The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-20
A CHAMPION OF COLOMBIA.

Clark University Conference on Latin
America Tuesday evening, and pro-
posed that the United States widen the
Canal Zone to sixty miles and restore
to Colombia tho southern end OF Pan
ANA. Mr.. Harding drew attention to
himself first by an article in October
World g Work. 1t appears that the
editor of Worlds Work failed to
reflect the spirit in which Mr. Harding
wrote, and the latter in his speech on
! what he believed to be an unfavorable
impression. He declared that he was
not pleading for justice TO Colombia
and he held no brief to present her
claim. He insisted that his major con-
Germ and sympathy were for his own
country and that he bespoke settle
ment Of the Panama question in Justice
to the United States, "Does citizen.
ship impose moral obligation to up
hold your government In an immoral
tion is not at stake'" he asked his
audience, and he added, "for myself
refuse to subscribe to the dual standard
of morality, one code Of ethics for our
domestic affairs-another for our for
eign relations - Mr. Harding main
preaching unanimity in the view that
we cannot afford longer to ignore
weaker nation s demand that ITS case
be given fair hearing.
Throughout the speech Mr.. Harding
talks like the press agent of Colombia.
We hope that his advocacy of Colon
bia g claim is prompted purely by mo-
tives Of justice and patriotism. But we
fear that he will be target for sus-
pIcion as well as criticism Mr.. Hard.
ing's proposal to give back part Of the
stolen goods-if indeed they be stolen
lis grotesque. 1t is much like sending
back half OF stolen horse. If any
great moral obligation rests upon us to
restore what has been taken from Co
lombia, we should restore all or moth
ing.
The speaker demanded hearing for
Colombia in Washington, declaring that
deaf ear had constantly been turned
toward the demands for Justice made
by the sister Republic. tt is safe to say
that if the people OF Colombia are able
to formulate clear moral issue, they
will be able TO obtain a complete hear
ing from the present administration;
for President Wilson in various
speeches on Latin-Amcrican affairs has
announced that all our relations with
South America are 10 be dictated by
high moral standards.
Mr. Harding refers several times in
his address to the "sensitive honor Of
the Colombians. This appeal is not
apt to stir the American people to much
enthusiasm. They will recall that at
the time we were seeking to acquire the
necessary rights Of way and iurisdic-
tion for completing the Panama Canal
the ruling powers In Colombia were con-
stantly seeking to block us, At that
time they displayed the sensitive honor
of highwaymen. Not Huerta himself
has displayed moro insolence and de-
fance. Naturally it was great shock
to the Colombians, who thought that
they could hold up the United States
for many millions Of dollars, to find tho
Panama region suddenly wrested from
revolutionists and their new govern
ment promptly recognized by the Unit
ed States. At that time the action of
the United States government appeared
to be perfectly REGULAR, but Mr.. Hard
ing, who declares that he holds no brief
for Colombia. gives us an elaborate ar
g,ment to show that the administration
OF Roosevelt fostered tho revolution in
order TO secure the Panama strip
Mr.. Harding says: "In truth q
handful OF conspirators. nearly every
one an employee Of the canal company. |
and the real leaders being American |
were all who knew about a |
revolutionary movement until the |
blow was struck. If we |
seek to shroud the infant republic in |
an aura OF sentiment, can we find any |
in the sordid story of pur-
chased treason--so much per General, |
so much per Colonel so much per SOL
dier, with later a riotous distribution |
of easily acquired American gold among
the patriots of this soulstirring war Of
libertyH'
The American people probably would
have continued to consider the recog-
milton of Panama as an entirely regu-
lar diplomatic proceeding had not Col
onel Roosevelt, long after his retire
ment from the Presidency, commenced |
TO boast about his success in acquiring |
the Panama canal strip. While the
Colonel has never admitted that the |
government at Washington or any of |
its representatives, official or unofficial. |
instigated the revolution, his language
Mt times has made the American peo-
pie fear that perhaps the conduct of |
the United States in the Panama affair
was not perfectly legitimate and honor.