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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO
FIFTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS
Chief Executive Recommends Passage- of Important
Legislation Causes Leading to the Formation of
the New Republic of Panama No Obstruction Now
to the Building of the Isthmian Canal Venezuelan
Dispute a Triumph for International Arbitration
Extension of Purposes of Appropriation for Enforc
ing Trust and Interstate Commerce Laws Favored
Public Land and Postal Frauds Need for
Treaties Making Bribery Extraditable Relations
of the Government to Capital and Labor.
Tho Fresident Charges the Colombian Government with Acting in
Bad Faith in Repudiating tho Treaty Betwcon That Country
and tho United States Precedents Brought Forward to Explain
tho Attitudo of tho State Department in tho Rccont Crisis
Country Has Been in an Almost Constant State of Turmoil
for Many Years Tho Importance of Preserving Pcaco in
tho Isthmus Declared of Paramount Importance.
President Rosevelt's message to tho
second session of tho Fifty-eighth Con
gross is substantially as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen
tatives: With a nation as with a man tlio most
Important things nrc those of the house
hold, and therefore tho country Is espe
cially to be congratulated on what bus
been accomplished In tho direction of pro
viding for tho exercise of supervision
over tho great corporations and combina
tions Of corporations engaged In Inter
state commerce. The Congress has ere
ntcd tho Department of Commerce and
Iabor, Including the Bureau of Corpora
tlons. with for the first time authority to
secure proper publicity of such proceed
ings pf these great corporations ns the
public has the light to know. It has pro
vided for the expediting of suits for tho
enforcement of the Federal anti-trust
law; and by another law It has secured
equal treatment to all producers In the
transportation of their goods, thus taking
a long stride forward hi making effective
tho work of tho Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Department of Commerce and Labor.
Tho establishment of tho Depaltmcnt
of Commerce and Labor, with tho DureaU
of Corporations thereunder, marks a real
advance In the dlnctlon of doing all that
Is possible for tho solution of the questions
vltnlly affecting capitalists and wago
workers. Functions of New Department.
The preliminary work of tho Bureau
of Corporations In the department has
tihown tho wisdom of Its creation. Pub
licity irt corporate affairs will tend to do
nway with Ignorance, and will afford
facts upon which Intelligent action may
bo taken. Systematic, Intelligent Inves
tigation Is already developing facts the
knowledge of which Is essential to a right
understanding of the needs and duties of
the business world. The corporation
which Is honestly and fairly organized,
whoso managers In the conduct of Us
business recognize their obligation to deal
r-uarcly with their stockholders, their
competitors, and the public, has nothing
to fear from such supervision. The pur
I ose of this bureau Is not to embarrass
or assail legitimate business, but to aid
In bringing about a better Industrial con
dition a condition under which thero
shall bo obedience to law and recognition
of public obligation by all corporations,
jrreat or small. The Department of Com
merce and Labor will be not only the
clearing house for information tegardlng
tho business transactions of the nation
but tho executive arm of the government
to aid In strengthening our domestic and
foreign market?. In perfecting our trans
portation facilities. In building up our
merchnnt marine. In preventing tho en
trance of undesirable Immigrants. In im
proving commercial and Industrial condi
tions, and In bringing together on com
mon ground those necessary partners In
Industrial progress capital and Jabor.
Commerce between the nations Is stead
ily growing In volume, and the tendency
of the times Is toward closer trade rela
tions. Constant watchfulness Is needed
to secure to Amerlcnns tho chance to par
ticipate to the best advantage In foreign
trndo; nnd wo may confidently expect
that tho new department will Justify tho
expectation of Its creators by tho exer
cise of this watchfulness, ns well as by
tho businesslike administration of such
laws relating, to our Internal affairs as
are Intrusted to Its care
In enacting (he laws above enumerated
the Congress proceeded on sane and con
servative lines. Nothing revolutionary
was attempted; but a common-sense and
successful effort v. as made In the direc
tion of seeing that corporations aro so
handled as to subserve the public good.
Tho legislation was moderate. It was
characterized throughout by the Idea that
we were not attacking corporations, but
endeavoring to provldo for doing away
with nny evil in them: that we drew the
Hue against misconduct, not against J
wcaiin; giauiy recognising uie great guuu
done by capitalists who alone, or in
conjunction with his fellows, docs his
work along proper and legltlmnto lines.
The purpose of the legislation, which pur
pose will undoubtedly be fullllled, was to
favor such a man when he does well, and
to supervise his action only to prevent
him from doing 111. Publicity can do no
Jiarm to the honest corporation. Ths
only corporation that has cause to dread
It Is the corporation which shrinks from
the light, and about the welfare of such
corporations we need not be oversensitive.
The work of the Department of Com
merce and Labor has been conditioned
upon this theory, of tecurlng fair treat
ment alike for labor and for capital.
