The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-05
"JUSTIFlES' HIS ACTS
And Declares it the "veriest Travesty
on Right to Treat the Governments
in Possession of the isthmus as
Having the Right to Close the Gates
of intercourse on the Great High
ways of the World"
(By the Associated Press,

Washington, d. c., Jan. 4.-In ms
that body today, President Roosevelt
deals at length with the state of affairs
on the Isthmus of Panama preceding the
revolution there. He denies that this revo-
luton was inspired by the Washington
government. asserts that the attitude of
the Colombian troops toward our small
force on the Isthmus was extremely in
solent and claims, quoting the reports OF
Commander Hubbard and others, that uE-
der the circumstances, this government
acted with exemplary patience and moi
at once ratify the treaty with tanama
and dig the canal.
Tie text OF the message follows:
To the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives;
l lay before the Congress for its in.
formation a statement of my action up
To this time in executing the act enti-
tied AN act to provide for the con-
struction of canal connecting the waters
proved June 2S, 1902.
By the said act the President was au-
thorized to secure for the United States
the property of the Panama Canal Com
Pany and the perpetual control of ID
strip six miles wide across the Isthmus
of Panama. 1t was further provided that
should the President be unable to OBJ
tain for the United States satisfactory
Ia n.
Canal Company and the control of the
necessary territory of tle Republic Of
Colombia within reasonable time
and upon reasonable terms. then the
President should endeavor to provide for
canal by the Nicaragua route. IN.
language quoted defines with exactness
end precision what vas to be done, and
what as a matter 6 fact has been done
The President Yves authorized to go tc
the Nicaragua route Only if within a rea
scnable time nc could not obtain Control
of the necessary territory of the Repub-
lie OF Colombia This control has now
been obtained; the provision of the act
has been complied with; it is no longer
possible under existing legislation to go
to the Nicaragua route as an alterna-
tive.
This act marked the climax OF the ef-
fort on the part OF the United States to
secure. so far as legislation was con-
cerned, an interoceanic canal acrcss the
Isthmus. The effort to secure a treaty
Tor this purpose with one of the Central
American republics did not stand on the
same footing with the effort to secure a
treaty under any ordinary conditions The
proper position for the United States to
assume in reference to this canal, and
therefore to the governments of the 18th
mus, had been clearly set forth by Secre-
tary Cass in 1855 In my annual message
l have already quoted what Secretary
Cass said; but I repeat the quotation
here, because the principle it states is
fundamentals:
While the rights of sovereignty OF
the State occupying this region (Cen--
trail America) should always be re-
spected, we shall expect that these
rights be exercised in a spirit BETTING
the occasion and the wants and cir
cumstanees that have arisen. Sover-
eighty has its duties as well as lis
rights, and none of these local govern
mcnts, even II administered with more
regard to the just demands of other ma
tions than they have been, would DE
permitted, in spirit of Eastern isoIa-
tion, TO close the gates Of intercourse
on the great highways of the world.
and justify the act by the pretension
that these avenues OF trade and travel
belong TO them ard that they choose
TO shut them. or, what is almost equiv
slent, 10 cucumber them with such nm
just relations as would prevent their
~r-er2l use.
'.'he principle thus enuneiated by Sec
retary Cass was sound then and il IS
sound now. The United States has tn
ken the position that no other govern
luent is 20 build the canal In 1889. when
France proposed to come to the aid OF
the French Panama Company bv guarao
teeiIg their bonds. the Senate of the
United States IN executive session. wi,s
only some three votes dissenting, passed
a resoiu.ior as follows:
That the Government of the United
States will look with serious concern and
disa7provai upon any connection Of ary
European government with the ccns.ruc-
tier or control OF any ship canal acrcss