Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-09

II would seem passing strange If.
some fine morning next October. the
Democratic candidate for the presidency
should flee to Cuba, declaring that,
as far as ne was concerned, the elec-
ton should be abandoned TO the Re-
publicans. II might cause equal sur
prise IL at any time prior to election
MIR. Hoover should &C to Mexico City
for safety, declaring that the Republic
ans could not get to the official reg
listers; hence he would Just LET the
country go to the bow-wows and let
the Smiths run il.
Or, suppose the election actually took
place but the result did not suit every
body, should we settle the dispute with
a revolution? When Samuel j. Tilden
claimed election over Rutherford B.
T.ayes In 1876 there were millions who
believed Tilden was entitled to the VIC
tory. and there were actually some hot
heads who wanted him to head an army
and assert his rights. even In revo-
lutionary war. But the hot-heads were
soon given to understand that this was
not Latin America. and that the presi-
dency itself was not worth the price OF
civil war. How different is the spirit
of Central America!
-
The Republic of Panama held an
election for the presidency last Sunday,
but for some days prior to the ballot
ing the Conservative candidate. DR.,
Jorge BOYD. had practically withdrawn.
declaring that 10 was impossible to hold
a fair election. for the Liberals con-
trolled the ballot boxes and refused to
let the Conservatives register, So DR.,
Boyd came to America 10 ask President
Coolidge to pull his hot cheStnuts out
Of the FIRE. and by intervention force q
fair" election The State Department
declined intervention, since 1t Is not our
affair to run all elections Of all Central
America PanamanS had not begun 10
shoot each other up. and until they
fired the shot that would be heard from
the Canal 10 the Potomac We would
limit our Marines to Nicaragua, where
they shoot as they vote--before and
after elections
So the Sabbath peace of Panama was
uninterrupted last Sunday, and DR..
Florencio Arosemena was duly and
unanimously elected" President. We
do not recognize" rulers who come
into power by violence, but who has
dared say there was any coup d'etat in
Panama when all opposition was
drowned and DR. Boyd was resting safely
in Washington and could not even
hear a gun-cock by loud speaker
And now the election Is fat accompli
Just like that, Panama has not even
been invited To sign the multilateral
treaty abolishing war. Only civilized
nations seem To need such mutual
pledge OF their pacificatiou
50
The United States guarantees the
Hist h
ance endangerS the safety of the Pam
NEEDLE In the freedom Of internal af-
fairs of the republic, We own a strip
10 miles ON either side Of the canal.
together with certain adjoining terri
tory for dams and reservoirs. II would
take a hardy or intoxicated lot OF dis
turbers of the peace who would dare
invade Our Canal Zone Within their
own republic they may be permitted 10
whoop II up To their hearts content,
after the order OF old-time cowboys
who used To shoot up Western town
Just to be merry. So long as they keep
within local limits, there Is no more
likelihood that the United States would
intervene than that Vice President
Dawes would let 90 his grip on a ooiS-
ferrous Senate before next March Just
Panama and Chicago take due notice
and govern themselves accordingly,
a
In Nicaragua we hold the purchased
right To build a canal across the farms
and mountain valleys when and where
we please. Hence II Is our duty TO back
up that vested interest with guns and
airplanes against outlaws, at the invita-
ton OF the government which confesSeS
II own inability to protect our acknowl- !
edged rights against bandits rnarauding
our unsurveyed canal routes. The sit
uation, therefore. Is quite different be- |
tween Panama and Nicaragua,
~
According To- osicial engineering au-
thnrity. il may he a whole generation |
vet before the capacity of the Panama |
Canal. with the improvements which |
will be added In additional water sup |
ply and additional Iockage, will md It. |
self incapable OF taking care of the |
traftie. The ultimate date !
10 which the capacity OF the developed |
Panama Canal will carry all trans
oceanic shipping Is given as 1888 After !
that date the Nicaragua canal win be /
needed and, of course, work on that |
new canal must heg.sr several wears In |
adVants s-..re It's availability In
ample time Increase of trafiie seems
% have habit of geometrie progress