Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-05
The Message Has Not Alter
ed Democratic Sentiment.
THE CANAL TREATY
RANK AND FILE WILL CONTINUE
IN OPPOSITION.
The Administrators Course to Be a
Party Question-Senator Lodge
Supports the President.

Careful inquiry among democratic sena-
tors elicits the probability that the Presi-
dents message of yesterday will have no
effect in changing democratic sentiment
toward the canal treaty. Thus far 1t has
been impossible to find one democratic SEN
ator who is willing to accept the President 8
explanation of the Panama incident as
sufficient to remove his scrupies to voting
for the treaty. 1t seems likely that the
democrats will continue in opposition. for
the present at least, and until the question
is settled by party caucus.
Some of the southern democrats, of
course such as the Louisiana 81 Florida
senator's, will probably vote for the treaty
under instructions from their legislatures
or in conformity with pledges made to their
constituents. But the rank and file of the
party, according to the present outlook.
will continue to fight the treaty and talk
against 1t. This does not mean that the
treaty necessarily is doomed to defeat
With the republicans standing pat, as they
are expected to do. the votes of Louisiana
and Florida will ratify the treaty.
But there is every indication that the
democrats propose to make a party uues-
tkn of the Administrations course in the
recognition of Panama and to attempt to
hold the republicans up to criticism for
standing by the administration. In this at
utude they will be promptly mea by the re-
publicans, for, as Senator Foraker pointed
out in an interview in The Star yesterday,
the republicans are entirely willing to meet
the democrats on the issue as outlined in
the Presidents message.
A Long Period of Debt 10.
The Senate seems to be entering upon long
period of debate over the Panama question.
The tv ic haf0 ba fn hoc
1t has not been reported from committee,
and if it were up would be considered in
executive session. The Hoar resolution of
inquiry, however, is the unfinished business
of the Senate and can come uf, every day
to furnish a text for the discussion of
every political phase Of the question.
Leading senators on both sides are getting
ready for the oratorical contest. Itepubli-
cans and democrats are preparing speeches
analyzing the correspondence which mas
passed between this government and its
diplomatic and military agenfs, searching
history for precedent and otherwise equip
ping themselves for the battle which is at
hand.
Senator Germans Statement.
I'VE are looking for more ligs,t,' said
Senator German to Star reporter today,
when asked whether the treaty Hsald be
defeated in the Senate a.
This remark indicates the attitudy or the
democrats Of the Senate. Mr.. Go.nan him
self is constantly on the floor of the Sen
ate, and no remark on the treaty can
cape him. His declaration that he is still
looking for light is accepted as meaning
the subject of the treaty is still an open
one so far as the party IS concerned.
MI. Lodge Supports the President.
In the Senate today Mr.. Lodge began his
speech on Panama. He quoted number
nf oi,tf in nf Ia anotf ion,
that the President had not departed from
beaten paths In recognizing the Independent
government of Panama, and he laid down
the general proposition that "a revolted
state may be recognized as sovereign or in
dependent by neutral power without de-
parting from its attitude Of neutrality" He
also contended that such an act could not
be construed as provoking war.
The Right of Secession.
Mr. Lodge made reply to those who con-
tended that the fact that the United States
had prevented the secession OF the south
ern states in the civil war pdebars this coun-
try from recognizing any nation which has
come into existence through secession as
has Panama. This argument he deemed
unworthy. Really, under present circum-
stances, there could now be no formation of
new nation except by secession. The
right of secession is the right Of revolution
ana mas nOtnlnS TO DO with law.
He contended that 1t Is established that
new state should be recognized whenever .
new state Is sufficiently established to as
sumo international obligations, and when
ever recognition conforms to the dictates
Of prudence and good policy. He also laid
down as general rule observed by the
United States the fact that de facto gov
ernment Is the de jure government. He con-
tended that the recognition of any state Is
one to be determined entirely by the recog-
nizing poverty it's inclination and judg-
ment independent Of all other considera-
tions.
Many instances In which recognition had
been purely executive were cited, and the
senator asserted that President Taylor had
prepared to recognize the independence of
Hungary before government had been
established.
In the Case Of Cuba.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Bacon, Mr.
Lodge said he had voted for the resolution
declaring that ''the people Of Cuba are and
Of right ought to be free and Independent, -
but he said that. as there was then no
government in Cuba. his vote then had not
been inconsistent with his present attitude.
His contention was that the recognition Of
government is a purely executive func-
ton.
Replying to the objection that the Pres
ident had gone beyond his authority in
nominating minister to Panama, Mr..
show that the eaNy PresidentS made NOM
nations to other countries foE which Con-
gress had made no provision.
The senator then discussed at length the
action of President Roosevelt In connection
with the Panama revolt. de said that the
act of Congress had been an obstruction to
secure a canal at a certain p4int. No OBJ
lection had been made to thet -Herran
treaty, except that too great concessions
had been made to Colombia, and notwith-
standing these concessions, the treaty had
been summarily rejected by the Colombian
congress.
Colombia,s Course
Colombia had from the start sought to
obtain more money for the canal right, Mr.
Lodge asserted, and he quoted Minister
Beaupre's correspondents in support Of this
statement. Not only had there been an eff
fort to secure more from the United States
but there also was an attempt to squeeze
the Panama Canal Company.
This was the attitude of the Colombian
government, he said. and he called atten-
ton to the fact that that government had
taken that position after asking the United
States to enter into the negotiation of the
treaty He also referred to the effort on
the part of Colombia to secure promises
from Germany and Great Britain to take up