The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-03

take to set on foot the revolution, or that
there was anything occult or sinister to
employ the language of the opposition, in
the course of the government. 1t had no
advices with respect to the contemplated
uprising which were not possessed by every
observer of passing events. In his mes
sage of the 4th of this month the President
says: L think proper to say therefore,
that no one connected with this govern
ment had any part in preparing, melting
or encouraging the late revolution on the
1sthmus of Panama, and that save from
the reports of our military and naval Off
GERS, given above, no one connected with
this government had any previous knOwl-
edge of the revolution except such as was
accessible TO any person of ordinary intel
ligence who read the newspapers and kept
up current acquaintance with public af
fairs
'This is a deliberate and weighty utter
ance; and it far outweighs all assertions
and insnuations of guilty knowledge on
the part of the government, in which some
have been pleased to indulge. No one can
misunderstood it, and ii will be accepted
everywhere as conclusive"
Continuing in the same line, Senator Fair
banks quoted Commander Hubbards report
the action of Colombians at Colon and
the necessity of landing marines TO protect
the railway and American interests.
POWER OF THE PRESIDENT.
Regarding the power of the President to
recognize, Senator Fairbanks said:
The President promptly recognized the
independence of Panama. He has the con-
sututional power to recognize new states.
He may receive ministers and ambassadors
from and may commission ministers and
ambassadors to foreign governments. He
does this clearly in the exercise of an ex-
ecutiVe function. In commissioning minis
ters ana ambassadors he must do so by and
with the consent and advice of the Senate,
put he may receive ministers and ambassa-
doris from foreign governments without
sharing the responsibility therefor with the
Senate or with any of the other depart
ments of the government. He acts solely in
this regard according to his own official dis
erection.
1.-THE hour when revolving state has Sc
cured its independence is question of fact
which each recognizing government must
determine for itself. When the President,
In his judgment, believes independence has
been asserted and secured. he may recognize
the fact. Recognition does not depend upon
the lapse of time, but il is predicated upon
the existence of an ascertained fact While
independence was for a time denied, it has
at last become an acknowledged fact, so
that there is little profit in the further dis
cussion of the principles upon which recog
milton is predicated.
1.-The government of Panama since the
revolution has been discharging its func
lions peacefully and satisfactorily The
people yield il their loyal allegiance. There
is, so far as we are advised, no domestic
discord.
Under these circumstances il is plain TO
me that We are treating with a sovereign
power, one which in fact and under sound
principles of law may enter into treaty re-
grant to us the requisite concessions for
inter-oceanic canal which we may right
fully enjoy
THE SENATOR'S SUMMING UP.
The senator next took up the question of
canal routes and showed that the President
was clearly within his rights in selecting
the Panama route because of it's general
superiority. In concluding Mr.. Fairbanks
said:
There are several conclusions which the
record seems TO establish. They NAV be
summarized thus:
THE revolution by the people of Panama
was due to a long series of wrongs inflicted
upon them by the government at Bogota,
and more particularly to the rejection of
the Hay-Herran treaty.
THE revolution was initiated by the peo-
pie of Panama and was not inspired by the
United States.
1T was the duty of the President to adopt
such measures as he deemed necessary to
preserve the freedom of transit across the
isthmuS and to protect the lives and prop
erty of American citizens and of citizens
of other countries upon the line of transit.
''The independence of Panama was ac-
compliShed by the people of the iSthmuS.
There was no vessel or armed force of
the United States at the city of Panama.
and only one vessel, the Nashville, third
rate, at Colon, only fOrty-two marines
were landed at Colon. They were landed
to protect the lives of American citizens
who were in serious and imminent peril and
were returned to the ship after accomplish
ing their purpose.
THE President recognized the fact that
Panama had secured her independence
three days after the revolution.
'In recognizing the independence of the
new republic the President acted solely
within his constitutional rights and in har-
mony with established precedent. The duty
of recognition rested upon him, and having
exercised IL his act became binding upon
the United States.
1.-The independence of the Republic of
Panama was recognized by France and
many other powers soon after recognition
by the United States.
within eight days after the first recog-
milton of the new republic she signed q
treaty with the United States, through her
accredited minister to Washington, grant
ing to the United States. the requisite con-
cessons for isthmian canal
when the Republic of Panama conclud-
ed the convention with the United States,
she was in the exercise of sovereign power.
She was discharging fully her domestic
and international functions and had full
capacity to enter into valid convention
with the United States.
Under the treaty of 1916 the United
States obtained rights and incurred obli-
cations in Panama. She obtained the right
of free transit across the isthmus and the
right TO preserve the freedom of such tran
sit she also guaranteed in consideration
of this right and other privileges the
sovereignty of the government in Panama
BY the transfer of sovereignty upon the
isthmus to the republic of Panama, the OBJ
legation TO guarantee her sovereignty
against foreign aggression rests upon the
United States.
IF the new treaty with the republic of
Panama is ratified by the Senate. the
United States will obtain adequate con-
cessions, rights and privileges for the con-
structon and perpetual maintenance of an
canal.
Mr. President. l have endeavored to deal
only with the more salient features of the
Panama question and those which appear
TO me TO be controlling. Much more might
be said, but there would appear TO be little
profit in unduly prolOnging the discussion
In one form or another the isthmian canal
question has been under consideration for
several centuries. The time for decisive
action has come. We have but TO call the
roll of the Senate upon the treaty with
Panama, and we will instantly set in mo-
ton the machinery which will soon accom-
plish the great desire.
"Others have said that this is an American
question. and SO IL is. Ii transcends the |
narrow bounds of party. Ii Is as wide "a 1
the ample limits of the Republic.
Who doubts i'm the present condition of /
a fairs that the Panama canal will b. built /
II will have back OF il the best pledge any /
vast undertaking can have. for il will have
the assurance Of the United States What /
we say for and against il will swiftly fade
away and be gone forever, but the canal !
he rich fruit of four centuries of hone and /
human effort. the colossal tribute Of orr /