The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-01-07


light by the people of the immediate
locality through which the canal was 90
ReW order T ~ of thing s and Which the Co
lombian authorities now recognize as De
ing so good that they are willing to prom
Use its unconditional ratification If only
themselves our friends and restore 10
those who have shown themselves IN
1 pass by the question as to what aSsur,
ance we have that they would now keep
their pledge and not again refuse 10
for, Of course, i will not for one momen.
discuss the possibility of the Unteo
States committing an act of such base,
Panama.
'"Third.-Finally the congress dehnlteiy
settled where the canal was to be bnlit
1t was provided that treaty should pc
isthmus Of Panama; and if, after reason,
able time. it proved impossible to secure
Nicaragua. The treaty has been mace;
for it needs no argument to show that
the intent of the congress was to insure
a canal across Panama: and that whether
the republic granting the title was calteo
New Granada, Colombia or Panama mat,
tered not one whit. AS events turned
not enter into the matter at all A.
though, as the months went by, II Pc
came increasingly improbable that the
resn tsa Wbeb WoEd be
equivalent thereto, yet all chance for
such action on their part did not vanish
October; and within, three days there;
Broken out Panama became an indie
ritory necessary for building the canal
then became obtainable. The condition
uunder which alone we could have gone
Of fulfllment. If the pending treaty with
Panama should not be ratified by the
senate. this would not alter the fact that
gress has decided the route. and there is
no alternative under existing legislation,
The president says that after the
ratify the treaty it seemed that the gov
eminent would have to go to the N1car-
aqua route. and that he had made the
along that line. This was one Of three
alternatives that confronted the govern
ment. Another was that the people OF
their own interests into their own hands
and establis.. a government competent
and willing to do its share In the con-
Cured, and made the reverting to the
Ncaraguan route unnecessary. and. In
fact, impossible under the authority Of
the president as vested In him Dy the
action of congress.
The president emphatically denies that
instigating of this revolution. He knew,
as all the world did, that such was I'M
minent, and the navy department nor LOOK X
interests, but nothing further. He gives
copies of the orders sent to commanding
officers of American warships, and their
various reports upon the situation. He
charges Colombia with virtually making
war upon the United States at Colon, ana
quotes the Fl Sasd
5. TO sustain this charge. In this report
Commander Hubbard says. in part:
Pending a complete report of the oc-
Colombia. l most respectfully invite the
date of Wednesday,, November 4, which
S War against St the Untted States by the
troops in Colon. At one o'clock, p. m. on
preconcerted signal, and on landing met
the United States consul, vice consul and
Col. shaler. the general superintendent
formed me that he had received notice
from the officer commanding the Colon
bian troops, Col: Torres, through the
Colombian Officers. Gems. Tobal and
Amaya, who had been seized in Panama
on the evening of the Sd of November by
We're not released by two o'clock p. m,
he. Torres. would open fire on the town
of Colon and kill every United States
action were requested: 1 advised that all
refuge in the shed of the Panama Rail
ible of being put into good state for de-
tense, and that 1 would Immediately land
such body of men, with extra arms for
of the ship would permit. This was
agreed to and 1 Immediately returned on
board, arriving at lis p. m. The order
for landing was Immediately given, and
at 1:3O p. m. the boats left the ship with
a party of AZ men under the command Of
Lieut. I1;H Commander i H. IN, M Witzel. with
command. Time being pressing, D.! gave
verbal orders to Mr.. Witzel to take the
building above referred f to- to put it into
protect the lives of the citizens assembled
there.not firing unless fired upon.
ing of the Railroad :ompany almost e tu im
mediately after we had taken possession,
and for about one and a half hours their
seemingly their purpose to provoke an
attack. Happily our men were cool and
steady. and while the tension was very
p. m. Col. Torres came into the building
for an interview and expressed himself
as most friendly to Americans, claiming
hension and that he would like to Send
the alcalde of Colon to Panama to see
Gen. Tobal and have him direct the dis
cial train was furnished and safe conduct
guaranteed. At about $50 p M Col.
Torres made the proposition of Withdraw
ing his troops to Monkey Hill, if 1 would
withdraw the NaShville's force and leave
the town in possession of the police until
the return of the alcalde on the morning
of the 5th. After an interview with the
United States consul and Col. Shaler as
to the probability of good faith in the
matter. 1 decided to accept the PROPOSE
ton and brought my men on board the
disparity in numbers between my force
and that of the Colombians nearly ten
to one. making me DESTROYS of avoiding
conflict so long the object in view
the protection of American citizens was
not imperiled.
II am positive that the determined at
titude of our men, their GOODNESS and evil
dent intention of standing their ground.
had a most Salutary and decisive effect
On the immediate situation and was the
initial step in the ultimate abandoning
of Colon by these troops and their return
to Cartagena the following day.
II feel that 1 cannot sufficiently strong
ly represent to the department the gross
ness OF this outrage and the insult to our
dignity. even apart from the savagery Of
the threat"
In view of the reports OF the various
naval officers in Panama waters the presi-
ing been too much provision by the Amer
lean government for the maintenance of
order and the protection of life and prop
erty on the isthmus. the orders for the
movement of the American warships had
been too long delayed; so long in fact
that there were but AZ marines and sailors
available to land and protect the lives of
American men and women. 1t was only the
GOODNESS and, gallantry with which this