The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-04

imagined that such concessions would
agreed that the United States in con-
sideration Of its onerous guarantee of
New Grana dian sovereignty, should
possess the right of free and open
transit on any modes of communication
that might be constructed. the obvious
intent of the treaty rendered it unnac-
essary. if not superfiuous. in terms to
stipulate that permission for the con-
struction of such modes of communi-
cation should not be denied
Long before the conclusion of the
Hay-Herran treaty the course of
events had shown that a canal to con-
meet the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
must be built by the United States or
not at all. Experience had demon
strated that private enterprise was ut
terly inadequate for the purpose; and a
fixed policy, declared by the United
States on many memorable occasions
and supported by the practically unan-
imous voice of American opinion, had
rendered it morally impossible that the
work should be undertaken by Euro
pean powers, either Singly or in COM
recognized conditions on which the leg
islation of the congress was based, and
on which the late negotiations with
Colombia were begun and concluded.
Nevertheless, when the well-consldered
agreement was rejected by Colombia
sued, one of Colombia's first acts was
TO invoke the Intervention of the Unit
ed States; nor does her invitation ap
pear to have been confined to this gov
eminent alone. By a telegram from
Mr.. Beaupre, our minister at Bogota,
Of the 7th of November last, we were
informed that General Reyes would
soon leave Panama invested with full
powers; that he had telegraphed the
president of Mexico to ask the govern
ment of the United States and all
countries represented at the Pan-Amer-
lean conference ito aid Colombia to
preserve her integrity and that he
had requested that the government of
the United States should meanwhile
preserve the neutrality and transit of
the Isthmus" and should "notrecognize
the new government" In another tele-
gram from Mr.. Beaupre, which was
sent later in the day, this government
was asked whether it would take ac-
ton ito maintain Colombian right and
sovereignty on the Isthmus in accord
ance with article 35 [ofl the treaty of
1916" in case the Colombian govern
ment should be entirely unable to
suppress the secession movement
there Here was q direct solicitation
to the United States to intervene for
the purpose of suppressing, contrary
to the treaty of 1916 as this government
has uniformly construed it, a new re-
volt against Colombia's authority
brought about by her own refusal to
permit the fulfillment of the great de-
sign for which that treaty was made.
1t was under these circumstances that
the United States, instead of using it's
forces to destroy those who sought to
make the engagements of the treaty
reality, recognized them as the proper
custodians of the sovereignty of the
IsthmuS.
This recognition was, in the second
place, further justified by the highest
considerations of our national interests
and safety. In all the range OF our IN
ternational relations, I do not hesitate
TO affirm that there is nothing OF
greater or more pressing Importance
than the construction of an inter
oceanic canal. Long acknowledged to
be essential to our commercial develop
ment it has become, as the result OF
the recent extension of our territorial
dominion more than ever essential to
our national self-defense. In transmit
ting to the senate the treaty of 1876,
President Polk pointed out as the prin-
cipal reason for it's ratification that the
passage of the Isthnus, which it was de-
signed to secure, would relieve US
from a long and dangerous navigation
of more than 5000 miles around Cape
Horn, and render our communication
with our own possessions on the north
west coast of America comparatively
past five years have given to this con-
sideration an Importance immeasurably
greater than it possessed in 1846 In the
Hight of our present situation, the es-
Enlistment of easy and speedy COM
munication by sea between the Atlantic
and the Pacific presents itself not sim
ply as something to be desired, but as
an object to be positively and promptly
attained Reasons of convenience have
been superseded by reasons of vital
necessity, which do not admit of in
definite delays
Exposed to Delays.
To such delays the rejection by Co
lombia of the Hay-Herran treaty di-
rectly exposed us. AS proof of this fact
I need only refer to the programme
outlined in the report of the majority
| of the Panama canal committee, read
in the Colombian senate on the 18th of
October last. In this report which rec
commended that the discussion of a law
to authorize the government to enter
upon new negotiations should be in
definitely postponed, it is proposed that
the consideration of the subject should
be deferred till October 81. 1904, when
the next Colombian congress should
have met in ordinary session. BY that
time, as the report goes on to say, the
extension of time granted to the New
Panama Canal company by treaty. in
1893 would have expired, and the new
congress would be in a position to take
up the question whether the company
had not, in spite of further extensions
that mad been granted by legislative
acts, forfeited all it's property and
rights. when that time arrives the
report significantly declares, 1.-The Re
public, without impediment, will be
able to contract, and will be in more
clear. more definite. and more advan-
tageous possession, both legally and
materially" The naked meaning of
this report is that Colombia proposed
to wait until, by the enforcement of a
forfeiture repugnant to the ideas of
justice which obtain in every civilized
nation, the property and rights of the
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