Arizona republican., 1916-02-05
The Colombian Treaty

There was never more despcable legislation at tempted in the congress of the United States than the ratification of the treaty with Colombia, involving the payment to Colombia of s25,oOO,OOO for it's rights in the Panama canal site and for the loss of Panama an incident attending the securing by this country of right of way the isthmus While this pay ment was proposed a part of a plan for fishing Pan-American amity, had it's origin in fac uonal American politics and it has been continued as an issue in partisan politics.
 It conceived in the latter part of the Taft administration attack upon Colonel Roosevelt and was intended be an expression of criticism of his acts leading up the securing from the newly established republic of Panama of way the isthmus. It very naturally seized upon by the democratic administration which actually negotiated the treaty with Colombia nearly years ago. But there has not yet been quite enough partisan ship in the senate perhaps there has been little too much Americansm secure it's ratification.
 There is not, really pretense of justice in the proposed payment of s25 $15 900 900; to which it is now proposed to reduce the payment As Minister Betancourt of Colombia rightly claims the loss of his country in way, amounted to more than ten times $25 1000 OOO Such a payment as s25- 100000, therefore would be neither justice nor would the hasglins be calculated contribute to Pan-Amer- ican amty. If Colombia anything we owe it for all the territory included republic of Pan anna; it for the canal rights we now eniov we owe it for the dues from the payment of which We have been exempted Minister Betancourt claims during many by freedom of transit the isthmus' If we owe Colombia anything all and we should pay it in princely spirit and grudgingly like nation of sharp traders trying to scale our debt down the lowest possible figure
 We ourselves have opened this negotiation: we proposed the payment though doubtless it was sug- gesed to us by private parties who expected a share of any payment that might be made the form of commission. In these circumstances we could not have been expected to act in prncely manner The politicians who have gone about this matter must have felt like sneaks rather than princes It is lit tie wonder that senate, democratic as it is has hestaed far to ratfy the treaty which proposes d voluntary national acknowledgment of a disgraceful act against weak government.
 Colombia lay like dog in the manager when we were seeking way the isthmus It's govern ment was corrupt It was administered only for the benefit of those in The people of the isthmus derived benefit from it. They received nothing in return for the wrung from them The jungle was in possession of the land inert to have re- vocd against this of things they were aroused at the prospect of becoming d part the world The canal held out before them. A revolution was natural and naturally, it was successful against the corrupt Colombian government.
 We cannot say that the people of Panama were encouraged to revolt but say that there has been no evidence to show that they unlawfully aided though, considering the attitude of Colombia toward the canal project, which promised so much for all the world, believe it would have been a righteous act to by force if necessary what obstruction lay in the way
 We had had the canal in mind for many years It remained for MT Roosevelt to make it a fact If Mir Wilson Mr. Taft had been president then and since, there would be canal now. We may add that if either of those gentlemen had succeeded Mir Roosevelt after the construction the canal had been begun only the enterprise would still be unfin ished in the hands of politicians and grafters either republicans democrats.
 MT. Roosevelt broke over conventions and in sured the completion of the canal by taking it out of the hands of politicians and their friends. It would be as reasonable now for congress to pass bill ap- propriatnG large of money many millions for relief of the srafters and politicians and incompeents who lost their jobs as it is to appropriate any sum to reoompense Colombia for damages it may have sus- tained in the process of it's removal from the path of progress.
 Philippines Independence.
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