The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-25
WILSON HAS SUBMITTED TO
COLOMBIA BLACKMAIL. 1T. r.


snce started up the harbor. taking the
Colonel to oyster Bay
The Colonel made the following formal
statement before boarding the yacht:
The payment OF twenty-five millions 10
Colombia, together with the expression Of
what Is IN effect an apology for our hav.
ing secured the right to build the Panama
Canal Is merely the belsted payment OF
blackmall with an apology to the black
nallers II this proposed treaty submitted
by President Wilson through Mr.. Bryan
Is right then our presence on the Isthmus
II wrong. In such case Panama should
a once be restored to Colombia and we
should stop work on the canal and
abandon the place bag and baggage.
There should be no half way measure
IF we as nation have been guilty Of
theft we should restore the stolen goods,
n we have not been guilty Of theft we
should n6 pay blackmall. Tne handling
Of our foreign affairs by President Wilson
and Secretary Bryan has been such as
to make the United states a figure OF fun
In tho International world
says Treaty Caps tIimsH.
This proposed Colombian treaty caps
the climax. and II ratne1 1t will rightly
render US an object OF contempuous de-
rision to every great nation.
I'm view " its submission 10 the Con-
Gress I wish to call attention TO exactly
what was done under my Administration.
Because OF the action of that Adminstra-
lion the people OF the United states ae-
auired what they could by no other means
nave acquired. the right ~ build the
Panama Canal.
I'm 1908 1t was still doubtful whether
we would adop; the Nicaragua or the
Panama route. The Government 90 CO.
lombia was exceedingly anxious shat we
should adop' the latter and offered - ar
range and did arrange q treaty with Us in
order 30 prevent our going 10 Nicaragua.
Partly in consideration OF this treaty We
abandoned negotiations with Nicaragua.
We acted IA good fdith and the course OF
action We thereby entered upon was con-
dhioned upon their proposal. their prom
ise
1T was our right and also our duty to
our own people and o. the rest OF the
world to enact the performance OF this
promise. For fOir hundred years there
had been conversation about the need OF
the Panama CANA The time for further
conversation had passed. The time 20
translate words into deeds had come.
"If had followed President Wilson's
policy Of watchful waiting It would have
insured half century of additional con-
v.rsaton and TIA, ,ausl would still be In
49,.
the then Administration acted precisely as
Il did act that We now have the Panama
Canal The interests " she civilized peo-
pie Of the world demanded the construc-
ton OF the canal.
In Honor Hound 10 But1d.
"Events had SHOWN that IL could not be
built By private concern. We as q ma
ton would not permit il 10 be built by
a foreign Government Therefore we were
in honor bound to build IL ourselves We
were IN honor bound not 10 permit the
great enterprise 80 essential TO our own
well being ana frausht with such useful
ness to all the nations OF mankind TO be
arrested by the corrupt greed " dow
ernment ana inpot-nt itsel: TO build the
canal impOtent 20 keep orde. on the
lsthmus OF TO preserve it rom inva sion
and from tn, dominion vi any Old World
Power and at the same time so ignorant
OF the feelings OF the American people
and Of this Cove nment 10 believe that
they would t1m"iy submit TO eXtorton
and blachmal.
Until the present proposed treaty was
negotiated Dy President Wilson ana Sec
rotary Bryan had not supposed that any
American Administration would thus be-
AN al no.
Gall pcopl. by submitting To blackmail, but
a. any rate the Colombian Government
was In error when It INDUCED IN such =
supposition about my Administration.
Dictator In Control.
~ have no quarrel whatever with the
Colombian people ana do lot question
their fine private qualities. But unfor-
tunately in International affairs a nation
must be Judged by the Government that
speaks for 1t. The then Colombian GOV
eminent was embodied IN the person VI
single man, dictator with absolute
executive and legislative powell. He had
been elected Vice President and after a
short time lie seized the President and
put him In jail
He then published al -dict saying
that under the Constitution for ne was
al ardent adherent TO the letter OF the
Constitution, 1t was his right 10 assume
In the absence Of the President. He re-
fused to permit Congress to assemble. lie
then published another edict reclting that
under the Constitution II was his right 10
assume all OF the legislative powers In
the absence OF Congress.
The absence OF ~ President soon be-
came permanent, as he died in Jail Year
after wear went by and stlll no Congress
was allowed to meet so the elected Vice
President continued as absolute and un-
controlled dictator embodyns the entire
governmental power of Colombia
Tried 10 Get More Mone..
while this was the situation he not
only embOdying but being the Colombian
Government negotiated the canal treaty
with US Ten million dollars was the sum
stipulated 10 be paid. Remember that the
Colombian governmental power which ne
gotiated the treaty was the same that rati-
tied or rejected IL II was merely one man
in two different capacities.
And 1t was partly in consideration Of
this treaty that We abandoned the Near
aqua route But when We hat thus com
mlttpa ourselves and - ,olntp him Il