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About Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1903)
TO the Senate and House of Represent * tivcs : The country is to be congratulated o < ffie amount of substantial achievemei tvliich has marked the past year both a Tegards our foreign and as regards ou domestic policy. With n nation as with a man the mo. Important things are those of the hous < hold , und therefore the country is ej pecially to be congratulated on what ha been accomplished in the direction c providing for the exercise of supervisio over the great corporations and comb cations of corporations engaged in ii terstate commerce. The Congress ha created the Department of Commerc md Labor , including the Bureau of Coi Derations , with for the first time authoi Ity to secure proper publicity of sue proceedings of these great corporation s the public has the right to know. I has provided for the expediting of suit for the enforcement of the federal ant trust law ; and by another law it ha ecured equal treatment to all producer In the transportation of their goods , thu taking a long stride forward in makm effective the work of the Interstate Com saerce Commission. The establishment of the Departmen f Commerce and Labor , with the Bu feau of Corporations thereunder , mark real advance in the direction of doini all that is possible for the solution o the questions vitally affecting capitalist and wage workers. The preliminar ; Work of the Bureau of Corporations ii ( lie department has shown the wisdon of its creation. Publicity in corporat affairs will tend to do away with ignor ance , and will afford facts upon whicl Intelligent action may be taken. The Department of Commerce and La fcor will be not only the clearing housi for information regarding the busines : transactions of the nation , but the execu tive arm of the government to aid ii Btrengthening our domestic and foreigi markets , in perfecting our transportatioi facilities , in building up our merchan marine , in preventing the entrance oi undesirable immigrants , in improving commercial and industrial conditions , ant ID bringing together on common grouuc those necessary partners in industria progress capital and labor. Capital and Labor. The consistent policy of the natioua government , so far as it has the power , is to hold in check the unscrupulous man , whether employer or employe ; bul to refuse to weaken individual initiative Or to hamper or cramp the industrial de- Telupaicut of the country. AVe recognize that this is an era of federation 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 iven the far-reaching , beneficent work which has been accomplished throusli both corporations and unions , and the line as beteen different corporations , as between different unions , is drawn as it Ja between different individuals ; that is , It is drawn on conduct , the effort being to treat both organized capital and or ganized labor alike ; asking nothing save that 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 obediewe to law , of individual freedom , and of justice and fair dealing .towards all.Vheuever either corpora tion , labor union or individual disre gards the law or acts in a spirit of arbi trary and tyrannous interference with the rights of others , whether corpora tions or individuals , then where the fed eral government has jurisdiction , it will see to it that the misconduct is stopped , paying not the slightest heed to the posi tion or power of the corporation , the auion or the individual , but only to one Tital fact that is , the question whether or not the conduct of the individual or Aggregate of individuals is in accordance with the law of the land. Every man must be guaranteed his liberty and his right to do as he likes with his property or his labor , so long as he does not in- Sringe the rights of others. No man Is above the law and no man is below it ; nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it. Obedi ence to the law is demanded as a right ; sot asked as a favor. Government Finances. Prom all sources , exclusive of the postal service , the receipts of the govern ment for the last fiscal year aggregated | 560.396G74. The expenditures for the jsame period were $500,099,007 , the snr- tolus for tlip fiscal year being $54,297,007. The indications are that the surplus for the present fiscal year will be very small , if indeed there be any surplus. From July to November the receipts from cus toms were , approximately , nine million dollars less than the receipts from the aame source for a corresponding portion /of / last year. Should this decrease con- jllnue at the same ratio throughout the fiscal year , the surplus would be reduced by. approximately , thirty million dollars. Should the revenue from customs suffer much further decrease during the fiscal year , the surplus would vanish. A large surplus is certainly undesirable. Two fears ago the war taxes were taken off Wrlth the express intention of equalizing flbe governmental receipts and expendi- fcnres , and though the first year thereaf ter still showed a surplus , it now seems likely that a substantial equality of reve nue and expenditure will be attained. Such being the case , it is of great mo ment both to exercise care and economy in appropriations , and to scan sharply any change in our fiscal revenue system which may reduce our income. The need of strict economy in our expenditures is Emphasized by the fact that we cannot Afford to be parsimonious in providing