The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-22
MR.. MORGAN ANXIOUS TO
PAY MILLIONS FOR THE
SILENCE OF COLOMBIA
Alabama'S Senator Makes an Ar
gument in Support of His
Annexation Bill.
SPEECH BY o. H. PLATT
In Defense of the President S
Action in Recognizing Repub-
lie of Panama.

! WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-Mr. Piatt. of
Connecticut, concluded his speech on Pan
anna to-day. He defended the course of the
| President throughout the Panama revolt
and eulogized the executive personally as
brave and fearless
During the morning hour Mr.. Morgan
spoke in explanation of his bill for the an
neXation of Panama TO the United States,
basing his argument on the ground that the
/ pending canal treaty practically contem-
plated that result. He spoke of the difficult
ties which the country has encountered in
Panama, saying that they are not of the
country's seeking, but were due to the pre-
cipitancy of the President of the United
| States. 1t was, however, impossible TO undo
what had been done. and he contended that
further proceedings should be in accordance
| with legislation. In order TO get rid of the
/ consequences of our acts must make. he
said, some equitable ARRANGEMENT with Pan
! anna. for it was not to be supposed that CO.
! lombia meant to submit calmly If he ar
gued, we are to build a canal in Panama,
! we must have the good Will of Colombia, for
! without 1t the obstacles of disease and out
/ laWry Will be infinitely increa sed." Mr.. Nor
gan made appeal to the nswspapers to
use their utmost endeaVOrs to secure nfor-
nation concerning the situation, saying
! there was no probability that any resolution
would elicit new information from the ex
ecutlVe department.
Mr.. Morgan predicted that the President
! would not be able TO secure further appro-
| priatiOns. Indeed, he said II don't be-
! HeVe that he wants appropriations. 1t is
better for campaign purposes that legisla-
ton on the canal question should consist of
| promises only" He said that he had insert
ed in his bill the provision for the payment
! OF Sl5,W0,O0 for the pacification of Colon
bia, because he had heard the President had
/ entered into agreement for the payment
of that sum for that purpose. He had in
! serted this provision as we'll as the others
in the interest of peace and good will and in
! crued rights. 1t was intended to meet the
| emergency; he hoped it would be so accepted
by all persons concerned.
MR.. PLATT'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Platt in the course of his speech,
defended the President against the charge
of committing an act of war or even act
of Intervention, denying that his acts, in
connection with the Panama revolution,
amounted to either. 1T is easy he said.
TO make charges and talk in an excited
way. We want specifications. and it is time
! for senators who talk of acts of and
of Intervention to tell us what an act of
war Is and what act of the President in this
case amounts to war or Intervention. 1t
is acts of which we are speaking, and we
are not concerned with what the President
thinks or wants."
The charges that the President knew of
the revolution and had connived al it placed
him in a position he ought not TO be placed
in and in a position which it was necessary
to deny, said Mr.. Platt. 1t amounted to a
national disgrace that such charges were
| made. One thing about the President was
that the people believed him honest; that
he was man who made no concealment
of his views and acts. He was a man
| who did what he believed to be right
The President had met the charges and
| inSinuationS in a message TO Congress. Had
| he been President, said Mr.. Platt he would
| not have done It, but the President de-
cided to rest his claim with the American
people.
Mr. Tillman asked if the attitude of the
| Colombian forces was not in the nature of
"a dicker or badger to increase the price
of going"
Mr.. Platt replied that Mr.. Hubbard and
| his forty-two men had nothing to do with
| the buying of the departure of the Colom-
bian troops. He added that he had seen
| the newspaper report that the American
| vice consul who was not an American citi-
zen, had supplied money to secure Tor
it did not involve the completely of the gov
! eminent of the United States. The act of
Colonel Black In raising the flag of the
| Panama nation was defended on the ground
that he was engaged at the time in civilian
| duty and raised the flag after the gov
| eminent was formed. There could be- he
added, no difficulty in accepting the theory
of good faith in those matters if senators
wanted a canal at Panama and did not
! want it at Nicaragua.
Il want a canal at Panama." responded
! Mr. Tillman IF we don't have to steal it -
To this expression Mr.. Plat took excep-
| ton as unworthy.
ACT OF A BRAVE MAN.
Speaking of the Presidents recognition of
the new republic. Mr.. Plat said: 1.-The act
stands out as that of a brave and fearless
man-as that of a man who is neither rash
or impetuous. He did the right thing at the
right time, the thing which will insure the
building Of the canal which has been long
delayed. We will ratify the treaty; we will
| build the canal, and when the ships of the
whole world, with their cargoes, are ira
versing it, these criticisms. these attacks,
| these vituperations will be forgotten, and
| no matter what Mr.. Roosevelt may do in the
present or any other term of office, this act
will stand forth as the greatest of his ca
| reer
With this Mr. Platt closed and Mr.. Till
man was recognized to read the Ostend
manifesto and the comment made on it by
the Republican platform of 1856 He con-
tended that the policy of the present admin
istration was that might makes right. 1T
is he said, 1.-The doctrine of the wolf in
Aesops fable, that whether the stream
runs up or down, | am above you and 1 want
you for supper " He declared our course
in Panama to be simply greedy and dirty
Mr. Teller spoke in reply to Mr.. Platt's
| reference to the criticisms of the President
and said he CTeler) had not reached the
point that 1.-The king can do no wrong" AS
for himself he was going to vote against the
treaty because ii had been negotiated with
a combination of men who had no right to
make it. If the treaty should be ratified he
would accept it as the law of the land but
until that was done he would exercise his
right as a senator to oppose it, even though
he thereby should win executive disfavor.
He did not doubt the right of the President
to recognize the independence of Panama,
but If he did not exercise just discrimination
he was subject to criticism
Mr.. Teller said that no criticism had been
made of the sending of our warships to Pan
anna, but the criticism had been directed at
the Presidents utterances In encouragement
of the Panama revolt.
When, at 4:05 p. m Mr.. Teller concluded.
the Senate went into executive session, and
at AIS p. m. adjourned.
MORGAN',S ANNEXATION