Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-01-01
BANTAM COLOMBIA
SEEMS DETERMINED TO STIR
UP A HORNETS NEST.

The American Administration Does Not Seem
to Evnce Any Disposition to Wait for
| formal Declaration Of War-Orders to Our
Ships Are to Prevent Landing Of Colombian
Troops at Panama by Force. and Then Wait
for Colombia to Make the First Act of War.
in Other Words to Peacefully Coerce That
Government to Do Our Biddins-Senator
t1oar Serves Notice on Roosevelt to Show
Cause Democratic Contention Tariff for
Revenue" as It Always Has Been.
CFrom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81, 1903.
War with Colombia resulting from
the action OF the Administration in
recognizing Panama and preventing
the Bogota government from suppress
ing the revolution, is by no means
improbable. Reports from the 18TH
mus say that there is the greatest
enthusiasm in Colombia, men and
women offering themselves and their
fortunes to the state for the purpose
Of retaking Panama. President Mar
roquin, in spite of the fact that he was
not reelected, has put his private for
tune at the disposal of the government
and his act has been emulated at b.
gotta. Recognizing the calamity OF such
a conflict, the European powers have
advised Colombia not to become in
volved in hopeless war with the Unit
ed States and General Reyes, the
newly elected President who is still in
Washington on his forlorn mission
sends the same advice. He has even
received hint from the Administra.
ton to return at once to Colombia and
do his best to prevent hostilities. AL
though he is convinced of the hope
lessness of the struggle and is com.
mander-in. Chief OF the Colombian
army, he says that he cannot answer
for his people not attacking Panama.
They have confidence in the justice of
the American people and feel that
they will not prevent them regaining
their territory. So it is quite possible
that COlombia's rash potriotism, COM
bined with the lack of tact and the
haste of the Republican Administra-
ton, will involve this country in q
Boer war in the tropics.
Admiral Walker. Chairman of the
Isthmian Canal Commission and re-
preventative of the Administration on
the Isthmus, has just returned here
and will make long report to the
President. w. I. Buchanan, the
American Minister to Panama, has ar
rived on the Isthmus and was received
by the officials there. He is soon to
present his credentials. Neither he
nor the Panama authorities evince
the least concern over the fact that
the United States Senate may declare
his appointment as Minister invalid.
The orders to our ships on each side OF
the Isthmus are TO prevent the land
ing of any armed force, but to wait for
Colombia to make the first act OF war.
Nothing is said about waiting for Con-
gress to declare war. The President
thinks this is quite superfluous.
| Alarmed by Senator Hoar's speech
and the hostile criticism of the united
Democrats, who have it in their power
to prevent the ratification of the canal
treaty. the Republicans of the House
have decided to aid their party in the
Senate and support the Administra-
ton at all costs. If the treaty cannot
be passed constitutionally by the re-
quired twe-thirds vote, the House will
pass a Joint resolution calling for the
payment of the money mentioned in
The treaty and authorizing the Presi-
dent to commence the construction of
the canal under the Spooner act.
Such radical action on the part of
the Republicans will not be necessary
as the Democrats will probably not
make use OF their power to prevent
the ratification OF the treaty. Mr..
Germans display of strength has
alarmed the Republicans and forced
them to expose the radical methods
they are willing to adopt TO carry out
their purpose; but the nation wants
this canal and while the Democrats
wish we could have obtained it in a
more honest manner they will not
prevent its construction, especially as
the evil has now been done and the
republic of Panama has been recog.
nized by all nations except Holland,
who is merely holding off until the
question of the division OF Colombia's
debt is settled.
Senator Hoar's resolution, calling
on the Administration to show wheth-
er it had previous knowledge Of, or
aided, the Panama revolution, is caus-
ing much annoyance to the Republic
cans. The Democrats insist upon de-
batting it, and the rules of the Senate
cannot prevent the speeches OF the
opposition. Now the Republicans
propose q measure quite as highland.
ed as that suggested by the House.
The motion to proceed to the consid.
Grafton OF executive business" is always
in order after the completion of the
morning business" and is not subject
to debate. To prevent publication OF
speeches criticising the Administra.
ton the Republican Senators intend
to continue the discussion in executive
session.
In . recent speech on tariff, Repre-
sentative John Sharp Williams. the
able Democratic leader of the House,
said that the goal in the tariff reform
race is not free trade but tariff for
revenue only, and that the change
should be carefully and gradually ef.
fected so as not to disturb industrial
and commercial conditions. He added
that the Democratic members of Con.
gress would make an earnest effort to
revise and reform the present iniqui.
tous tariff. Mr.. Williams is also q
champion Of reciprocity with Canada
and his sound and moderate views on
the tariff will attract many conserva-
tive interests to the Democratic party.
Officers of the State Department
fear that Russia is using her influence
at Peking to prevent the ratification Of
the Chinese Commercial treaty, which
recently received the unanimous ap-
proval of the United States Senate.
Russia objects to the opening of the
Msnchurian ports of Antung and
a Al.