for what is essential to our national well- being. Careful economy wherever possi ble will alone prevent our income from falling below the point required in order to meet our genuine needs. The integrity of our currency is be yond question , and under present condi tions it would be unwise and unneces sary to attempt a reconstruction of our entire monetary system. The same lib erty should be granted the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit customs receipts as is granted him in the deposit of re ceipts from other sources. In my mes sage of Dec. 2 , 1902 , I called attention to certain needs of the financial situation , and I again ask the consideration of the Congress for these questions. Merchant Marine. A majority of our people desire that fttepa be taken in the interests of Amer ican shipping , so that we may once more resume our former position in the ocean carrying trade. But hitherto the differ ences of opinion as to the proper method Of reaching this end have been so wide that it has proved impossible to secure the adoption of any particular scheme. Having in view these facts , I recom mend that the Congress direct the Sec retary of the Navy , the Postmaster Gen eral and the Secretary of Commerce and Labor , associated with such a representa tion from the Senate and House of Rep resentatives as the Congress in its wis dom may designate , to serve as a com mission for the purpose of investigating and reporting to the Congress at its next session what legislation is desirable or necessary for the development of the American merchant marine and Ameri can commerce , and incidentally of a na tional ocean mail service of adequate auxiliary naval cruisers and naval re- eerves. While such a measure is desira ble In any event , it is especially desira- blt at this time , In view of the fact that - . , - > . .m.-t. . m.isa - , - our present governmental contract fc ocean mail with the American Line wi expire in 1905. Moreover , lines of carg ships are of even more importance tha fast mail lines ; save so far as the latte can be depended upon to furnish swil auxiliary cruisers in time of war. Immigration. We cannot have too much imraigratio of the right kind , and we should hav none at all of the wrong kind. The nee is to devise some system by which undf sirable immigrants shall be kept out er tirely , while desirable immigrants ar properly distributed throughout the cout try.The The special investigation of the sut ject of naturalization under the directio : of the Attorney General , and the consequent quent prosecutions , reveal a condition o affairs calling for the immediate atten tion of the Congress. Forgeries and pei juries of shameless and flagrant charac ter have been perpetrated , not only ii the dense centers of population , bu throughout the country ; and it is estab lished beyond doubt that very many so called citizens of the United States havi no title whatever to that right , and ar asserting and enjoying the benefits o the same through the grossest frauds The body politic cannot be sound am healthy if many of its constituent mem bera claim their standing through thi prostitution of the high right and callinj of citizenship. It should mean some thing to become a citizen of the Unite ( States ; end in the process no loophoh whatever should be left open to fraud. In my last annual message , in connec tion with the subject of the due regula tion of combinations of capital which an or may become injurious to the public , J recommended a special appropriation foi the better enforcement of the anti-trusl law as it now stands , to be expended un der the direction of the Attorney Gen eral. Accordingly the Congress appro priated the sum of five hundred thousand ilollars , to be expended under the direc tion of the Attorney General in the em ployment of special counsel and agents in the Department of Justice to conducl proceedings and prosecutions under saic ] laws in the courts of the United States. I uo\v recommend , as a matter of the ut most importance and urgency , the exten sion of the purposes of this appropria tion , so that it may be available , under the direction of the Attorney General , and until used , for the due enforcement of the laws of the United States in gen eral and especially of the civil and crim inal laws relating to public lands and the laws relating to postal crimes and offenses and the subject of naturaliza tion. Recent investigations have shown a deplorable state of affairs in these three matters of vital concern. By various frauds and by forgeries and perjuries , thousands of acres of the public domain , embracing lands of dif ferent character and extending through various sections of the country , have been dishonestly acquired , ft is hardly necessary to urge the importance of re covering these dishonest acquisitions , stolen from the people , and of promptly and duly punishing the offenders. Postal Frauds. 