The Yale expositor., 1904-01-08
PRESIDENT DEPENDS MS COURSE

Both branches OF congress convened
Monday and message from lresl-
dent Roosevelt on the Panama canal
treaty question and justifying the
recognition Of the new republic. was
read I'm the senate. The presidents
view Of the Panama matter is that the
only question now il. shall We build
the canalf" lie says: That the canal
itself was eagerly demanded 10y the
people of the locality through which
II was 90 pass. and that the people OF
this locality no less eagerly longed for
It's construction under American con
troll. are shown 10y the unanimity Of
action I'm the new Panama republic.
Furthermore. Colombia, after having
rejected the treaty Ia spite OF our pro
tests and warnings when IL was IN her
power 10 accept IL. has since shown
the utmost cagerness To accept the
same treaty II only the status quo
could De restored.
Having these facts In view. there n
no shadow OF question that the govern
ment Of the United States proposed q
treaty which was not merely just, hut
generous To Colombia. which our poo.
pie regarded ms crrlng. II ut all, on the
side uf Oyergenerosity. which was
hailed with delight by the people OF
the immediate locality through which
the canal was to pass. who were most
concerned as t0 the new order oi
things. ana which the Colombian an.
thoritlrs now recognize n being 80
good that they are willing la promise
It's unconditional ratification IL only
we Will desert those who have shown
themselves our friends and restore tu
those who have shown themselves uu'
friendly the power to undo what they
did.
pass by the question rs To- what as.
suraucr we have that they would now
keep their pledge and not again refuse
tu ratify the treaty " they had the
power; for. OF course. will not Tor
one moment discuss the possibility ui
the United States committing ~ act oi
such hascness n To- abandon the new
Republic of Panama.
! hesitate io refer 20 the lniuriou.
destinations which have been made oi
completely 10y This government iu thu
revolutionary movement In Panama
They arr as destitute ~ foundation as
81 propriety
The only excuse for my mentioning
them Is the fear lest minimizing per
SONS might mistake for acquiesccnc,
the silence 81 mere sclf.rcspect
think proper 10 say. therefore. that ne
one connected with this government
had any part In preparing. meeting. 81
encouraging the late revolution un IN,
lsthmus ~ Panama. and that saw,
from the reports ~ our military and
naval officers. given above. no one con
nectpd with this government had any
previous knowledge % the revolution
except such as was accessible tu any
person 90 ordinary intelligence wh'
read the newspapers and kept up =
current acquaintance with public af
fairs.
By the unanimous action 81 Us PEG
plc. without the firing 81 q shot-witl
unnnimity hardly before recorded u
any similar casc-the people OF Pan
anna declared themselves an lndepeud
eut republic Their recognition 10y this
government was based upon state al
facts In no way dependent for Us
Justification upon our action In ordin
AIRY cases.
have not denied. nor 10 wish {,
deny. either the validity or the pro
pricty 81 the general rule that . new
state should not Ice recognized as In
dependent till " has shown Us ability
60 maintain it, independence.