The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-01-08

those who I've shown themselves un-
friendly the power to undo what they did.
ance we have hat they would now keep
their pledge and not again refuse to
-ratify the treaty if they had the power;
Tor, of course, / will not for one moment
discuss the possibility of the United
states committing an act of such base
ness as to abandon the new republic Of
Panama.
'~Third.-Finally the congress definitely
settled where the canal was to be built.
1t was provided that a treaty should be
made for building the canal across the
lSthmus or Panama; and If, after reason
able time, it proved impossible to secure
such treaty, that then we should go to
Nicaragua. The treaty has been made:
for 1T needs no argument to show that
the intent of the congress was to insure
a canal across Panama. and that whether
the republic granting the title was called
tered not one whit. AS events turned
out, the question of reasonable time did
not enter into the matter at all. AL
though, as the months went by. 1t be-
Colombian congress would ratify the
treaty or take steps which would be
equivalent thereto: yet all chance for
until the ongress closed at the end of
October; and within three days there
after the revolution in Panama had
pendent state, and the control of the ter
ritory necessary for building the canal
then became obtaipable. The condition
to Nicaragua thereby became Impossible
of fultillment. If the pending treaty with
Panama should not be ratified by the
we could notrgo to Nicaragua. The con-
gress has decided the route. and there is
no alternative Under existing legislation"
The president says that after the
ratify the treaty it seemed that the gov
would have to go. to the Nicar-
agua route, and that he had made the
along that line. This was one of three
alternatives that confronted the govern
ment. Another was that the people OF
their own interests into their own hands
and establish a government competent
and willing to do it's share in the con-
Cured, and made the reverting to the
Nicaraguan route unnecessary. and. in
fact, impossible under the authority of
the president as vested In him by the
action of congress.
Report of Commander Hubbard.
Thu president emphatically denies that
this government had any hand in the
instigating of this revolution. He knew,
as all the world did, that such was inn
minent, and the navy department took
necessary measures to protect American
interests, but nothing further. He gives
copies Of the orders sent to commanding
officers of American warships, and their
various reports upon the situation. He
charges Colombia with virtually making
war upon the United States at Colon, and
quotes the report of Commander Hub
bard. Of the Nashville. dated November
Commander Hubbard says, in part:
Pending a complete report of the oc-
currences Of the last three days in Colon,
departments attention to those of the
date of Wednesday, November 4, which
amounted to practically, the making of
officer in command of the Colombian
troops in Colon. At one o'clock p. m. on
that date l was summoned on shore by a
p~reconcerted signal, and on landing met
the United States consul, vice consul and
Col. Shaler, the general superintendent
of the Panama railroad: The consul in
formed me that he had received notice
bian troops, Col. Torres, through the
project of Colon, to the effect that if the
Colombian. officers, Gems. Tobal and
on the evening Of the Sd of November by
the Independents and held as prisoners,
were not released by two o'clock p, m,
of Colon and kill every United States
citizen IN the place, and my advice and
action We're requested. I advised that all
refuge in the she'd Of the Panama Rail-
road company, a stone building suscept-
ible of being put into good state for de;
SNSh IVY "a AiSAtp - SAtAo liz lo1a
arming the citizens, as the complement
of the ship would permit. This was
agreed to and 1 Immediately returned on
board, arriving at lis p. m. The order
for landing was Immediately given, and
at 1:3O p. m. the boats left the ship with
a party of AZ men under the command of
Midshipman J. P. Jackson as second In
command. Time being pressing. l gave
verbal orders to Mr.. Witzel to take the
building above referred to. to put it into
best state of defense possible, and
protect the lives of the citizens assembled
there.not firing unless fired upon. . II
of the railroad ompany almost i'm
mediately after we had taken possession,
and for about one and a half hours their
seemingly their purpose to provoke an
attack. Happily our men were cool and
and while the tension was very
p. m. Col. Torres came into the building
fol-, an interview and expressed himself
as most friendly to Americans, claiming
that ma the " whole affair was a misappre,
the alcalde of Colon to Panama to see
Gen.. Tobal n have him direct the dis
of the show of force. A spe-
c1al train was furnished and safe conduct
guaranteed. At about $50 p. m. Col.
Torres made the proposition of withdraw
Ing ,,1i; his troops to Monkey Hill, if would
the town in possession of the police until
return of the alcalde on the morning
the bin. Alter an interview with the
States consul and Col. Shaler as
to the probability of good faith in the
matter, | decided to accept the PROPOSE
ton and brought my men on board. the
disparity In numbers between my force
and thai Of the ColombianS nearly ten
to one making me DESTROYS of avoiding
a conflict SO long as the object in view.
protection of American citizens. was
not imperiled.
| am positive that the determined at
titude of our men, their GOODNESS and evil
dent intention of standing their ground.
had a most salutary and decisive effect
on the immediate situation and was he
initial step In the ultimate abandoning
Colon by these troops and their return
Cartagtsaa the following day.
Il feel that / cannot sufficiently strong
" represent to the department the gross
ness of this outrage and the insult to our
dignity, even apart from the avagery Of
threat"
In view of the reports OF the various
naval officers In Panama waters the presi-
concludes that, instead of there hay
Ing been too much provision by the Amer
order and the protection of life and prom
erty on the sthmus the orders for the
of the American warships had
been too long delayed; so long. In fact.
that there We're hut AZ marines and sailors
to land and protect the lives Of
American men and women 1t was only the
GOODNESS n galiantry with which this
little band of men wearing the Amerfcan
uniform faced ten timfS their number Of
armed foes, ben on carrying out the atro-
threat of the Colombian command