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the national
government, so far as It has the power,
Is to hold In check the unscrupulous man,
whether employer or employe; but to re
fute to weaken Individual initiative or
to hamper or cramp the industrial devel
opment of the country. Wo recognize
that this Is an era of freedom and com
bination. In which great capitalistic cor
porations and labor unions have become
factors of tremendous Importance In all
Industrial centers. Hearty recognition Is
given the far-reaching, beneficent work
which has been accomplished through
both corporations and unions, and the
line as between different corporations,
as between different unions, Is drawn as
It Is between different Individuals; that
Is. it Is drawn on conduct, tho effort be
ing to treat both organized capital nnd
organized labor alike: asking nothing
cave the Interest of each shall be brought
Into harmony with the Interest of the
general public, and that the conduct of
each shall conform to the fundamental
rules of obedience to law, of Individual
freedom, and of justice and .fair dealing
towards all. Whenever elth'er corpora
tion,, labor union, or Individual disre
gards the law or acts In a spirit of arbi
trary and tyrannous Interference with
tho rights of others, whether corpora
tions or Individuals, then whero tho
Federal Government has Jurisdiction, It
will see to It that tho misconduct Is
stopped, paying not the slightest heed to
the position or power of the corporation,
tho union or the Individual, but only to
one vital fact that Is, tho question wheth
er or not tho conduct of tho Individual
or aggregate of Individuals Is In ac
cordance with tho law of the land. Every
man must bo guaranteed his liberty and
his right to do as he likes with his prop
erty or his labor, so long as ho does not
Infringe the rights of others. No man Is
above the law and no man Is below It;
nor do we nsk any inan's permission when
we require him to obey It. Obedience to
the law is demanded as a right; not asked
as a favor
Receipts and Expenditures.
From all sources, exclusive or tho pos
tal service, tho receipts of tho govern
ment for tho last fiscal year aggregated
$.6fl,39G,i74 The expenditures for the
fame period were jr.OG.099.007, tho surplus
for the fiscal year being $34,297,007. Tho
Indications nre.that the surplus for tho
present fiscal year will be very small. If
Indeed there bo any purpllis. From July
to November the receipts from customs
were, approximately, nine million dollars
less than tho receipts from' tho same
source for n corresponding portion of last
year. Should this decreaco continue at
tho same ratio throughout tho fiscal
ear, tho surplus would ba reduced by,
approximate, thirty million dollnrs.
Should the revenuo from customs suffer
much further decrease during the fiscal
year, tho surplus would vanish. A large
surplus Is certainly undesirable. Two
years ago tho war taxes wero taken off
with tho express Intention of equalizing
Hie government 'receipts and expenditures,
and though the first year thereafter still
showed a surplus. It now 'seems likely
that a substantial equality of rovenue
and expenditure will be attained. Such
being tho case It is of great moment both
to exercise enre and economy In appro
priations, nnd to scan sharply any change
In our fiscal revenue system which may
reduce, our Income. The need of strict
economy In our expenditures Is empha
sized by the fact that we can not afford
to be parsimonious In providing for what
Is essential to our national well-being.
Careful economy wherever possible will
alone prevent our Income from fnlllng
below tho point required In order to meet
our genuine needs.
Needs of Financial Situation.
The Integrity of our currency Is beyond
question, and under piesent conditions it
would be unwisQ and unnecessary to at
tempt a reconstruction of our entire mon
etary system. Tho samo liberty should
be granted the Secretary of the Treasury
to deposit customs receipts as Is granted
him in the deposit of receipts from other
sources. In my message of Dec. S, 19CS,
I called attention to 'certain needs of tho
financial situation, nnd I again nsk the
consideration of tho Congress for theso
questions.
Gold and Silver Standard.
During tho last session of the Congress,
nt tho suggestion of a Joint note from
the Itepubllc of Mexico and tho Imperial
Government of China, and in harmony
with an net of tho Congress appropriat
ing ti.'.OOO to pay tho expenses thereof,
n commission was appointed to confer
with tjie principal European countries In
tho hope that some plan might be devised
wheicby a fixed late of exchange could
be assured between the - gold-standard
countries 'nnd tho sliver-standard coun
tries. This commission has filed Its pre
liminary report, which has been mado
public. I deem It Important that tho
commission be continued, and that a sum
of money be appropriated sufficient to
pay the expenses of Its further labors.
With regards to the improvement of
the American merchant marine tho
President recommends that tho Con
gress direct tho Secretary of tho
Navy, tho Postmaster-General, and tho
Secretary of Commerce and Labor, as
sociated with such a representation
from the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives as the Congress In its wis
dom may designate, to servo as a com
mission for the purpose of Investigat
ing and reporting to the CongresB at
its next session what legislation Is de
sirable or necessary for tho develop
ment of tho American merchant ma
rine and American commerce, and in
cidentally of a national ocean mall
service of adequate auxiliary naval
cruisers and navel reserves.
On tho subject of Immigration the
message calls attention to the report
of a committeo of New York citizens
ot high standing, Messrs. Arthur v.
