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

other words, be able to get this S4O,-
100000 from US.
incidentally, I would call the at
tention of President Wilson and Sec
retary BRYAN to the fact that this
$4,000. 5000 represents the exact sum
which Colombia lost when the United
States govrnment Of that day refused
to submit to blackmail. They now
only propose to pay S25,O00,000 black
mail. They had better make the job
thorough while they are about it, and
give the whole forty millions. Other
wise they will still leave an opening
for action by some future administra-
ton of similar mushy amiability tow
ards foreign powers that have sought
to wrong US.
"There is no earthly reason why we
should not thrown in. the extra fifteen
millions if we propose to pay the TWEEN
ty-fve. Colombia has exactly as much
right to one sum as the other. vi
course. France would not have sub
mitted to the proposed robbery. |
made up my mind that if we waited
we would have on the Isthmus a great
Old World power, which would have a
right to be there, because we would
have lost our own rights through our
supine folly and in such case, in other
words, if.I had acted on the Wilson
Bryan theory all chance Of our build
ing the canal would have vanished into
thin air
"The case demanded immediate and
decisive action. | took this action.
/ Taking the action meant taking the
Canal Zone and building the canal
Failure to take the action would have
meant that the Canal Zone would not
have been taken and that the canal
would not have been built. Panama re-
garded itself as having suffered and
in fact, had suffered an intolerable
wrong. The building Of the canal was
vital to her wellbeing.
Recognized Panama.
Columbia had been an unsympathetic
and incompetent master, pOwerless
even to keep order in the territory
which it had ruled and oppressed. Dur
ing the preceding fifty years there had
been tifty-three revolutions on the
Isthmus, and on score of occasions
we had been obliged to land our troops
TO protect our treaty rights and the
lives and property of Americans and
other foreigners.
Panama declared her independence,
her citizens acting with absolute unani-
nifty. We promptly acknowledged her
independence. She forthwith concluded
with us treaty substantially like that
we had negotiated with Columbia, for
the same sum of money. We then i'm
mediately took the Canal Zone and
began the construction of the canal.
I'VE did not in the smallest degree
iastigate the revolution. The people
Of Panama were a unit in demanding
the revolution. We never fired shot
~ any Colombian. The molly act o.
ours which could in any measure be
construed as hostile TO Colombia vas
our landing sailors and marines on the
lsthmus 10 protect the lives o. Amer
can women and children. and IN TINS
matter we merely did what had oeeh
done in at least twenty Of the prevlo -
ffty-three revolutions.
"As soon as the revolution was Al
accomplished fact, and when II was OF
course, too late, Columbia endeavorrd
to undo her actions. Her President o.
fered TO ratify the original treaty
either by calling a congress: which
he would guarantee would ratify IL, or
else by ratifying it himself IN the ao-
sence of Congress, if ] preferred
Wouldn't Yield to Blackmail.
"Ths alteEative offer demonstrated
with mathematical certainty his pre-
vious power to carry out the treaty ~;
had himself previously made and said
he could not carry out OF course, orr
government could not az that late date
Yield 70 his request, as IL would nave
been treachery to Panama.
"As President / declined TO allow
Uncle Sam TO be blackmailed., Presi,
dent Wilson now desires the blaekmali