New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-25

to build the canal, impotent to keep
order on the isthmus or to preserve IT
from invasion and from the dominion
of any Old World power, and at the
same time so ignorant of the feelings
Of the American people and of this
government as to believe that they
would tamely submit to eXtOrtlon and
blackmail.
Until the present proposed treaty
was negotiated by President Wilson
and Secretary Bryan | had not sup
posed that any American administra-
ton would thus betray the honor and
interest of the American people by
submitting oblackmail, but, at any
rate, the Colombian government was IN
error when it INDUCED in such sup
position about my administration.
What Colombia Did.
81 have no quarrel whatever with the
| Colombian people, and do not question
their fine private ualities. But IN
/ fourtuately in international affairs a
nation must be judged by the govern
ment that speaks for it. The then Co
/ lombian government was embodied IN
the person of a single man, dictator,
with absolute executive and legislative
power. He had been elected as Vice
resident. After a short time he seized
the President and put him in jail.
/ "He then published an edict saying
that under the constitutlon-for he
was an ardent adherent Of the letter OF
the constitutional was his right to
assume all the executive. powers OF the
government in the absence of the Presi-
dent. He refused TO permit Congress
to assemble. He then published an
other edict, reciting that under the
constitution it was his right TO assume
all Of the legislative powers in the alb
sence of Congress.
"Tbe absence of the president soon
became permanent, as he died IN jan.
Year after year went by and still no
congress was allowed to meet. So
elected. the vice-president continued
as absolute and uncontrolled dictator
embodying the ntire government, all
power Of Colombia.
"While this was the situation he
not only embodying, but being the
Colombian government, he negotiated
the canal treaty with US. Ten million
dollars was the sum stipulated to be
a III n Remember that the Colombian
government power which negotiated
Inc treaty was the same that ratified
or rejected it: it was merely one man
in two different capacities. And II
was partly in consideration OF tins
treaty that we adopted the Nicaragua
route.
But when we had thus committed
ourselves, and the Colombian dictator
that is, the Colombian government
thought il was too late for US 10
change, he decided to try to get more
money from us. He had absolute
power to execute the treaty without
the consent of his Congress; little
later he offered to execute IT without
the consent of Congress. But IN or
der TO give him a pretext he sum-
moned Congress, a Congress that car
ried out his orders without altering
them in the smallest particular, when
did nothing whatever except reject the
treaty and then adjourn. One OF the
speakers assigned the real reason Tor
their action with much frankness.
Tried to Hold Up L. S.
eve had agreed to pay the French
Company S40,000,000. The Colombian
government, in defiance OF its own
legislative act, proposed TO coniscate
the property of the French govern
ment, so as hereby 10 be in a better
position to negotiate with US; IN