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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1903)
.. The Commoner. NOVEMBER 20, 1903. 5 CCURR6NT Topics ' 11 ' " VhmiwMmmm "" lM Mw 7 ' i " ; i. "auVoR THE TREATY OF 1846 WITH NEW GREN ada, now Colombia, Is being accorded con sideration attontion these days. The Omaha World-Herald says that It Is a bit significant that in tne statement issued by our state depart ment seeking to justify the course in Panama, all emphasis is laid upon the fact that the treaty guarantees to the United States free transit on the isthmus, while sweeping aside as though It wore Inconsequential our guarantee of the sov ereignty of New Granada. rle World-Herald presents an interesting compilation of the refer ences made to the treaty of 1846 in the messages of several of Mr. Roosevlt's predecessors and this shows that prior to Mr. Roosevelt's time, the presidents of the United States regardecLxnir guar antee of New Granada's sovereignty as a very important part of the contract. iC SO IN FEBRUARY, 1847, PRESIDENT POLK transmitted to the senate the New Granada treaty and in doing so he directed attention to the fact that "New Granada proposes to guaran tee to the government and the citizens of the United States the right of passage across the isthmus of Panama over the natural roads and over any canal or railroad whicn may bo con structed to unite the two seas, on condition that the United States shall make a similar guarantee to New Granada of the neutrality of this portion of her territory and her sovereignty oVer the same." President Poll; further, pointed out that "the guarantee (of sovereignty) does not extend to the territories of Ne.v Granada generally, but is confined to the single province of the isthmus of Panama where we acquire by the treaty a com mon and co-extensive right of passage with her self." Mr. Polk added: "The guarantee of the sovereignty of New Granada over the isthmus is a natural consequence of the guarantee of its neutrality, and there does not seem to be any other practicable mode of securing the neutral ity of this' territory. New Granada would not consent to yield up this province in order .that it might become a neutral state, and, if she should, it is not sufficiently populous or wealthy to establish -and maintain an independent sov ereignty." PRESIDENT BUCHANAN, IN DECEMBER, 1857, in his message to congress had some thing to say with respect to the treaty of 1846. Mr. Buchanan pointed out the deep interest the United States had in preserving the freedom and security of all the communications across the isthmus and lie added: rtlt is our duty therefore to take care that they shall not be interrupted either by invasion from our own country or by wars between the independent states of Central America. Under our treaty with New Granada of December 12, 1846, we are bound to guarantee the neutrality of the isthmus of Panama, through which the Panama railroad passes, 'as well as the right of s0vereignty and property which New Granada has and possesses over the said terri tory.' ThiB obligation is founded upon equiva lents granted by this treaty to the government and people of the United States." TN THE SAME MESSAGE, MR. BUCHANAN X recommended to congress the passage of an act authorizing the president in case of necessity to employ the land and naval forces of the United States to carry into effect "this guarantee of neu trality and protection." He said that it was "both our duty and our interest" to cultivate in the South American republics most friendly ,relatlons, and he added: "Unfortunately, both for them and for us, our example and advice have lost niuch of their influence in consequence of the lawless expeditions which have been fitted out against some of them within the limits of our country. Nothing is better calculated to retard our steady and material progress or impair our character as a nation than the toleration of such enterprises in violation of the law of nations. It is one of the first and highest duties of any in dependent state in its-relations with the mem bers of tne great family of nations to restrain its People from acts" of hostile aggression against their citizens or subjects. The most eminent writers on public law do not hesitate to denounce such hostile acts as robbery and murder. Weak and feoble states like those of Control America may not feel themselves able to assort and vindi cate their rights. Tho case would bo far differ, ent if expeditions were sot on foot within our own territories to make private war against a powerful nation. If such expeditions wero fitted out from abroad against any portion of our own country, to burn down our cities, murdor and plunder our people, and usurp our government, we should call any power on earth to the strictest account for not preventing such onormlties." P AGAIN IN APRIL, I860, IN A MESSAGE TO congresli, President Buchanan, referring to the treaty of 1846, said: "This treaty, after granting us tho right of transit across tho isthmus of Panama in tho most ample terms, binds this government to guarantee to Now Granada tho perfect neutrality of the-beforo-mentionod isth mus with the view that tho freo transit from tho one sea to tho other may not bo interrupted or embarrassed in any future time whfio this treaty exists.' In one respect it goes further than any of its successors, because it not. only guarantees tho neutrality of the route Itself, but 'the rights of sovereignty and property of New Granada over tho entire province of Panama. It is worthy of remark that when it was sent to tho senate it was accompanied by a message of President Polk, dated February 10, 1847, In which tho attention of that body was especially called to these import ant stipulations of the thirty-fifth article, and in which it was stated, moreover, that our charge d'affaires who negotiated tho treaty 'acted in tills particular upon his own responsibility and with out instructions Under these circumstances tho treaty was approved by tho senate, and tho transit policy to which I have referred was de liberately adopted." IN DECEMBER, '85, PRESIDENT CLEVELAND, referring to our obligations to Colombia, said: "Emergencies growing out of civil war In the United States of Colombia demanded of tho government, at the beginning of this administra tion, the employment of armed forces to fulfill its guaranties