The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-01-15
TILLMAN AND THE CANAL.
The Senator Tells Why he Opposes
the Panama Treaty.

Editor Spartsnburg Journal
have just read Your article i'm tht
Journal OF January 4, Senator Tillmar
and the Canal Treaty" l recognize the
right OF any of my constituents to take
issue with me and my course as Sena.
tor and TO criticise my public utterances
and actions. L also know that the
Journal has always been fair and usually
friendly towards me. / therefore feel
that it is due myself>as we'll as my con-
stituents who agree with you to say
something in answer to the editorial
in question.
AS to personal hostility to President
Roosevelt" would not allow SO petty
and ignorable a spirit as that l hope to
govern my action and L am surprised
| that you put it as one of the excuses
moving me. In brief want to say that
my opposition to the Panama Canal
| treaty arises from the fact that in NV
Judgment the actions of our executive
leading up to it, and the record of the
transaction as whole is the most con-
temptible and disgusting, nay disgrace
ful, in all of our diplomatic annals.
favor an isthmian canal and have no
choice Of routes, rather preferring the
Panama to any other because it is
shorter, but that a just government like
this should engage in the practice of q
sneak thief, and having obtained a pre-.
tense for action based on secession aud
then have the President utilize the army
and navy il the marines fail-and they
STAND ready to act when the marines
1a'l-tO coerce weak power like Co
lombia is something cannot endorse or
approve. There would have been some
palliation, some excuse, if we had, as a
nation, boldly declared that Colombia
was obstructing the progress of civilizl-
tlon and was bar to international COM
merce and then taken possession of the
lsthmus under the law of international
eminent domain and proceeded to con-
struct the canal without regard 20 conse-
quences. But the honor of the United
States is dearer to me than any benefit
that may accrue to the United States or
any part of it from the building of such
canal, and what ever may be the opir-
ion of democrats; commercial" or
otherwise, about ignoring the principles
OF common honesty and common. fair
play, l will never give vote as Senator
from South Carolina endorsing this in
famous policy, or making treaty with
one man representing nothing,
and using that as an excuse to coerce
Colombia from maintaining her sover-
eighty over the isthmus.- There is moth
ing but shadow of government in
Panama and no one can deny that.
This may be partizanship but trust
at least 1t is common honesty and hope
the people of South Carolina after they
understand, if they do not already un-
derstand my attitude, will commend it.
l certainly know as much about what
is going on as any man in South Caroli-
ma. Whether they do or not am on
the ground have no motive other than
that of discharging my duty as Senator
here, and shall certainly do that with
| the light before me without fear. favor
| or affection. If 1t meets the approval
OF my fellow citizens, shall be happy.
| If rot shall be content because as Sem
ator from South Carolina l do not wish
tto do anything that will reflect on thoss
of my great predecessors who never for
got the rules. of common honesty in
dealing with their neighbors and who
loved the honor of the republic more
than they did material advancement.
| Respectfully,
B. II. TILLMAN,
| United States Senate, Washington,
d. c., Jan. o, 1904.