The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-01-08

! officers, given above, no one connected
with this government had any previous
knowledge of the revolution except such
| as was accessible to any person of ordi-
nary intelligence who read the newspa-
| pers and kept up current acquaintance
| with public affairs"
After thus treating extensively the
| events leading up to and during the revo-
luton the president refers to the recogni-
! ton of the new government by the United
by the unanimous action of its peo-
! pie, without the firing of a shot-with q
unanimity hardly before recorded in any
| similar case-the people of Panama de-
| clared themselves as Independent repub-
lie. Their recognition by this government
was based upon a state of facts in no
way dependent for its justification upon
our action in ordinary cases. l have not
denied, nor do l wish to deny, either the
validity or the propriety of the general
ognized as independent till it has shown
its ability to maintain its independence.
This rule is derived from the principle of
nonintervention. and as corollary or that
the United States. But, like the principle
from which it is 6educed. the rule is SUP
ject to exceptions; and there are in my
opinion clear and imperative reasons why
a departure from it was justified and even
required in the present instance. These
reasons embrace, first, our treaty rights;
second our national interests and safety;
and, third, the interests Of collective civiii-
cation"
Reasons for Ratification.
He reviews these reasons at considerable
length and justifies the speedy recognition
on either and all of them. He refers to
precedents to show that treaties conclude d
with one nation are binding upon the sue
1916 with New Granada was transferred
first 10 Colombia and now to Panama Of
tn second reason he says:
This recognition was, in the second
place. further justified by the highest con-
sideratiOns of our national interests and
safety. In all the range of our interna-
firm that there is nothing of greater or
more pressing importance than the con-
struction of an interoceanic canal. Long
acknowledged to be essential to our COM
the result of the recent extension of our
territorial dominion, more Than ever es-
sential to our national self-defense. :. .
In the light Of our present situation, the
establishment of easy and speedy COM
munication by sea between the Atlantic
and the Pacific presents itself not simply
as something to be desired, but as an OBJ
ject to be positively and promptly at
tanned. Reasons of convenience have been
superseded by reasons of vital necessity,
which do not admit of indefinite delays"
In the same connection he charges Co.
lombia with attempting to so delay the
ratification of any canal treaty as TO
place that government in position not
only to secure the $10,0O0,090 offered it as
compensation by this government, but to
secure the 100000 promised the Panama
Canal company for it's franchise aud
rights as well. By waiting until Octo-
Der 81 1904, the franchise of the Panama
company would have expired, and the
Colombian government be in a position
to seize its property and rights on the
mand of the United States the payment
to. that government of both sums. In
this connection he says:
Such is the scheme to which it was
nrOnOSQ6 that United States
be invited to become a party. The con-
struction of the canal was to be rele-
gated to the indefinite future, while Co
lombia was. by reason of her own delay,
to be placed in the more advantageous
position of claiming not merely the COM
pensation to be paid by the United States
but also the $4O,OOO,COo authorized by the
act of 1902 to be paid for the property Of
the New Panama Canal company. That
the attempt to carry out this scheme
fiict with the government of France can
not be doubted; nor could the United
States have counted upon immunity from
the consequences of the attempt, even
apart from the indefinite delays to which
the construction of the canal was to be
subjected. On the first appearance Of
would have been summoned to interpose.
in order to give effect to the guarantees
of the treaty of 1886; and all this in sup
port of a plan which while charart.r-
regard of our own highest intere~ c
fifty to end in further injury to the cit
liens of a friendly. nation, whose enor-
nous losses in their generous efforts to
pierce the isthmus have become a mat
ter of history
OF the third reason for speedy recog-
milton the president says in part:
I'm the third place. l confidently main
tain that the recognition of the republic
of Panama was an act justified by the
interests of collective civilization. If ever
oox,t 4ax,1I 1Nn e.otI bax,
ceived mandate from civilization to
effect an object the accomplishment Of
which was demanded in the interest of
mankind, the United States holds that
canal. Since our purpose to build the
canal was definitely announced, there
have come from all quarters assurances
of approval and announcement In which
even Colombia herself at one time par
ticipa ted and to general assurances were
added specific acts and declarations. In
order that no obstacle might stand in our
wav, Great Britain renowned important
rights under the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
and agreed to its abrogation. receivin~ in
return hnd tn but our our pedge
open highway.
THAT our position as the mandatory of
civilization has been by no means mis-
conceived is shown by the promptitude
with which the powers have, one after
dnOtner, followed our leaQ IN recognizing
Panama as an independent state. Our
action in recognizing the new republic
has been followed by like recognition IN
the part of France, Germany, Denmark,
Russia, Sweden and Norway, N4co.. :,
Peru, China, Cuba Great Britain, Italy,
Costa Rica, Japan and Austria Hungary.
I'm view of the manifold considerat .ons
of treaty right and obligation, of national
interest and safety, and of collective CIV
ilization, by which our govern.u.
constrained to act, / am at a loss to
comprehend the attitude of those who
can discern in the recognition of the re-
public of Panama only a genera ap-
prevail of the principle of revolution by
which given government Is owe. .urned
or one portion of a country separated
from another. Only the amplest justi-
hcation can warrant a revolutionary
movement of either kind. But here SC
no fixed rule which can be applied to all
such movements. Each case must be
judged on it's own merits. IN
been many revolutionary movements
many movements for the Acknowledgement
OF countries, which were evil, tried by
any standard. But in my opin' on no s.
and fair minded observer &C
quafnted with the circumstances can fail
to feel that Panama had the amplest jus-
tification for separation from Colombia
under the conditions existing, and, more
over, that it's action was in the highest
degree beneficial to the interests of the
entire civilized world by securing the
immediate opportunity for the building
OF the interoceanic canal. The
people of the isthmus, and as I firmly
of