under the thirty-fifth article of the treaty of 1846, in order to keep tho transit open across the isthmus of Panama. Desirous of exor cising only the powers expressly reserved to us by the treaty, and mindful of the rights of Co- lombia the forces sent to the isthmus wero in structed to confine the'r action to 'positively and efficaciously' preserving tne transit and its acces sories from being 'interrupted or embarrassed.' The execution of this delicate and responsible task necessarily Involved police control where the local authority was temporarily powerless, but always in aid of the sovereignty of Colombia. The prompt and successful fulfillment of Its duty by this government was highly appreciated by the government of Colombia, and has been followed by expressions of satisfaction. High praise is duo to the officers and men engaged in this service. The restoration of peace on the isthmus by tho re-establishment of the constituted government there being thus accomplished, tho forces of tho United States wero withdrawn." IT IT COMMENTING UPON THIS INTERESTING compilation, tho World-Herald says that It does not expect to make political capital. That newspaper expresses the opinion that It is very probable that Mr. Roosevelt's filibustering expedi tion against a South, American nation with which we are under treaty agreement, will be very pop ular It Insists, however, that Mr. Roosevelt's Panama policy Is directly at variance with the nolicv which several of his predecessors said wag the correct one. In spite of tho fact that our nresent day Panama policy is one of the black sPpTts upon our record, the World-Herald thinks thnt men will readily close their eyes to tho evils beof the specious plea that Mr. Roosevelt's Slan means "progress." The World-Herald con - dudes that "it will not be difficult for men to un derstand that we have deliberately and wantonly violated solemn treaty obligations with respect to a weak and impotent power; and-we all know that with all of our boasted courage, with all of our nomnous jingoism, we would not have dared to do Sur relations with a really powerful gov- crnmont, tho things wo haVo dono in our dealing with this helpless South Amorlcan republic." IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HELD AT Washington on tho evening of November 7, Ucpresontntivo Robort Bakor of Now York intro duced tho following resolution: "Whereas, It becomes increasingly apparent that tho trusts owo their existence in largo part to tho fact of tholr having been tho beneficiaries or outrageous nud illegal freight rato discriminations, nnd it is also evident that tho republican party Is controlled and directod by tho railroad and trust mngnatcs; and, Whereas, It Is both right and expedient for the democratic party to boldly attack these monop olies, making It clear that no pcrmanont relief from theso oppressive conditions can be had until tho illicit and criminal relations botweon tho trusts and tho railroads is terminated; and. Whereas, Tho timo has como to present to tho people convincing evidence that no ono charged with the formulation or putting Into effect of dem ocratic principles is in any way a party to or countenances theso violations of law and morals; therefore, bo it, Resolved, That, rcgardlosa of tho practico of -tho republicans, It Is tho sense of this caucus caat its mombers do not uccopt passes or other favors from tho railroads." IT WILL BE REMEMBERED THAT MR. Bakor rocontly attracted considerable atten tion because he returned to tho law department of tho Baltimore & Ohio railroad a pass which had been sent to him, saying that he did not bellovo that a congressman should accopt such favors at the haijds of a corporation. When Mr. Baker's resolution was Introduced, ono member, suggested that the resolution go over until a caucus to de cide on all questions of party policy could bo had. Another member moved tnat the resolution be re ferred to a committee of three. On this vote Mr. Eaker called for a division and tho vote stood 74 votes in favor of referring tho resolution and 22 votes against It. Messrs. Livingstone of Georgia, Baker of Now York, and Gooch of Kentucky wero appointed on this committee. Tho Washington correspondent for tho New York Times says: "Tho committee in all probability will never re- ' port. If Baker can over get them to a vote, tho vote will bo two to one against his resolution." It is to be honed that the Washington corre spondent for tho Now York Times does not speak . with authority. Mr. Baker's resolution is entirely In line with democratic principles. It should have been promptly adopted by. the democratic caucus and every "democratic member of" con gress should adhere to the spirit of that good document. f? If IT SEEMS THAT SAN DOMINGO IS IN -THE stages of another revolution, news reports from that island having for some time contained .accounts of trouble between tho government forces and tho rebels, who, it appears, are seeking to make General Jlminez president. Recently it was reported that an American vessel had been fired upon by tho Dominican cruiser President while tho former vessel was running tbo.blockado at Samana, and forced to return to the capital. Tho United States cruiser Baltimore, which liad been ' -sent to tho island, was detailed to convoy tho ves sel to her destination. Under date of November 7 dispatches from San Domingo reported that tho town of Macoris had been bombarded by tho in surgent forces and tho property loss sustained was very heavy. It is feared that the various consulates on San Domingo are in tho gravest danger, as no war vessels are, present to protect them. IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE FEELING, against tho Americans on the Island, United States Minister Powell has severed diplomatic relations with tho Dominican government, -al- -though the United States government has sent tho cruiser Baltimore to tho scene of hostilities to prevent any interference with the various Ameri can Interests there. Minister Powell has cabled to tho state department that the situation in the island is very serious, and a dispatch carried by the Associated press would seem to give cred ence to the rumor that tho city of San Domingo has been captured by the- insurgents and General Jlminez has been proclaimed president wtf k &2 ,'-5 1 & . i f ft ." . Jjl " u 'i ,t " ,' 1 .i -J .-- ..JU" 4 . mMtijjmmmmm -r