Vriesen, Leo K. Frankel, Eugene A.
Phllbin, Thomas W. Hynes, and Ralph
Trautman, which deals with tho whole
situation at length, and concludes with
certain recommendations for adminis
trative and legislative action. It is
now recolvlng tho attention of the
Secretary of Commerce and Labor.
The message continues:
Anti-Trust Laws.
On tho subject of tho anti-trust
measures which have been dealt with
by the Congress tho Presldont Bays:
In my last annual message, In connec
tion with the subject of the due regula
tion of combinations of capital which
are or may. become Injurious. to the pub
lic, I Tecommended a" special appropria
tion for the better enforcement of tho
anti-trust law as It now stands to bo
expended under the direction of tho Attorney-General.
Accordingly (by the leg
islative, executive, nnd Judlclnl appro
priation net of Februaiy !5, 1803. 82
Stat. 8M. POt). tho Congress appropriated,
for tho purpose of enforcing tho various
Federal trust nnd Interstate-commerce
laws, the sum ot five hundred thousand
dollnrs. to be expended under tho direc
tion of tho Attorney-General In tho em
ployment of special counsel and agents
In the Department ot Justice to conduct
proceedings nnd prosecutions under said
laws In tho courts of tho United Btatcc.
I now rccommepd, as a matter of the ut
most Importance and urgency, tho exten
sion of tho purposes of this appropria
tion, so that It may be available, undor
the direction of tho Attorney-General, nnd
until used, for the duo enforcement of
tho laws of the United States In general
and especially Of the civil nnd criminal
laws relating to public lands nnd the laws
relating to postal crimes nnd offenses nnd
tho subject ot naturalization. Recent In
vestigations have shown n deplorable
stnto of affairs In these threo matters of
vital concern. By various frauds nnd
by forgeries nnd perjuries, thousands of
acres of tho public domain, embracing
lands ot different character and extend
ing through various sections of tho coun
try, have been dishonestly acquired. It
Is hardly necessary to urge tho Import
ance of recovering theso dishonest acqui
sitions, stolen from the people, nnd ot
promptly and duly punishing the of
fenders. Postal Frauds.
I speak In another part of this messngo
of tho widespread crimes by which tho
sacred right ot citizenship Is falsely as
serted nnd that 'inestimable heritage"
perverted to base ends. By slmllnr means
that Is, through frauds, forgeries, and
perjuries," nnd by shameless briberies
the laws relating to tho proper conduct
of the public servlco to general nnd to
the duo administration of the Postofllco
department have been notoriously vio
lated, and many Indictments hnvo been
found, nnd the consequent prosecutions
are In course of hearing or on the cvo
thereof. For the lensons thUB Indicated,
and so that the Government mny bo pro
pared to enforce promptly and with tho
greatest effect tho due penalties for such
violations of law, and to this end may
bo furnished with sufficient Instrumentali
ties und competent legal asslstanco for
tho Investigations nnd trinls which will
be necessary at many different points of
the country, I urgo upon tho Congress
tho necessity of making tho said appro
priation nvnllablo for Immediate uso for
all such purposes, to bo expended under
tho direction of tho Attorney-General.
Needs , for Treaties Making Bribery
Extraditable.
Steps have been taken by tho State
Department looking to the making ot
bribery nn extraditable offopjs with for
eign powers. The need of more offectlvo
treaties covering this crime Is manifest.
The exposures and prosecutions ot of
ficial corruption In St. Louis, Mo., and
other cities and states havo resulted In
n number of givers and takers ot bribes
becoming fugitives in foreign lauds. Brib
ery has not been included In extradition
treaties heretofore, as the neeeeslty for
It has not nrisen. While thero may have
been ns much official corruption In former
years, there has been more developed
and brought to light In tho Immqdlate
past than In tho preceding century of
our country's history, it should bo the
policy of tho United States to leave no
idaeo on earth where a corrupt man
fleeing from tWs country can iet In
peace. Thero Is no reason why bribery
should not be Included in nil treaties as
extraditable. The recent amended treaty
with Mexico, whereby this crlmo was
put In tho list of extraditable offenses,
has established a salutary precedent In
this regard. Under this treaty the Stnto
Department has asked, and Mexico has
granted, the extradition of one. of tho St.
Louis bribe givers.
Thero can bo no crime more serious
than bribery. Other offenses violate one
law, while corruption strikes nt the foun
dation of ull law. Under our form of gov
ernment all authority Is vested In tho
peoplo and by them delegated to tlioso
who represent them In official capacity,
Tho exposure and punishment ot public
corruption is nn honor to a nation, not
a disgrace. The shame lies In toleration,
not In correction. No city or state, still
Jess the nation, can bo Injured by tho
enforcement of law. As long as public
, plunderer) when detected can find a
haven ot refuge In any foreign land and
avoid punishment. Just so long encour
agement Is given them to contlnuo their
practices. If wo fall to do all that In us
lies to stamp out corruption wo can not
cscapo our share of responsibility for jtho
guilt. The first requisite of successful
self-government Is unflinching enforce
ment of tho lay and tho cutting out of
corruption.