1 speak in another part of this mes sage of the widespread crimes by which the sacred right of citizenship is falsely asserted and that "inestimable heritage" perverted to base ends. By similar means that is , through frauds , forgeries and perjuries , and by shameless briberies the laws relating to the proper conduct of the public service in general and to the due administration of the Postoffice Department have been notoriously violated lated , and many indictments have been found , and the consequent prosecutions are in course of hearing or on the eve thereof. For the reasons thus indicated , and so that the government may be pre pared to enforce promptly and with the greatest effect the due penalties for such violations of law , and to this end may be furnished with sufficient in strumentalities and competent legal isslstancc for the Investigations and trials tvhlch will be necessary at rajiny different points of tne country , I urge upon the Con gress the necessity of making the said ap propriation available for Immediate use for ill such purposes , to be expended under the lirectlon of the Attorney-General. Steps have been taken by the State De- inrtment looking to the making of bribery in extraditable offense with foreign pow- } rs. The need of more effective treaties covering this crime Is manifest. The ex posures and prosecutions of official cor ruption In St. Louis , Mo. , and other cities md States have resulted In a number of jlvers and takers of bribes becoming fugl- ; lves In foreign lands. Bribery has not ) een Included In extradition treaties here- .oforc. as the necessity for It has not aria- n. While there may hnve been as much > fliclal corruption In former years , there ins been moredevelopcd and brought to light n the Immediate past than In the preceding 'cntury of our country's history. It should > e the policy of the United States to leave 10 place on earth where a corrupt man leelng from this country can rest In peace. There Is no reason why bribery should not e Included In all treaties as extraditable. Alaskan Boundary. For several years past the rapid develop- aent of Alaska and the establishment of rowing American Interests in regions there- ofore unsurveyed nnd Imperfectly known irought Into piomlnence the urgent neces- Ity of a practical demarcation of the boun- iarles between the Jurisdictions of the Jnited States and Great Britain. Although he treaty of 1825 between Great Britain nd Russia , the provisions of which were opled In the treaty of 1867 , whereby Rus- la conveyed Alaska to the United States , ras positive as to the control , first by Rus- la and later by the United States , of a trip of territory along the continental main ind from the western shore of Portland Janal to Mount St. Ellas , following and tirroundlng the Indentations of the const nd including the islands to the westward , ts description of the landward margin of lie strip was Indefinite , resting on the sup- osed existence of a continuous ridge or ange of mountains skirting the coast , as gured in the charts of the early navigators t had at no time been possible for either arty In Interest to lay down , under the uthority of thp treaty , a line so obviously ract according to Its provisions as to cnm- land the assent of the other. For nearly tiree-fourths of a century the absence of inglble local Interests demanding the ex- rclse of positive Jurisdiction on either side f the border left the question dormant. A ermanent disposition of the matter finally ecnme Imperative. After unavailing attempts to reach nn un- erbtandlng through a Joint High Commls- ion , followed by prolonged negotiations , [ inducted In nn amicable spirit , a conven- : on between the United States and Great rltaln was signed. January 24 , 1903. pro- Iding for nn examination of the subject y a mixed tribunal of six members , three n a side , with a view to Its final dlspo- tlou. Ratifications were exchanged on [ arch 3 last , whereupon the two Govern- tents appointed their respective members , n the twentieth of October a ma- irlty of the tribunal reached and signed a agreement on all the questions submitted y the terms of the convention. By this ward the right of the United States to the introl of a continuous strip or border of le mainland shore , skirting all the tlde- nter Inlets und sinuosities of the coast. Is jnfirmed. The result Is satisfactory In every way. : Is of great material advantage to our eople in the Far Northwest. It has re- toved from the field of discussion and jssible danger a question liable to become iore acutely accentuated with each passing ear. Finally , It has furnished n signal roof pf the fairness nnd good will with hlch two friendly nations can approach id determine Issues Involving national sov- elgnty. Claims Ajramst Venezuela. It will be remembered that during the : coud session of the last Congress Great ritalu , Germany , aud Italy formed an alll- ice for the purpose of blockading the > rts of Venezuela and using such other enns of pressure as would secure a settle- ent of claims due , u they alleged , to cer tain of their subjects. Their employment < force for the collection of these claims wi terminated by nn agreement brought nboi through the offices of the diplomatic repr sentatives of the United States at Caracj and the Government at Washington , ther by ending a situation which was bound 1 cause Increasing friction , and which Jeopa dlzed the peace of the continent. Undi this agreement Venezuela agreed to B < apart a certain percentage of the custon receipts of two of her ports to be appllc to the payment of whatever obllgutloi might be ascertained by mixed comml slons appointed for that purpose to be dt from her , not only to the three powers a ready mentioned , whose proceedings again ! her had resulted In n state of war , but als to the United States , France , Spain , Be glum , the Netherlands. Sweden ana Norway and Mexico , who had not employed fore for the collection of the claims alleged to b due to certain of their citizens. A demand was then made by the so-calle blockading powers that the sums