The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-04

not alter the fact that we could not go
10 Nicaragua. The congress has decided
the route and there In no alternative
under existing legislation
When in August IL began TO appear
probable that the Colombian legislature
would not ratify the treaty II became In
cumbent upon me TO consider well what
the situation was and 10 be ready 10 ad-
wise the congress as to what were the
various alternatives OF action open to US.
There were several possibilities. one was
that Colombia would at the last moment
see tho unwisdom OF her position. That
there might be nothing omitted, Secre-
tary Hay through the minister Bogota,
repeatedly warned Colombia that grave
consequences might follow from her re-
lection OF the treaty. Although IL was a
constantly diminishing chance, yet the
possibility OF ratification did not wholly
pass away until the close OF the session
of the Colombian congress.
second alternative was that by the
close of the session on the last day or
October. without the ratification of the
treaty by Colombia and without any steps
taken by Panama. the American congress
on assembling early In November would
be confronted with a situation in which
there had been a failure TO come 10 terms
as to building the canal along the Pana-
ma route, and yet there had not been
lapse of a reasonable time-using the word
reasonable in any proper sense-such as
would justify the administration going
TO the Nicaragua route. This situation
seemed on the whole the most likely, and
as a matter OF fact / had made the origi-
nal draft OF my message TO the congress
with view TO its existence.
A CASE OF REPUDTATIoN.
II was the opinion of eminent interna-
tional jurists that In view of the fact that
the great design OF ourfguarantee unde.
the treaty OF 1876 was TO dedicate the
isthmus 10 the purposes OF interoceanic
transit, and above all 10 secure the con-
struction OF an interoceanic canal Colom-
bia could not under existing conditions
refuse to enter into proper arrangement
with the United States to that end, with
out violating the spirit and substantially
repudiating the obligations OF treaty the
full benefits of which she had enjoyed
for over 20 years.
Nv intention was to consult the con-
gress as TO whether under such circum-
stances il would not be proper to an
nounce that the canal was TO be dug
forthwith; that we would give the terms
that we had offered and no others; ana
that NJ such terms were not agreed TO we
would enter into an arrangement with
panama direct, or take what other steps
were needful in order TO begin the enter
prise.
A third possibility was that the people
OF the Isthmus. who had formerly cohsti-
tuted an independent state, and who un-
tI recently were united TO Colombia only
nv a loose tie of federal relationship, might
tske the protection of their own vital m
terests into their own hands, reassert
their former rights, declare their lnde-
pendence upon just grounds, ana estho-
lIsh a government competent and Wiling
~ x4yar
ilization. This third possibility is what ac-
tually occurred. Everyone knew that IL
was a possibility. but it was not until to-
wards the end of October that II appear
ed TO be an imminent probability.
Although the administration, OF course.
had special means of knowledge. no such
means were necessary In order to appre-
ciate the possibility and toward the end
the likelihood OF such revolutionary
outbreak and OF its success. II was a mat
ter OF common notoriety. Quotations from
the daily papers could be indefinitely mui-
tiplied TO show this state OF analrs;
verv few will suffice. From Costa Rica on
August 81 a special was sent to the Wash-
ington Post. running as follows:
San Jose Costa Rica, August 81
Travellers from Panama report the 18TH
mus alive with fires OF a new revolution.
II is inspired. Il is believed. by men who,
I'm Panama and Colon. have systemaucal-
lv enRendered the pro-American feeling 10
secure the building OF the Isthmian canal
BY the United States.
The Indians have risen. and the late fol-
lowers of Gen Benjamin Herrera are
mastering I'm the mountain villages. pre-
paratory 10 joining In an organized re-
volt. caused by the rejection OF the canal
treaty.
Hundreds OF stacks OF arms. oonfscated
by the Colombian government az the close
Of the late revolution, have re-appeared
from some mysterious souroey and thou
sands OF rifles that look susptciously like
the Mausers the United States captured
in Cuba are issuing 70 the gathering
forces from central points OF distribution.
With the arms goes ammunition. fresh
from factories showing the movement is
not spasmodic. but ie carefully planned.
The government forces in Panama and
Colon, numbering less than 800 msn- are
reported 10 be little more than friendly
to the revolutionary spirit. They have
been III paid since the revolution closed
and their only hope of prompt payment is
another war
General Huertes. commander Of the
forces, who In ostensibly loyal 20 the Bo-
gotta government Is said TO be secretly
friendly to the proposed revolution At
least all his personal friends are open In
dentnciation OF the Bogota government
10 ratify the canal treaty.
The consensus OF opinion gathered from
late arrivals from the Isthmus is that
the revolution In coming. and that Il will
succeed.
WHAT NEWSPAPERS SAID.
A special dispatch to the Washington
Post, under date Of New York, September
1, runs ss foilows:
B. @. Duoue, editor and proprietor Of
the Panama Star and Herald, q resident
OF the Lsthmm during the past twenty
seven years, who arrived today in New
York, declared that IL the canal treaty
fell through n revolution would be likely
TO follow
There is a very strong feeling In Pan
anna" SAID Mr. Duoua. that Colombia. In
negotiating the sale of a canal concession
in Panama, r. looking for prohts that
might just as well 60 TO Panama herself.