Alaskan Boundary.
The message gives in dctnil tho
causes which led to tho appointment
of the Alaskan boundary commission,
and congratulates both countries on
tho satisfactory termination of tho
sessions of the tribunal. It continues:
The result Is satisfactory In every way.
It is of great materlnl advantage to our
people In the far Northwest. It has re
moved from tho Held of discussion nnd
possible danger a question liable to be
come more acutely accentuated with each
pausing yenr. Finally, It has furnished
a signal proof of tho fairness nnd good
will with which two friendly nations can
npproach and determine Issues involving
national sovereignty nnd by their nature
Incapable of submission to a third power
for adjudication.
Claims Against Venezuela.
Roferrins to tho success which
crowned tho efforts of tho United
States to havo tho Venezuelan dis
pute submitted to impartial arbitra
tors tho President says:
Thera seems good ground for the be
lief that there has been a real growth
among the civilized nations of a senti
ment which will permit a gradual sub
stitution .of other methods than the
method of war in the settlement of dis
putes. It Is not pretended that as yet
we are near a position In which It will
bo possible wholly to prevent war, or
that a Just regard for national interest
and honor will In all cases permit of
tho settlement of international disputes
by arbitration; but by a mixture Of pru
dence and firmness with wisdom we think
It Is possible to do away with much of
the provocation and excuse for war, and
at least In many cases to substitute some
other and more rational method for the
settlement of disputes. The Hague court
offers so good an example of what can
be done In the direction of such settle
ment that It should be encouraged in
every way.
President McKinley, in his mes
sagoof Dec. 5, 1898, urged that tho
Executive be authorized to correspond
with the governments of tho principal
maritime powers with a view of in
corporating into the permanent law of
civilized nations the principle of tho
exemption of all private property at
sea, not contraband of war, from cap
ture or destruction by belligerent
powers.
President Roosevelt says ho cor
dially renews tills recommendation, as
a matter of humanity and morals.
Consular Service.
I call your attention to the reduced cost
In maintaining the consulur servlco for
the fiscal year ending June SO, 1903, as
shown In the annual report of the Aud
itor for the State and other departments,
as compared with the year previous. For
the year under consideration tho excess
of expenditure over receipts on account
cf tho consular service nmounted to $M,
125.12, ns ngalnst $96.972.M for tho yenr
ending Juno 30, 1908. nnd JH7.OtO.16 for tho
year ending June JO. 1MH. This la tho
best showing In this respect for the con
sular service for tho past fourteen years,
nnd tho reduction In the cost of tho serv
ice to tho Government has been mndo In
splto of tho fact that tho expenditures for
tho year In question wore moro than
$20,000 greater than for tho previous year.
Rural Free-Delivery Service.
The rural frce-dellvory servlco has been
steadily extended. The attention of tho
Congress Is asked to tho question ot the
compensation of tho lcttor carriers nnd
clerks engaged In tho postal service, es
pecially oil tho new rural free-delivery
routes. More routes hnvo been Instnllod
slnco the first ot July Inst than In nny
llko period" In tho department's history.
Whllo a duo regnrd to economy must bo
kept In mind In tho establishment of now
routes, yet tho extension of tho rural
ffco-dellvory system must bo continued,
for reasons ot sound publlo policy. No
governmental movement of recent years
has resulted In greater Immediate boneflt
to tho peoplo of the country districts.
Iturnl free delivery, taken In connection
with tho telephone, tho bicycle, nnd tho
trolley, accomplishes much toward les
sening tho Isolation ot fnrm life nnd mak
ing It brighter and more attractive. In
tho Immediate past tho lack ot Just such
facilities as theso has driven many of tho
moro active and restless young men nnd
women from tho farms to tho cities; for
they rebelled nt loneliness nnd lack ot
mental companionship, it Is unhealthy
and undeslrablo for the cities to grow nt
tho expense of tho country! and rural
frco delivery Is not only a good thing
In Itself, but Is good because It Is ono
of tho causes which check this unwhole
some tendency towards tho urban con
centration of our population nt tho ox
penso of tlu country districts. It Is for
tho samo reaso I thnt wo sympathize with
and upprovo of tho policy of building
good toads. Tho movement for good
roads is ono fraught with tho greatest
benefit to tho country districts.
In the Philippines nnd Porto Rico,
it 1b declared, steady progress is being
made and tho condition of tho Island
ers already has been materially ad
vanced. Receipts of General Land Office.
On the subject of tho public lands
of tho country tho message says:
Tho cash receipts of tho Qoncrnl Land
Ofilco for tho Inst fiscal year wero $11.
021,743.03. an increnro of $1,762,810.47 over
tho preceding year. Of this sum, approx
imately, 5S.401 493 will go to tho credit
of tho fund for tho reclamation of arid
land, making tho total of this fund, up
to tho 30th of June, 1903, approximately,
flC.I91.S3G.