nscertah ed to be due to their citizens by sue mixed commissions should be accorded paj ment In full before anything was pal upon the claims of any of the so-callc peace powers. Venezuela , on the othc hand. Insisted that all her creditors shoul be paid upon a basis of exact cqualltj During the efforts to adjust this dispute I was Guggested by the powers In Interea that it should be referred to me for d cislon , but I was clearly of the oplnlo that a far wiser course would be to sut uJt the question to the Permanent Cour of Arbitration at The Hague. It seeme to me to offer an admirable opportunity t advance the practice of the peaceful settle meut of disputes between nations and to se cure for the Hague Tribunal a memorabl Increase of Its practical Importance. Th nations Interested In the controversy wer so numerous and In many Instances s powerful as to make It evident that benefl cent results would follow from their ap pearance at the samp time before the ba of that august tribunal of peace. Our hopes In that regard have been real tzed. Russia nnd Austria are representei In the persons of the learned and dlstln gulshed jurists who compose the tribunal while Great Britain , Germany , France Spain , Italy , Belgium , the Netherlands Sweden and Norway , Mexico , the Unltec States , and Venezuela are represented bj their respective agents and counsel. There seems good ground for the belle ; that there has been a real growth among the civilized nations of a sentiment whlcl will permit a gradual substitution of othei methods than the method of war In th ( settlement of disputes. It is not pretendec : hut as yet we are near a position In whlcl t will be possible wholly to prevent war or that a Just regard for national luteresl and honor will In all cases permit of the settlement of International disputes by ar bitratlon ; but by n mixture of prudence and firmness with wisdom we think It is possible to do away with much of the provo cation nnd excuse for war , and at least In many cases to substitute some other and more rational method for the settlement ol disputes. .Relations with Turkey nnd China. ISarly in July , having received intelligence , which happily turned out to be erroneous , of the assassination of our Vice Consul at Beirut , I dispatched a small squadron to that port for such sen-Ice as might be found necessary on arrival. Although the attempt on the life of our Vice Consul had not been successful , yet the outrage was symptomatic of a state of excitement und disorder which demanded immediate at tention. The arrival of the vessels had the happiest result. A feeling of security at once took the place of the former alarm nud disquiet ; our officers were cordially welcomed by the consular body and the leading merchants , and ordinary business resumed its activity. The Government of the Sultan gave a considerate hearing to the representations of our minister ; ihe of ficial who was regarded as responsible for the disturbed condition of affairs was re moved. Our relations with the Turkish Government remain friendly ; our claims founded on inequitable treatment of some of our schools and missions appear to be In process of amicable adjustment. The signing of a new commercial treaty with China , which took place at Shanghai on the 8th of October , Is a cause for satis faction. This act , the result of long dis cussion and negotiation , places our com mercial relations with the great Oriental Empire on a more satisfactory footing than they have ever heretofore enjoyed. It pro vides not only for the ordinary rights and privileges of diplomatic and consular offi cers , but also for an important extension of our commerce by increased facility of nccess to Chinese ports , and for the relief af trade by the removal of some of the obstacles which have embarrassed It In the past. The full measure of develop ment which our commerce may rightfully expect can hardly be looked for until the settlement of the present abnormal state ) f things In the Empire ; but the founda- : iou for such development has at last been aid. Rural Free Delivery. The rural free-delivery service has been steadily extended. The attention of the Congress is asked to the question of the : ompcnsatioD of the letter carriers and 'lerks engaged In the postal service , espe- : lally on the new rural free-delivery routes. Vlore routes have been installed since the irst of July last than In any like period n the Department's history. While a due egard to economy must be kept in mind n the establishment of new routes , yet : he extension of the rural free-delivery lystem must be continued , for reasons of ; ound public policy. No governmental novement of recent years has resulted In greater immediate benefit to the people of he country districts. Rural free delivery , aken In connection with the telephone , he bicycle , and the trolley , accomplishes nuch toward lefining the Isolation of arm life and ma ug it brighter uud more ittractive. Rural free delivery Is not only . good thing In itself , but is good because t is one of the causes which check this inwholesome tendency toward the urban oncentration of our population at the ex- iense of the country districts. It Is for he same reason that we sympathize with nd approve of the policy of building good oads. oads.Alaska Alaska and Insular Possessions. I call your special attention to the Ter- itory of Alaska. The country Is develop- ug rnpldly , and It has an assured future. ? he mineral wealth Is great and has as yet ardly been