Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-04
Message on Panama.

AT 1890 message from President
Roosevelt was received by the senate
and its reading was begun.
Accompanying President Roosevelt's
message were copies OF notes eN-
changed between General Reyes and
the secretary of state concerning the
attitude of the United States in case
the Colombian troops should be Sen;
to Panama. Also copies of two notes
to the state department by the min
lister of Panama to the United States
With an explanation that he lays be-
fore congress information as to his ac-
ton In the Panama matter. the presi-
dent says In part:
by the said act the president was
authorized to secure for the United
States the property of the Panama
Canal Company and the perpetual con-
troll OF strip six miles vide across
the Isthmus OF Panama. /, was fur
ther provided that should the presi-
dent be unable to obtain for the United
States satisfactory title to the prop
erty of the New Panama Canal Com
pany and the control OF the neces-
sary territory of the Republic of Col
ombia. - Within a reasonable time
and upon reasonable terms, then the
president should endeayor to provide
for n canal by the Nicaragua route
The language quoted defines with eX-
actness and precision what was to be
been done. The president was authors
ized to go to the Nicaragua route
only IL within reasonable time he
could not obtain control of the neces-
sary territory of the Republic of Col
ombia' This control has now been OBJ
tained: the provision of the act has
been complied with; it Is no longer
possible under existing legislation to
so TO the Nicaragua route as an al
tentative.
The proper position for the United
States to assume in reference to this
canal, and therefore to the govern
ments of the Isthmus( had been clearly
set forth by Secretary Gass in 1858:
While the rights of the sovereignty
of the states occupying this region
Central AmeI.ica) should always be
respected, we shall expect that these
rights be exercised in spirit BETTING
the occasion and wants and circum-
has its duties as well as its rights. and
none of these local governments. even
If administered with more regard to
the just demands of other nations than
they have been, would be permitted,
in a spirit of eastern isolation, to close
the gates of intercourse on the great
highways of the world, and justify the
act by the pretension that these ave-
nues of trade and travel belong to them
and that they choose to shut them, or,
what is alomst equivalent, to cucumber
them with such unjust relations as
would prevent their general use.
"nhe principle thus enunciated by
Secretary Cass was sound then and 1t
Is sound now. The United States has
taken the position that no other gov
eminent is to build the canal. In 1883,
when France proposed to come TO the
aid of the French Panama Company by
guaranteeing their bonds, the senate of
the United States in executive session.
with only some three votes dissenting
passed a resolution as follows:
",rhat the government of the United
States will look with serious concern
and disapproval upon any connection
of any European government Will tsle
construction or control of any ship
canal across the Isthmus of Darien or
across Central America, and must re :.
gard any such connection or control
as injurious to just rights and interests
OF the United States and menace 10
their welfare.
When this government submitted 10
Colombia the Hay Herran treaty three
things ware. therefore. already settled.
"Ona was that the canal should be
built The time for delay, the time for
permitting the attempt % be made by
private enterprise, the time for per
hitting any government of antf-socia
spirit and of imperfect development to
bar the work, was past The United
SUITES had assumed In connection WIZ
the canal certain esponsibilities mo-
only to its own people. but to the civ
ilizei world. which imperatively de
manded that there should no longer b.
delay in beginning the work.
Second. While 1t was settled iha
the canal should be built without TN
necessary or improper delay, 1t was n
les clearly shown to be our purpose-.H
eeai not merely in spirit of justice,