A gratifying disposition has' been
evinced by thoso hnvlng unlawful In
closures of public land to remove tholr
fences. Nearly two million acres so In
closed havo been thrown opon on de
mand. In but comparatively few cases
has It been necessary to go Into court
to accomplish this purposo This work will
be vigorously prosecuted until nil unlaw
ful Inclosures have been removed.
Irrigation.
The work of reclamation of tho nrld
lands of tho West Is progressing steadily
and satisfactorily under tho terms of
tho law setting aside the proceeds from
the disposal of public lands. Thu corps of
engineers known as tho Itcctnmutlon
Service, which Is conducting tho surveys
and examinations, has been thoroughly
organized, csrie3inl pains being taken, to
sccuro under tho clvll-sorvlco rules a
body of skilled, experienced, and cillclcnt
men. Surveys and examinations nre
progressing throughout tho arid states
nnd territories, plans for reclaiming works
being prepared and passed upon by
boards of engineers before approval by
tho Secretary Of the interior. In Arizona
nnd Nevada, In localities' whero such
work Is pre-eminently needed, construc
tion has already been begun. In other
parts of tho arid West various projects
aro woll advanced toward tho drawing
up of contracts, these being delayed In
part by necessities of reaching agree
ments or understanding as regards rights
of way or acquisition of real estate, Most
of tho works contemplated for construc
tion aro of uatlonnl Importance, Involv
ing intcrstato questions or tho securing
of stable, self-supporting communities In
tho midst of vast tracts ot vacant land.
The Nation ns a whole Is of courso tho
gainer by tho creation of theso homes,
adding as they do to the wealth and sta
bility ,cf tho country, pnd furnishing n
homo market for tho proditctn of tho East
and South. Tho reclamation law, while
perhaps not Ideal, appears at presont to
answer tho larger needs for which It Is
designed. Further legislation. Is not rec
ommended until tho necessities of change
oro moro apparent. HMv'
Preservation of Forecta.
Tho President points out the neces
sity of taking steps for tho preserva
tion of our forests, especially at tho
headwaters of streams. Of the cotton
weevil ho says:
Tho cotton-growing States have re
cently been Invaded by a wcovll that has
dono much damage and threatens tho
entlro cotton Industry. I suggest to the
Congress tho piompt enactment of such
remedial legislation as Its Judgment may
approve.
Isthmian Canal.
Tho causes leading up to tho estab
lishment of the new republic, of Pan
ama, and Its recognition by tho
United States aro given in much de
tail, as follows;
By tho act of Juno 28, 1902, tho Con
gress authorized the Prosldent to enter
Into treaty with Colombia for tho build
ing of the canal across the Isthmus of
Panama; It being provided that In the
event of failure to secure such treaty
after the lapse of a reasonable time, re
course should bo had to building a cannl
through Nicaragua. It has not been
necessary to consider this alternative, as
I am enabled to lay before tho Senate
a treaty providing- for tho building of the
canal across the Isthmus of Panama.
This was tho route which commended
Itself to tho deliberate Judgment of the
congress, and wo can now acquire by
treaty tho right to construct the canal
over this route. The question now, there
fore, is not by which route the Isthmian
canal shall be built, for that question
has been definitely and Irrevocably de
cided. The question is simply whether or
not we shall havo an Isthmian cnnal.
In tho year 1M6 thU Government en
tered Into a treaty with Wow Granada,
the predecessor upon, the Isthmus of
the Republic of Colombia and of the
presont Itepubllc of Panama, by which
treaty It was provided that tho Govern
ment and citizens of the United States
should always have free and open right
of way or transit across tho Isthmus of
Panama by any mode of communication
that might be constructed, while In re
turn our Government guaranteed the
perfect neutrality of tfie above-mentioned
Isthmus with the view that the free tran
sit from the one to tho other sea might
out iju illicit ujiicu ur ciiiuurruBBeu. ine
treaty vested In the United States a
substantial property right carved out of
the rights of sovereignty and property
which New Granada then had and pos
sessed over the said territory. The name
of New Granada has paused. away and its
territory has been divided. Its successor,
the Government of Colombia, has ceased
to own any property in the Istnmus. A
new republic, that of Panama, which wan
a one time a sovereign state, and at
another time n mere department of the
fucceilve confederations known as New
Urnnrubi nnd Columbia, hns now suf
credfd to tho rights which first ono and
then tho othof formerly exercised ovor
tho Isthmus. But an long nn tho Isthmus
endures, tho moro geographical fact of Its
existence, nnd the peculiar Intotost there
in which Is required by our position,
perpotunlo the solemn contract which
binds the holders of tho territory to re
spect our light to freedom ot transit
across It, nnd binds tin In return to safe
guard for tho Isthmus nnd the world tho
cxorclso of that Incithnnblo privilege.