tapped. The fisheries , If wiser - r handled and kept under national con- rol , will be a business as permanent as ny other , and of the utmost Importance 0 the people. The forests If properly uarded will form another great source of realth. Portions of Alaska are fitted for arming and stock raising , although the icthods must be adapted to the peculiar ondltlons of the country , Alaska Is sltu- ted In the far north : but BO are Norway nd Sweden and Finland ; and Alaska can rosper and play Its part In the New Vorld just as those nations have prosper- d and played their parts In the Old World. Of our Insular possessions the Phillp- Ines and Porto Rico It Is gratifying to ay that their steady progress has been uch as to make It unnecessary to spend mch time In discussing them. Yet the ougress should ever keep In mind that a eculiar obligation rests upon us to fur- icr In every way the welfare of these ommunltles. The Philippines should be nit closer to us by tariff arrangements. t would , of course , be Impossible sudden- r to raise the people of the islands to the Igh pitch of Industrial prosperity and of overumental efficiency to which they will 1 the end by degrees attain ; and the cau- on and moderation shown In developing lern have been among the main reasons hy this development has hitherto gone a BO smoothly. Scrupulous care has been iken In the choice of governmental agents , nd the entire elimination of partisan poll- cs from the public service. The condi- on of the islanders Is In material things ir better than ever before , while their 3vernmental , Intellectual , and moral ad- unce has kept pace with their material Ivance. No one people ever benefited an ther people more than we have benefited le Filipinos by taking possession of the landb. Public Land Ln-wa. Experience has shown that In the West- n States themselves , as well as In the : st of the country , there Is widespread mvictlon that certain of the public-land ws and the resulting administrative prac- ce no longer meet the present needs. The laracter nnd uses of the remaining pub- c lands differ widely from those of the ibllc lands which Congress had especially i view when these laws were passed. The tpldly Increasing rate of disposal of the ibllc land Is not followed oy a corre spending Increase In home building. Ther Is a tendency to mass In large holding public lands , especially timber and grazln lands , and thereby to retard settlement I renew and emphasize my recommendatlo of last year that so far as they are aval able for agriculture In Its broadest sense and to whatever extent they may be n claimed under the national Irrigation Ia the remaining public lands should be hel rigidly for the home bu'lder. The ntteu tion of the Congress Is especially directs to the timber and stone law , the deseri land law * and the commutation clause o the homestead law , which In their opera tion have In many respects conflicted wltl wise public-land policy. The work of reclamation of the arli lands of the West Is progressing stendll' and satisfactorily under the terms of th' law settlug aside the proceeds from th disposal of public lands. Surveys and ex amlnatlons are progressing throughout tin arid States and Territories , plans for re claiming works being prepared and passei upon by boards of engineers before approv al by the Secretary of the Interior Ii Arizona and Nevada. In localities when such work Is pre-eminently needed con structlon has already been begun. In othe of the arid West parts various projects an well advanced toward the drawing HD o contracts , these being delayed In part bi necessities of reaching agreements or an derstandlng as regards rights of war 01 acquisition of real estate. During the year ended June 30 last 25. 566 persons were appointed through com petltlve examinations under the clvll-ser vice rules. This was 12,672 more thai during the preceding year , and 40 per ceni of those who passed the examinations This abnormal growth was largely occa sloned by the extension of classification tc the rural free-delivery service nnd the an polntment last year of over 9.000 rural carriers. A revision of the clvll-servlc rules took effect on April 15 last , whlcl has greatly Improved their operation. Army and Navy. The effect of the Inws providing a Gen eral Staff for the Army and for the more effective use of the National Guard has been excellent. Great Improvement has been made In the efliclency of our Army In recent years. Such schools as those erected at Fort Leavenworth and Fort RIley - ley and the Institution of fall maneuver work accomplish satisfactory results. The good effect of these maneuvers upon the National Guard Is marked , and ample ap propriation should be made to enable the guardsmen of the several States to share In the benefit. The government should as soon as possible secure suitable perma nent camp sites for military maneuvers In the various sections of the country. The service thereby rendered not only to the Regular Army , but to the National Guard of the several States , will be so great as to repay many times over the relatively small expense. We should not rest satis- fled with what has been dune , however. The only people who ure contented with a system of promotion by mere seniority are those who are contented with the tr'umph of mediocrity over excellence. On the other hand a system which encouraged the exercise of social or political favoritism In promotions would be even worse. But It would surely be easy to devise a method of