The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-23
ROOSEVELT TARGET
FOR COLOMBIAN
ConSui-General Makes a Hot
Reply to Article On
Panama Case
SAYS HIS LANGUAGE
Is UNFIT FOR PRINT
Wants to Know Real Bandit
and Biackmailer in the
Formation of Canal
Republic

NEW YORK, Oct. 22.-The follow
ing is a copy of letter addressed
To foruner President Roosevelt. by
Senior Francisco Escobar. consul gen
eral Of the Republic of Columbia. in
reply TO the article by MIR. Roosevelt,
in The Outlook, on How the United
States acquired the right to build
the Panama canal" The letter was
made public here Tonight.
To Theodore Roosevelt.
Contributing Editor TO The out
look. New York city:
'Sir.--Former president OF the
United States have stepped down from
the highest position attaintable by
mortal man, to again become private
citizens OF this great republic. and
have carried with them into their re-
tirement the dignity OF Their office and
tho respect OF their fellow -countrymen.
You have" elected d different course,
and, by capitalizing your presidential
prestige as the paid empioye of "A
weekly journal. have forfeited the
consideration due to the high office
you once held.
You can now pretend only to such
respect as you az man deserve, i
say this To make il quite clear that
l am addressing you az an Individual,
and do not wish to reflect either upon
the government or the people OF the
United States, for whom ! have the
deepest respect and regard
Refers to Language.
In a signed article purporting to
show how the United States acquired
the right TO build the Panama canal.
you use language which any decent
newspaper would have hesitated to
print You say that Colombia had
shown herself utterly incompetent to
perform the ordinary governmental
duties expected OF civilized state.
You refer 10 the government of Co
ION hia as government by . success
sion OF banditti.' and as archaic des-
potism---inef ficient bloody and cor
rupt.' and in summing up your actions
as president. you declare. we did harm
TO no one save as harm is done TO a
bandit by "a policeman who deprives
him Of his chance OF blackmail
I'm default or argument. such Ia
the unseemiy language you use to
Justify the rape of the isthmGs ana
refute the oft-repeated charges that
] you dealt unfairly with Colon bia
/ that You violated a public treaty in
which the United States had pledged
| its honor as nation TO guarantee the
/ sovereignty of Colomhia over the 18TH
mus; that you recognized the fake re
public of Panama In defiance Of the
accepted principles or International
! law so as Ia permit your friends who
were Interested in the Panama Canal
/ Company TO put through their sac
GOO. o0e deal with the United States,
that YOU pros,ituted the navy OF the
United States To the same ends: that
you--bnt why continue the long list
i of unanswered charges? Instead of
answ ering them. you hurl insults and
ISLANDERS at the unfortunate country
| YOU robbed of her most valuable pos
/ session.
| Biackmailers and Bandits.
! When you speak OF blackmailers
and bandits. Mr.. Roosevelt. have you
forgotten tho ultimatum yoa sent to
Colombia threatening her with dire
results If her senate did not ratify
! without amendment the treaty writ
, ten for the attorney for the Panama
Canal Company? Have you forgot
ten the American marine SANDER by
! Admiral Glass and sent into the Atrato
region to YaNisa and Real de Santa
Maria Who was the biaekfnaiier and
| the bandit them Who has told the
| truth about this matter all along"
| Was IL YOU when YOU told Con-
gress that the people of Panama rose
| literally as one man. Was it you
| when you boasted that you took Pan
anna and let Congress debate Or was
| 1t YOU when you wrote that your
actions in this matter were as free
from scandal az the public acts OF
| George Washington and Abraham
Lincolu. and that eNarg action taken
was not only proper. but was car
ried out in accordance with tho high
est. finest and incest standards OF pub
| lie and governmental ethics?
! Il thing Colombia can safely leave
the questions to he answered by the
conscience of the American people.
] tSignedl FRANCISCO ESCoBAR.
! Consul General of Colombia.