Tho truo Interpretation of the obliga
tions upon which tho United States en
tered In this Ircnty of 1846 has been given
repeatedly In tho utterances of Presi
dents and Secretaries ot State, Secretary
Cass In 1858 officially stated tho position
of this Government nn foltows:
"Tho progress ot events lifts rendered
tho Intcroeennlo routo across tho narrow
portion of Central America vastly Impor
tant to tho commercial world, and espe
cially to tho I'ntted States, whoso pos
sessions extend along tho Atlantic nnd
Pacific coasts, nnd demnnd the, speediest
nnd easiest modes of communication,
Whllo tho rights of sovereignty of tho
states occupying this region should al
ways bo respected, vo shall expect that
theso rights bo exercised in a spirit be
fitting tho occasion nnd tho wants nnd
circumstances that havo arisen. Sover
eignty hns Its duties as well cm Its rights,
and nono of theso local governments,
oven If administered with moro regard to
tho Just demands of other nations thnn
they havo been, would be permitted. In n
spirit or eastern Isolation, -to closo the
gates of Intercourse on tho great high
ways of the wotld. and Justify the net by
tho pretension that theso avenues of
trndo and tin vol belong to them nnd thnt
they chooso to shut them, or, what Is
almost equivalent, to encumber them
with such unjust relations ns would pro
vent their general Use."
Sovon ycais later. In 1SGB, Mr. Sownrd
In different communications took tho fol
lowing position:
"Tho United Slntcs have taken nnd
will tnko no Interest In any question of
Internal revolution In tho State of Pan
ama, or any Btntc of the United States of
Colombia, but will maintain n perfect
neutrality In connection with such do
mestic altercations. Tho United States
will, nevertheless, hold thcmsolvos ready
to protect the transit trade across the
Isthmus ngalnst Invasion of either do
mestic or foreign disturbers of tho penco
of tho Stato of Panamn. Neither
the text nor tho spirit of tho stipulation
In that nrtlclo by which tho United States
engages to preset vo tho neutrality of the
Isthmus of Pannmn. Imposes nn obllga
Hon on this Government to comply with
tho requisition of the President of tho
United States of Colombia for a force to
protect the Isthmus of Panama from a
body of Insurgents of thnt country, Tho
purposo of tho stipulation was to guar
antee tho Isthmus against sclzuro or In
vasion by a foreign power only."
For four hundred years, ever stneo
shortly after the discovery of this hem
isphere, tho cnnal across tho Isthmui has
been planned. For two score years It
has been worked at. When mndo It Is to
Inst for tho nges. It la to alter tho
geography of a continent and tno trade
routes of tho world. We havo shown by
overy treaty wo havo negotfated or at
tempted to negotiate with tne peoples In
control of tho Isthmus nnd with foreign
nations in reference thereto our consis.
tent good faith hi observing mlr obliga
tions; on tho ono hand to the peoples of
tho Isthmus, nnd on tho other hand to
tho civilized world whoso commercial
rights wo aro safeguarding nnd guaran
teeing by our action. Wo havo dono our
duty to other's In letter hnd In spirit, and
wo hnvo shown tho utmost forbearance In
exacting our own rights.
Last spring, Under tho net hbovo re
ferred to, a treaty concluded between the
representatives ot tho ltrpubllo ot Co
lombia and of our Government was rati
fled by tho Bennte. This treaty was en
terod Into nt tho urgoiit solicitation of
tho peoplo of Colombia nnd after a body
of experts appointed by our Government
especially to go Into tho matter of the
routes across tho Isthmus had pronounced
unanimously in favor of the Panamn
route. In drawing up tills treaty overy
concession wns mndo to tho peoplo nnd
to tho Government of Colombia. Wo wero
more than Just In dealing with them. Our
generosity was such ns to mnko It a se
rious question whether we had not gone
too fnr in their Interest nt the expense or
our own; for In our scrupulous desire to
pay all possible heed, not merely to the
rent but oven to tho fancied rights of our
weaker neighbor, who already owed so
much to our protection nnd forbearance,
wo yielded In oil possible ways to her
desires In drawing un tho trentv. kw.
theless tho Government of Colombia not-
merely repuuintea the treaty, but repu
diated it n such manner ns to make It
evident by tho tlmo tho Colombian Con
gress adjourned that not the scantiest
hope remained of over getting a satis
factory treaty from them, Tho Govern
ment of Colombia mado tho treaty, and
yet when tho Colombian Congress was
called to ratify It tho vote against rati
fication woh unanimous. It does not ap
pear that tho Government mndo nny real
effort to sccuro ratification.