promotion from grade to grade In which the opinion of the higher officers of the service upon the candidates should be de cisive upon the standing and promotion of the latter. Just such a system now ob tains at West Point. I heartily congratulate the Congress upon the steady progress In building up the American Navy. We can not afford a let up In this great work. To stand still means to go back. There should be no cessation In adding to the effective units of the fighting strength of the fleet. Meanwhile the Navy Department and the officers of the Navy are doing well their part by providing con stant service at sea under conditions akin to those of actual warfare. Our ofiicers and enlisted men are learning to handle the battle ships , cruisers , and torpedo boats with high efficiency In fleet nnd squadron formations , and the standard of marksman ship Is being steadily raised. j It Is eminently desirable , however , that there should be provided a naval general staff on lines similar to those of the Gen eral Staff lately created for the Army. Isthml-m Canal. By the act of June 28 , 1902 , the Congress authorized the President to enter Into treaty with Colombia for the building of the canal across the Isthmus of Panama : It being provided that In the event of failure to se cure such treaty after the lapse of a rea sonable time , recourse should be had to building a canal through Nicaragua. It has tot been necessary to consider this alteijna- tlve , as I am enabled to lay before the Senate a treaty providing for the building [ if the canal across the Isthmus of Panama. This was the route which commended Itself to the deliberate judgment of the Congress , ind we can now acquire by treaty the right to construct the canal over this route. The luestion now , therefore , Is not by which oute the isthmian canal shall be built , for that question has been definitely and Irre vocably decided. The question Is simply tvhether or not we shall have nn Isthmian When the Congress directed that we ihould take the Panama route under treaty ivlth Colombia , the essence of the condl- ; Ion , of course , referred not to the Govern- neiit which controlled that route , but to he route Itself ; to the territory across vhich the route lay , not to the name which 'or the moment the territory bore on the uap. The purpose of the law" was to author- ze the President to make a treaty with the > ewer In actual control of the Isthmus of 'anama. This purpose has been fulfilled. In the year 1846 this Government en- ered into a treaty with New Granada , the tredecessor upon the Isthmus of the Re- mbllc of Colombia nnd of the present Re- ubllc of Panama , by which treaty It was irovided that the Government and citizens if the United States should always have ree and open right of way or transit across he Isthmus of Panama by any modes of ommuulcntion that might be constructed , rhile In return our Government guaranteed he perfect neutrality of the above-men- loned Isthmus with the view that the ree transit from the one to the other sea light not be Interrupted or embarrassed. ? he treaty vested In the United States a ubstantlal property right carved out of he rights of sovereignty and property fhlch New Granada then had and pos- essed over the said territory. The name f New Granada has passed away and ita erritory has been divided. Its successor , tie Government of Colombia , has ceased j owu any property In the Isthmus , A new tepubllc , that of Panama , which was at ne time a sovereign State , and at another line a mere department of the successive oufederatlona known as New Granada aud ! olombla , has now succeeded to the rights rhich first one and then the other formerly xercised over the Isthmus. But as long s the Isthmus endures , the mere geograph- : al fact of Its existence , and the peculiar iterest therein which Is required by our osltlon , perpetuate the solemn contract hich binds the holders of the territory to aspect our right to freedom of transit cross It , and binds us in return to safe- uard for the Isthmus and the world the xerclse of that inestimable privilege. The rue interpretation of the obligation upon 'hlch the United States entered in this reaty of 184G has been given repeatedly i the utterances of Presidents and Secre- irles of State. Secretary Cass in ISoS of- clally stated the position of this Govern- tent as follows : "The progress of events has rendered the iteroceanic route across the narrow portion ' Central America vastly Important to the jminerclal world , and especially to the nited States , whose possessions extend long the Atlantic and Pacific coasts , and jmand the speediest and easiest modes of Dmmunlcntion. While the rights of BOV- elguty of the States occupying this region lould always be respected , we shall ez- sct that these rights be exercised In n ) lrlr befitting the occasion and the wants iid circumstances that have arisen. Sov- reignty has Its duties as well as Its guts , and none of these local govern- ; ents , even If administered with more re- ird to the just demands of other na- ons than they have been , would be per- iltted. In a spirit of Eastern isolation , to ese the gates of Intercourse on the great ighways of the world , and justify the act 7 the pretension that these avenues of ade and travel belong to them and that ley choose to shut them , or , what Is al- est equivalent , to encumber them with ich unjust relations as would prevent lelr general use. " Seven years later. In 1865 , Mr. Seward In fferent communications