Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-04

lombia into conflict with the Government of
| France can not be doubted; nor could the
United States have counted upon
| immunity from the consequences of
the attempt, even apart from the
| Indefinite delays to which the con-
struction OF the canal was to be subjected.
| On the first appearance of danger to Colon
bia, this Government would have been sum-
| moned to interpose, in order to give effect
to the guarantees of the treaty of 1915; and
all this In support of a plan which. while
| characterized in its first stage by the wan
ton disregard Of our own highest interests,
was fifty to end in further injury to the
| citizens of a friendly nation, whose enor-
nous losses in their generous efforts 10
pierce the 1sthmus have become a matter of
| history.
Recognition justified.
In the third place, confidently maintain
| that the recognition Of the Republic of PAN
anna was an act justified by the interests
! OF collective civilization. If ever a govern
| ment could be said to have received a man.
| date from civilization to effect an object the
| accomplishment of which was demanded in
the interest of mankind, the United States
| holds that position with regard to the inter-
| oceanic canal Since our purpose to build
| the canal was definitely announced, there
| have come from all quarters assurances of
| approval and encouragement, in which
even Colombia herself at one time partici-
pated; and to general assurances were add
| ed specific acts and declarations. In order
That no obstacle might stand In our way,
| Great Britain renowned important rights
! under the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and agreed
| to its abrogat ton, receiving In return moth
ing but our honorable pledge to build the
canal and protect it as an open highway.
| 1t was in view of this pledge, and of the
proposed enactment by the Congress of the
United States of legislation to give 1t i'm
| mediate effect, that the second Pan-Ameri-
can Conference. at the City of Mexico, on
January 90, 1902, adopted the following res
| olution:
| The Republics assembled at the Interna-
tional Conference of Mexico applaud the
| purpose of the United States Government
to construct an interoceanic canal, and ac-
| knowledge that this work will not only be
| worthy of the greatness of the American
people, but also in the highest sense a work
| of civilization, and to the greatest degree
| beneficial to the development of commerce
| between the American States and the other
| countries of the world.
Among those who signed this resolution
| on behalf of their respective governments
| was General Reyes, the delegate of Colon
| bia. Little could it have been foreseen that
| two years later the Colombian Government,
| led astray by false allureman of selfish
| advantage, and forgetful alike of its inter-
| national obligations and of the duties and
| responsibilities of sovereignty, would thwart
| the efforts of the United States to enter
upon and complete a work which the ma
| tons of America, re-echoing the sentiment
| of the nations of Europe, had pronounced
| to be not only worthy of the greatness of
| the American people, but also in the high
| est sense a work of civilization"
| That our position as the mandatory of
| civilization has been by no means miscon-
ceived is Shown by the promptitude with
which the powers have, one after another,
| followed our lead in recognizing Panama as
| an independent state. Our action in recog-
nizing the new republic has been followed
| by like recognition on the part of France,
| Germany, Denmark, Russia, Sweden and
Norway, Nicaragua, Peru, China, Cuba.
Great Britain. Italy, Costa Rca, Japan and
Austria Hungary.
| In view of the manifold considerations of
treaty right and obligation, of national in
| terest and safety and of collective cviliza-
| ton, by which our Government was con-
| strained to act, l am at loss to compre-
| in the recognition of the Republic of Pana-
ma only general approval of the principle
of revolution by which a given govern
ment is overturned or one portion of
| country separated from another Only the
| amplest justification can warrant revolu-
| tionary movement of either kind. But there
is no fixed rule which can be applied to all
| such movements. Each case must be judged
| on its own merits. There have been
many revolutionary movements, many
| movements for the disLiemberment of
| countries, which were evil, tried by
any standard. But in my opinion no
disnterested and fair minded observer
acquainted with the circumstances can fail
| to feel that Panama had the amplest justi-
| fication for separation from Colombia under
| the conditions existing, and. moreover that
| Its action was in the highest degree bene-
| fetal to the interests of the entire civilized
| world by securing the immediate oppor-
| tunity for the building of the interoceanic
canal. 1t would be well for those who are
pessimistic as to our action in peacefully
recognizing the Republic of Panama while
we lawfully protected the transit from inVa-
| sion and disturbance, to recall what has
| been done in Cuba, where we interviewed
| even by force on general grounds of ma
! tionai interest and duty. When We inter
/ fered it was freely prophesied that we in
| tended to keep Cuba and administer it for
| our own interests. The result has demon
| strated in singularly conclusive fashion the
| faisity of these prophecies. Cuba is now an
Independent Republic. We governed it in
its own interests for few years, Ill it was
| able to stand alone, and then started it
upon its career of self government and indie
| pendence granting il all necessary aid.
| We have received from Cuba a grant of
| two naval stations, so sit ated that they
| in possible way menace the liberty of
| the island, and yet serve as important de-
lenses for the Cuban people. as we'll as for
| our own people, against possible foreign
attack. The people of Cuba have been i'm
| measurably benefited by our interference
| in their behalf, and own gain has been
| great. So will it be with Panama. The
! people of the Isthmus, and as 1 firmly be-
| lieve of the adjacent parts of Central and
| South America, will be greatly benefited
| by the building of the canal and the guar
| antee OF peace and order along its line;
and hand in hand with the benefit To- them