Revolution In Panama,
Immediately after the adjournment of
tho Congress a revolution broko out In
Panamu. Tho people of Panama had
long been discontented with tho Itepubllc
of Colombia, and they hnd been kept qule t
only by tho prospect of tho conclusion
of the treaty, which wns to them a mat
ter of vital concern. When It became
evident that the treaty wns hopelessly
lost, the peoplo of Panama rose literally
as ono man. Not a shot was fired by a
slnglo man on tho isthmus In the Interest
of tho Colombian Government. Not
life wns lost In tho accomplishment of
tho revolution. The Colombian troops
stationed on the Isthmus, who had long
boon unpaid, made common cause with
the people of Panama, and with aston
ishing unanimity the new ropuillc was
started. Tho duty of tho United States
In the premises was clear. In strict ac
cordance with the principles laid down
by Secretaries Cass and Howard In the of
flclal documents above quoted, the United
States gave notlco that It would permit
tho landing of no expeditionary force,
tho arrival of which would mean chaos
and destruction along the line of tho rail
road and of tho proposed canal, and nn
Interruption of transit as nn Inevitable
consequence. Tho do fucto Government
of Panama was recognized In the follow
ing telegram to Mr. Khrmnn:
"The people of Panama have, by ap
parently unanimous movement, dissolved
their political connection with tho Ite
publlc of Colombia and resumed their In
dependence. When you are satisfied that
a do facto government, republican In
form nnd without substantial opposition
from Hb own people, has been established
In the Stato of Panama, you will enter
Into relations with It ns the rcsponslblo
government of the territory and look to
It for all duo action to protect the per
sons and property of citizens of the
United States and to keep open tho
Isthmian transit. In accordance with the
obligations of existing treaties govern
ing tho relntions or the United States to
that territory."
Disturbances on Isthmus Since 1846.
When these events happened, fifty-seven
years had elapsed blnce the United States
had entered Into its treaty with, New Gra
nada. During that time the Governments
of New Granada and of Its successor,
Colombia, liave been in a constant stato
of flux.
A long list of tho disturbances nnd
revolutions which have convulsed the
Isthmus is given, and the report con
cludes: The above Is only a partial list of the
revolutions, rqbrljlons. Insurrections,
riots, and other outbreaks that 'have oa
curred during the pcilod In question; yet
they number M for the 57 years It wllV
he noted that ono of them lasted for'nsnr
)y thrco years boforo It was quolled; an
other tor nearly a year, In short, tho
ftxpnrlenee of over half a century ha.
shown Colombia to b Utterly IncnpnbM
of keeping order on tho Isthmus. Only
tho nctlvo Interference of tho United
States has enabled her to prosorvo so
much ns a semblance of sovereignty. Had
It not been for tho cxcrclso by tho United
States ot tho police power In hor Interest,
her connection with tho Isthmus would
havo been sundered long ago. In 1856, In
ISM, In 1873, In 18S5, In 1901, nnd again In
1002, sailors and mnrlncs trom United
States wnr ships wero forced to land In
order to pntrol the Isthmus, to protect
Ufa nnd property, nnd to boo that tho4
transit across tho Isthmus was kept
open. In MCI. In 1S62, In 18, nnd In 1900,
tho Colombian Government asked thnt tho
United States Government would Innd
troops to protect Its Interests and main
tain order on tho Isthmus, Perhaps tho
most extraordinary request In 'that whloh
hns Juct been received u: d which runs
'ns' follows:
"Knowing thnt revolution hna already
commenced In l'aniima nn cmlnont Co
lombian! mays tint If tho Government or
tho Unltei Slntcs will Innd troops to pre
serve Colombian sovereignty, nnd tho
transit, if requested by Colombian chgrgo
d'affaires, this Government will dcclaro
martini law; and, by vlrtuo ot vested con
stitutional nuthorlty, when publlo order
Is restored, will approve by decree tho
ratification of tho canal troaly as signed:
or, If the Govcrmnout or tho United
Htatos prafcrr, will cnll extra susslon ot
tho Congress with new and friendly
members next Mny to approvo tho
treaty. An eminent Colombian) hns tho
perfect confidence of vice-president, ho
says, nnd If It beenmo necessary will go
to tho Isthmus or send roprescntntjvo
thero to ndjust matters along nbovo lines
to the satisfaction of tho peoplo there."
This dispatch is noteworthy from two
standpoints. Its offer of Immcdlntoly
guaranteeing tho treaty to us Is In sharp
contrast with tho positive nod contemp
tuous refusal or tho Congress whloh has
Just closed Its sessions to consider fa
vorably such u treoty; It shown thnt tho
Government which mado tho treaty really
hnd nbftoluto control ovor tho situation,
but did not choose to exercise this con
trol. Tho dispatch further cnlls on uh
lo icstore order nnd secure Colombian
supremacy In tho Isthmus from whloh tho
Colombian Government hits Juct by lt
action decided to bar us by preventing
tho construction of tho cnnnl.
Importancs ot Peace In Isthmus.