took the following > altlon : ' "The United States hira Uita and will take no Interest In any question of interna revolution In the State of Panama , or nn ; State of the United States of Colombia but will maintain a perfect neutrality Ii connection with such domestic altercations The United States will , nevertheless , hol ( themselves ready to protect the transl trade across the Isthmus against Invasloi of either domestic or foreign disturbers o the peace of the State of Pannmn. ' Neither the text nor the spirit of the stip ulntlon In that article by which the Unlte < States engages to preserve the neutrallt : of the Isthmus of Panama , Imposes an ob llgatlon on this Government to comply wltl the requisition ( of the President of thi United States of Colombia for a force t ( protect the Isthmus of Panama from a bodj of Insurgents of that country ) . The pur pose of the stipulation was to guarantee the lethums against seizure or Invasion bj a foreign power only. " Attorney-General Speed , under date ol November 7 , 1865 , advh > ed Secretary Seward as follows : "From this treaty It can not be sup posed that New Granada Invited the United States to become a party to the Intestine troubles of that Government , nor did the United States become bound to take side * In the domestic broils of New Granada. The United States did guarantee New Granada In the sovereignty and property over the territory. This was as against other and foreign governments. " For four hundred years , ever since shortly after the discovery of this hemisphere , the canal across the Isthmus lias been planned. For two score years It has been worked at. When made It Is to last for the ages. It Is to alter the geography of a continent and the trade routes of the world. We have shown by every treaty we have negotiated or attempted to negotiate with the peoples lu control of the Isthmus and with for eign nations In reference thereto our con sistent good faith In observing our obliga tions ; on the one hand to the peoples of the Isthmus , and on the other hand to the civilized world whose commercial rights we are safeguarding and guaranteeing by our action , we have done our duty to oth ers ID letter and In spirit , and we have shown the utmost forbearance la exacting our own rights. Last spring , under the act above referred to , a treaty concluded between the repre sentatives of the Republic of Colombia and of our Government was ratified by the Sen ate. This treaty was entered Into at the urgent solicitation of the people of Colom bia and after a body of experts appointed by our Government especially to go Into the matter of the routes across the Isthmus had pronounced unanimously In favor of the Panama route. In drawing up this treaty every concession was made to the people and to the Government of Colombia. We were more thnn just In dealing with them. Our generosity was such as to make It a serious question whether we had not gone too far in their Interest at the expense of our own ; for In our scrupulous desire to pay all possible heed , not merely to the real but even to the fancied rights of our weaker neighbor , who already owed so much to our protection and forbearance , we yield ed In all possible ways to her desires In drawing up the treaty. Nevertheless the Government of Colombia not merely re pudiated the treaty , but repudiated It In such manner as to make It evident by the time the Colombian Congress adjourned that not the scantiest hope remained of ever get ting a satisfactory treaty from them. The Government of Colombia luade the treaty , and yet when the Colombian Congress was called to ratify It the vote against ratifi cation was unanimous. It does not appear that the Government made any real effort to secure ratification. Revolution in Panama * Immediately after the adjournment of the Congress a revolution broke out la Panama , The people of Panama had long been discontented with the Republic of Co lombia , and they had been kept quiet only by the prospect of the conclusion of the Lreaty , which was to them a mutter of vi tal concern. When It became evident that the treaty was hopelessly lost , the people of Panama rose literally as one man. Not a shot was fired by a single man on the Isthmus In the interest of the Colombian Government. Not a life was lost In the accomplishment of the revolution. The Co lombian troops stationed on the Isthmus , who had long been unpaid , made common cause with the people of Panama , and ivlth astonishing unanimity the new Repub lic was started. The duty of the United States in the premises was clear. In strict accordance with the principles laid down by Secretaries Cass and Seward in the of ficial documents above quoted , the United States gave notice that It would permit the andlng of no expeditionary force , the ar rival of which would mean chaos and de struction along the line of the railroad and ) f the proposed canal , and an Interruption ) f transit as an inevitable consequence. The de facto Government of Panama tvas recognized In the following telegram ; o Mr. Ehrman : "The people of Panama lave , by apparently unanimous movement , ilssolved their political connection with : he Republic of Colombia and resumed ; helr Independence. When you are satls- ied that a de facto government , republican n form and without substantial opposition rom Us own people , has been established n the State of Panama , you will enter nto relations with It as the responsible rovernment of the territory and look to It or all due action to