The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-19

the Tyson Lumber company in Conee county, where he was held in peonage.
 Alexander D. Stephens, charged with causing William Brown, negro, to be held in peonage by S. w Tyson.
 E. L. Warren, causing Nick Ander son to be held in state of peonage.
 George Stephens, charged with holding William Thornton, a negro, in peonage.
 The Prestwoods are said to be wealthy and own much land in Coffee county. With superior force the United States pre- vented the landing of Colombian troops because even before the separtists move- ment was known in Bogota the United States had its war vessels at the entrance of Colombian ports, preventing the depar- ture of Colombian batallions, because without regard to the precedent establish ed by statesmen who have dealt with this matter the United States has not respected our rights in that strip of land which Colombia considers as a divine bequest for the innocent use of the Am erican family of states, and finally be- cause the government of the United States, invoking and putting into prac- tice the right of might, has taken from us by bloodless conquest, but by con quest nevertheless, the most important part of the national territory
 ''In this crisis of the life of my coun- try, as unlocked for as 1t Is terrible, Colombia rests its most comforting hopes in the sentiments of justice. which anil mate the government of your excellency and confidently trusts that the govern ment which has so many times surprised the world by its wisdom, will. on this occasion, astonish 1t by its example,
 Cites Article of Treaty.
 General Reyes cites the thirty-fifth ar ticle of the treaty of 1S46. providing that ~ltl it shall lay before the other statement of such injury. or damage, and concludes:
 Since the aforesaid treaty Is the law which governs between the two coun- tries. I propose that the claims which I make In the present note regarding the violation of the aforesaid treaty and all other claims which may be hereafter made in connection with the events of Panama, be submitted to the arbitration tribunal of The Hague"
 Secretary Hay answered this note under date of January 5. He says that the gov ernment has carefully considered the grave complaints made, and assures Gen eral Reyes of our most friendly senti- ments for the government and people of Colombia. The questions submitted, he says. can be considered only in the light of accomplished facts, of which one is that the republic of Panama has become a member of the family of nations.
 ''The department has read with sur prise," MT Hay comments, your repiti- ton of gross imputations upon the con- duct and motives of this government. which are said to have appeared in repu- table American newspapers"
 Reviews In Detail.
 MT. Hay reviews in detail, first the me- cessity of a waterway connecting the two oceans, and secondly all the legisla- tive and diplomatic procedure which has taken place to secure that end.
 Secretary Hay says the United States had faithfully borne during the long period i since the treaty of 1S46 was completed the full burden of responsibilities. Mean while the treaty of 1S46 remained unified and in the end 1t became apparent as has heretofore been shown. that it could be fulfilled only by the construction of canal by the government of the United States. By reason of the action of the government at Bogota in repudiating the Hay-Herran convention, and of the views and intentions disclosed in connection with that repudiation the government was confronted, when the revolution at Pan anna took place, with the alternative of either abandoning the chief benefit, which 1t expected and was intended to derive from the treaty of 1S46, or resorting to the measure, the necessity of which it could contemplate only with regret.
 By the declaration of independence of the republic of Panama, a new situation was created On the other hand the gov ernment of Colombia invoking in the name of the treaty of 1846 the aid of this government in It's effort. to suppress the revolution. on the other hand stood the republic of Panama, that had come into being in order that the great design of that treaty might not be forever frus- trated but might be fulfilled"
 Threatened With DesoIation.
 The isthmus was threatened with deso- lation by another civil war. Nor were the rights and interests of the United States alone at stake. The interests of the whole civilized world were involved. The re- public of Panama stood for those inter ests, the Colombian government opposed them. Compelled to choose between these two alternatives. the government of the United States in nowise responsible for the situation that had arisen, did not he's itate. It recognized the independence of the republic of Panama and upon It's judg- ment and action in the emergency the powers of the world have set the seal of their approval
 Under all the circumstances. says the secretary the department is unable to re- gard the complaints of Colombia against this government as having any valid foundation. The government of the Unit ed States. he continues, in common with the whole civilized world. shares in a sentiment of sorrow in the unfortunate conditions which have long existed in the republic of Colombia, by reason of the factional wars which have desolated her fields, ruined her industries and impover- ished her people. Would Gladly Exercise Good Offices.
 Entertaining these feelings. Secretary Hay says, the government of the United States would gladly exercise it's good of fees with the republic of Panama. with a view to bringing about some arrangement on fair and equitable basis. For the acceptance of your proposal of resort to The Hague tribunal the government per- ceives no occasion Indeed, the questions presented in your statement of grievances
 (contInued on Eighth Paae)