of compelling
the submission Of the people OF the 18th.
mus to those whom they regarded as
oppressors. we shall, as in duty bound.
keep the transit open and prevent its in
vasion. Meanwhile the only question
now before us is that of the ratification
OF the treaty. For It is TO be remem-
bered that failure to ratify the treaty
will not undo what has been done, win
not restore Panama to Colombia and
will not alter our obligation to keep
the transit open across the isthmus and
TO prevent any outside power from
menacing this transit.
II seems TO have been assumed In GER
tain quarters that the proposition
that the obligations OF article 30
OF the treaty Of 1876 are TO be
considered as adhering TO and follow
ing the sovereignty OF the isthmus
so long as that sovereignty is not alb
sorbed by the United States. rests upon
some novel theory. No assumption
could be further from the fact IL Is
by no means true that a state In de
claring its independence rics itself o
all the treaty obligations entered into
by the parent government. 1t Is a mere
coincidence that this question was once
raised in a case involving the obliga,
lions OF Colombia as an independent
state under a treaty which Spain had
made with the United States many
years before Spanish-American indie
pendence. In that case Mr.. John Quin
cy Adams. secretary OF state, in an In
struction to Mr.. Anderson, our minis
ter to Colombia, OF May p, 1923, said
BY treaty between the United statei
ana Spain concluded at time when Co
lombia was n part of the Spanish do
minions s'' the principle that free ship
make free goods was expressly recognized
and established. 1t Is asserted that b.
her declaration OF Independence Colombia
has been entirely released from all the OBJ
Legations by which. as a part Of the Span
ish nation. she was bound to other ma
tons This principle is not tenable. II
all the engagements OF Spain with othe
nations. affecting their rights and inter
ests. Colombia. so far as she was affecte
by them. remains bound IN honor and d
justice. The stipulation now referred {
lie of that character.
Treaties Do Not Easily Die.
The principle thus asserted by MI
Adams was afterward sustained by al
international commission in respect I
the precise stipulation to which he II
ferred, md a similar position was take
by the United States with regard TO th
binding obligation upon the indepenC
ent state of Texas Of commercial stipl
Iations embodied in prior treaties b.
tween the United States and MexiC
when Texas formed part of the latte
country. But in the present case It
unnecessary to go so far. Even II
be admitted that prior treaties OF
political and commercial complexio
generally do not bind a new stat
formed by separation. it is undeniabl
that stipulations having a local applies
ton TO the territory embraced in th
new state continue in force and ar
binding upon the new sovereign. Thu
1t is on All hands conceded that treatie
relating to boundaries and to rights @
navigation continue in force without
regard to changes in government or i
sovereignty. This principle obviousl
applies to that part Of the treaty 0
1916 which relates TO the isthmus Q
Panama.
In conclusion let me repeat that IN
question actually before this govern
ment is not that of the recognition 3
Panama as an independent republic
That is already an accomplished fac
The question. and the only question,
whether or not we shall build an ish
milan canal.
transmit herewith copies OF the Ia
est notes from the minister of the RI
public of Panama TO this governmer
and OF certain notes which have passe
between the special envoy Of the r.
public of Colombia and this govern
ment THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House, Jan. 4, 1904.