Tho control, In tho Interest of tho com
merce and traffic of the whole civilized
world, of tho means of undisturbed tran
sit ncpss tho Isthmus of Pnnamn haS
become of transcendent Importance to
the Unltpd Slates. Wo hnvo repeatedly
exercised this control by Intervening In
tho courso of domestic dissension, nnd
by protecting tho territory from foreign
Invasion. In 1653 llr. Everett assured
tho Peruvian minister that- wo mhouhl
not. hesitate to maintain tho neutrality
of tho Isthmus In tho cuso ot war bo
t'ween Peru and Colombia. In 1SGI Co
lombia, which has always been vigilant
to aval) Itsoir of Its privileges conferred
by tho treaty, expressed Its .expectation
that In tho event ot war between Peru
and Spain tho United States would curry
Into orfect tho guaranty of neutrality.
Thero havo been few administrations of
tho Stnto Department hi which this
treaty has not, cither by tho ono sldo
or tho other, been used as a bosls of
moro or loss Important demands. It waa
fold by Mr. Fish In 1S71 that tho Depart
ment of Stato had reason to bollovo that
nn attack upon Colombian sovereignty
on tho Isthmus had, on several occa
sions, been averted by warning front this
Government. In 1SS0, when Colombia wan
under tho menace of hnstllltleu from
Italy In tho Ccrrutl case, Mr. Buynrtl ex
pressed tho serious concern that tho
United States could not but foci, thnt n
European power should resort to- forco
iignlnst a sister republic of this, hemis
phere, at to tho sovereign and uninter
rupted uso "ot u part or whoso territory
wo aro guarantors under tho' solemn faith
of a treaty.
Treaty With Republic of Panama.
Every effort has been mndo by tho Gov
ernment of 1(10 United States to persuado
Colombia to follow a courso which was
essentially not only to our Interests and
to tho Interests of the world, but to tho
Interests ot Colombia ltseir. Theso ef
forts hnvo failed; and Colombia, by her
persistence In repulsing the ndvanccg that
hnvo been mndo, has forced us, fbr tho
sako of our own honor, nnd of tho Inter
est nnd wull-bolng. not merely of our own
people, but ot tho peoplo ot tho Isthmus
or Pannmn and tho peoplo of tho civilized
countries or tho world, 16 tako dcclslvo
steps to bring to an end a condition of
affairs which had bfcomo Intolerable.
Tho new Itepubllc ot Panama Immediate
ly offered to negotiate a treaty with us.
This treaty I herewith submit. I)y It our
interests are better safeguarded than .In
the treaty with Colombia which was rati
fied by the Sonato Ot Its last session. It Is '
better In its terms than iho treaties of
fered to us by tho Republics of Nicara
gua and Costa Hlca. At last tho right
to begin this great undertaking is mado
available. Panama has dono her 'part.
All that remains is for tho American Con
gress to do Its part nnd forthwith this
Itepubllc will enter upon tho execution
of n project colossal In Its slzo and of
well-nlg.. Incalculable possibilities for tho
good nt this country and tho nations of
mankind.
Provisions of Treaty. ,
ny tho provisions of tho treaty tho'
United .States gunrantern nnd will main
tain the Independence of tho Itepubllc of
Panama. Thero Is grnnted to tho United
States In perpetuity the uuo. ocoupntlori.
ana control or u strip ten mllos wido and
extending thrco nautical miles Into tho
sen at either terminal, with all lands ly
ing outside ot the zone nccessnry tor tho
const! uctlon or tho canal or ror Its aux
iliary works, and with tho islands In tho
Hay ot Panamn. Tho cities or Panama
and Colon aro not embraced In the canal
zone, but the United Statin' asnumea
their sanitation and, In enso of need, tho
maintenance ot order therein; tho United
Stntes enjoys within the granted limits
all the rights, power, and authority which
It would possess were It the sovereign of
the territory to the exclusion ot tho ex
ercise or sovereign rights by tho Republic.
All railway nnd canal property rights be
longing to Panama and needed for the
canal pass to tho United Bfates. Includ
ing nny property ot the respective com
panies In tho cities ot Panamn and Co
lon; the wor.:s, property, -and personnel
or the canal and railways aro exempted
from taxation as well in the cities of
Panamn and Colon ns In tho canal zono
and Its dependencies, Free Immigration
of tho personnel and Importation of-mip-plles
for tho construction and operation
of the cannl aro granted. Provision Is
made for the uso of military fprco nnd
tho building or fortifications by the Unit
ed States for tho protection of the tran
sit. In other details, particularly as to
the acquisition of thev Interests of the
New Panama Canal company nnd tho
Panama railway by tho United States and
tho condemnation ot privato proporty for
the uses of tho canal, the stipulations of
tho Ilay-llerran treaty aro closely fol
lowed, while the compensation to bo
given for these enlarged grants remains
the same, being ten .millions of delta ra
payable on exchange of ratifications; and.
beginning nine years from that -date, an
annual payment of ,$230,000 during th
lifo or tho convention.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House. Dec. 7. 1903.
, Tho venerable William-Jackson, one
of tho oldest of Wealoyan ministers
and for twenty-four years governor ol
Dfdsbury college, is dead
