Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-20
TRANSIT OF ISTHMUS
IT'S SIGNIFICANCE THE sUBJEc1
OF DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE,
Mr.. Spooner Contends That New Crane
ada Surrendered Her Sovereignty
in the Treaty Of 1S46.

The Senate remained In session until Z
o'clock yesterday afternoon. the latter part
Of the day being occupied with a speech
of Senator Patterson on Panama
After The Stars report of the Senate
proceedings was closed Mr.. Quaries de-
clared the revolt of Panama in the interest
OF the canal to be the first movement on
the isthmus for the promotion OF the rights
of civilization for the past 100 years.
Closing. Mr.. Quarles announced his ad-
vocacy of sea-level canal. saying he
thought that such a canal should be con-
structed regardless of the time required
in construction or the expense to be in
CURED.
Patterson Opposes the Treaty.
Mr.. Patterson followed Mr.. Quarles with
an argument In opposition to the canal
treaty. He said that If the treaty should
be ratified whatever wrong had been COM
mitted would be condoned. II not ratified
our ships In isthmian waters should be
withdrawn and the status restored. He
defended Colombia being mot as bad
as painted and took the President to task
Tor his method OF speaking of that repub-
lie. He said the secession of Panama from
Colombia is as atrocious crime as would
be the rebellion of Wisconsin from the
United States
In the course of his remarks Mr. Patter-
son said that many disturbances have oc-
CURED iE the United States and among
others he mentioned the Chicago strike of
the past decade.
Mr.. Spooner interrupted and said that
the course of President Cleveland in send
ing troops to quell the riot had been con-
demned by the democratic convention of
1895
Mr.. Daniel took exception 10 the remark.
holding that those who had taken that
view OF the platform had misconstrued it.
Mr.. Patterson continued his discussion of
the Presidents course in Panama. He
quoted the President as having said in the
course of his tour last summer in speaking
of our course toward other nations that
the United States should speak low and
carry big stick"
He has spoken so low concerning his
dealing with Colombia" said Mr.. Patter-
son. that he could have scarcely heard
himself when he was giving encouragement
to the Panama rebellion. But whether he
SPOKE low or high. he has carried the big
stick. and Colombia has felt its weight"
Mr.. Patterson engaged in a colloquy with
Mr Spooner as to the extent of the grant
made by Colombia to the United States OF
the right of transit across the isthmus Mr.
Spooner contending that IL was an absolute
grant. ana Mr.. Patterson that il was mere
ly grant Of privilege such as a street car
company insures to he passenger who pays
his fare for passage. Mr.. Spooner could
not contend he said. that the mere grant
OF right of transit was a surrender of
sovereignty on the part of Colombia.
Mr. Spooner said 1t was a right and a
guarantee of servitude and that In return
the United States had undertaken to main
tain neutrality on the whole isthmus This
obligation had. he argued descended to
Panama
The senator's contention then is this
said Mr.. Patterson that that country
yieided the right to maintain its own
sovereignty over its own territory"
YES" responded Mr.. Snooner sa,ts,.;-
ously.
1T is too absurd" Mr. Patterson went
on. Tor the senator from Wisconsin to be-
m meve TOT a moment. Even he cannot be-
rese ,hat TOT single moment New
would have voluntarily surrendered her
oeminion to another power. with which it
mad negotiated treaty which, according
10 Its terms. might end in twenty years.
Spooner Denies Charge Of Inconsistency
Mr.. Patterson charged Mr. Spooner with
having abandoned his previous position re-
garding the right of the United States to
Interfere In Colombia's affairs In Panama.
Out MT Spooncr contended that his position
now was the same as at the beginning He
held now. as from the start that IL CoIom-
bia did not protect the right of transit II
was the duty of the United States to do So
Inc controversy between Mr.. Patterson
ana Mr.. Sp"oner was extended. and IN
They stood close together in the main aisle
OF the Senate. talking freely at each other
though at all times manifesting the utmost
good will.
The situation was contrary to Mr.. Pettus'
idea of parliamentary proprieties and he
rose to point of order. He designated
the debate as a converse ton, and made the
point that it was not in accordance with
the rules of the Senate.
The chair raped for order and Mr.
spooner. responding. said the senator from
all his own, he said and temporarily re-
tired. Not ten minutes afterward how
ever, the two senators were again standing
together in the aisle. The new discussion
was upon the point to the extent to
which the President was responsible for
Assistant Secretary Darlng's order to the
commander of the Nashville directing him
to prevent the landing of Colombian troops
on the Isthmus of Panama Mr. Spooner
essarily familiar with all the directions
given by the departments.
IT. responded Mr.. Patterson ut were
not for the unbounded admiration / have
for the senator from Wisconsin and the iin-
limited confidence 1 have in him, l would
call that mere bubble"
Mr. Patterson then suspended his re-
marks. and at 4:30 pm. the Senate went
into executive session, and at pm. adj
journed.
The Panama treaty. as amended by the
committee on foreign relations. was read in
executive session of the Senate yesterday
No discussion was had, and IT was an
nounced debate on the treaty would begin
today.
NETpOpr NEuS uorrT prrDn1c