The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-01-05

except such as were accessible to any
person OF ordinady intelligence who
read the newspapers and kept up a
current acquaintance with public
affairs.
BY the unanimous action of its peo-
Pile. without the firing Of shot-with
a unanomity hardly before recorded in
any similar case-the people of Pana.
ma declared themselves an independ-
cnt republic Their recognition by
/ this government was based upon our
action in ordinary eases have
not denied, nor do | wish to deny,
either the validity or the propriety of
7 the general rule that new state
shonld not be recognized as ndepend-
ent till it has shown its ability TO
maintain its independence. This rule
! IL derived from the principle of non
/ intervention, and as a eoroiary of that
4 principle has generally been observed
/ by the United States But, like the
principle from which it is deduced,
I the rule Is subject 10 exceptions: and
/ there are In my opinion clear and i'm
/ perative reasons why departure from
4 ii was justified and even required in
/ the present Instance. These reasons
embrace. first. our treaty rights.
second our national interests and
safety; and third, the interests OF
collective civilization.
In the light OF our present situation
the establishment of easy and speedy
communication by sea between the
Atlantic and the Pacific presents itself
not simply as something to be desired
I but an object to be positively and
promptly attained. Reasons OF con
: AlAlEncn- rn-heen- superseded by
reasons ol vital necessity, which do
not admit of indefinite delays, To such
/ delays the rejection by Colombia Of
the Hay.Herron teraty directly exposed
us, As proof Of this fact need only
refer to the program outlined in the
report OF the majority OF the Panama
canal committee, read in the Colon
bian senate ON the nth Of October
] last In this report, which recommend
ed that the discussion OF law to
authorizes the government to enter
upon new negotiations should be in
definitely postponed it ~ proposed
that the consideration of the subject
should be deferred till October 81.
1904, when the next Colombian con-
gress should have met in ordinary
session BY that time, as the report
goes on to say. the extension OF time
granted u the New Panama Canal
Company by treaty on 1893 would
have expired, and the new congress
would be in position to take up the
question whether tire company had
not. i'm spite of further extensions
that had been granted by legislative
acts, forfeited ali It's property and
rights. when that time arrives, +"
the report significantly declares. "the
republic. without any impediment, will
be able to contract. and will be in more
clear. more definite. and more adyant-
ageoiis possession. both legally and
materially The naked meaning Of
this report. lis that Colombia proposed
to walt. until, by the enforcement of
forfeiture repugnant to the ideas of
justice which obtain in every civilized
nation, the property and rights Of the
New Panama Canal Company could
be confiscated
suehfis the scheme TO which Il was
i proposed that the Uuited States should
be invited to become a party Tho
construction Of the cana; was 10 be
) relegated To the indefinite future.
while Colombia was. by reason of her
! own delay, to be placed in the more
. advantageous position of claiming
not merely the compensation to be
. paid by the United States for the priv.
r lege OF completing the canal. but also
: the forty millions authorized by the
! act of 1902 to be paid for the property
Of the New Panama Canal Company.
! That the attempt to carry out this
+ scheme would have brought Colombia
: into conflict with the government OF
! France can not be doubted; nor could
: the United States have been 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 sub.
! iected. On the first appearance OF
danger to Colombia, THIS government