protect the persons ind property of citizens of the United Hates and to keep open the Isthmian tran- It , In accordance with the obligations of xlstlng treaties governing the relations if the T'nlted States to that territory. " The Government of Colombia was notl- ied of our action by the following tele- Tarn to Mr. Beaupre : "The people of 'anama having , by an apparently unanl- , aous movement , dissolved their political onnectlon with the Republic of Colombia nd resumed their Independence , and hav- ng adopted a government of their own , re- lUbllcan In form , with which the Govern ment of the United States of America has ntered Into relations , the President of he United States , In accordance with tk * les of friendship which have so long and o happily existed between the respective atlons , most earnestly commends to the rovernment of Colombia and of Panama he peaceful and equitable settlement of 11 questions at Issue between them. He olds that he Is bound not merely by treaty bllgatlons. but by the Interests of clvllf- atlon , to see that the peaceful traffic of ne world across the Isthmus of Panama nail not longer be disturbed by a constant accession of unnecessary and wasteful Ivll wars. " When these events happened , fifty-seven ears bad elapsed since the United States ad entered Into Its treaty with New rranada. During that time the Goveru- lents of New Granada and of Its suc- essor , Colombia , hnve been In a constant tate of flux. There have been revolu- ons , rebellions , Insurrections , riots , and 1 ther outbreaks , numbering 53 for the 67 t ears. It Is a fact that one of them lasted ( ir nearly three years before It was quell- J ; another for nearly a year. In short , ic experience of .over half a century has lown Colombia to be utterly Incapable of eeping order on the Isthmus. Only the ctlve Interference of the United States as enabled her to preserve so much as a jmblance of sovereignty. Had It not een for the exercise by the United States f the police power In her Interest , her jnnectlon with the Isthmus would have sen sundered long ago. In ISoG , In 1SCO. i 1S73 , In 18S3. In 1901. and again In 1902. illors and marines from United States ar ships were forced to land In order to itrol the Isthmus , to protect life and roperty. and to see that the transit across le Isthmus was kept open. In 1S61. In > S5 , and in 1900 , the Colombian Govern- ent asked that the United States Govern- ent would land troops to protect its In- irests and maintain order on the Isthmus. Colombia's Latest Proposition. Perhaps the most extraordinary request that which has Just been received aud hlch runs as follows : "Knowing that revolution has already immeuced In Panama ( an eminent Colom- nn ) says that If the Government of the nlted States will land troops to preserve ilomblan sovereignty , and the transit. If quested by Colombian charge d'affaires. Is government will declare martial law ; id , by virtue of vested constitutional ithorlty , when public order Is disturbed , 111 approve by decree the ratification of e canal treaty as signed : or. If the Gov- nment of the United States prefers , will II extra session of the Congress with > w and friendly members next May to prove the treaty. ( An eminent Coleman - an ) has the perfect confidence of vice esldent , he says , and If It became neces- ry will go to the Isthmus or send repre- ntatlve there to adjust matters along K > ve lines to the satisfaction of th * peo- B there. " This dispatch Is noteworthy from tw standpoints. Its offer of Immediately guaranteeing the treaty to us la In sharp contrast with the positive and contemptu ous refusal of the Congress which has just closed Its sessions to consider favorably such a treaty ; It shows that the govern ment which made the treaty really had ab solute control over the situation , but did not choose to exercise this control. Th * dispatch further calls on us to restore or der and secure Colombian supremacy la th * Isthmus from which the Colombian Gov ernment has just by Its action decided t bar us by preventing the construction of the canal. I ontrol of Great Importance. The control. In the Interest of the co - merce and traflJc of the whole civilize * world , of the means of undisturbed transit across the Isthmus of Panama has becora of transcendent Importance to the United States. We have repeatedly exercised thla control by Intervening In the coarse of do mestic dissension , and by protecting th * territory from foreign Invasion. In 185J Mr. Everett assured the Peruvian miniate * that we should not hesitate to maintain the neutrality of the Isthmus In the cM of war between Peru and Colombia. 1884 Colombia , which has always beea vigi lant to avail Itself of Its privileges con ferred b > the treaty , expressed Us expec tation that In the event of war between Peru and Spain the United States would carry Into effect the guaranty of neutrali ty. There have been few administration of the State Department In which thtt treaty haa not , either by the one side or the other , been used as a basis of mor * or less Important demands. It was said by Mr. Fish In 1871 that the Department of State had reason to believe that an at tack upon Colombian sovereignty on th Isthmus had , on several occasions , bee averted by warning from thlc government. In 1888 , when Colombia was under tb * menace of hostilities from Italy In th Cerrutl case , Mr. Bayard expressed the s - rlous concern that the United States could not but feel that a European power should resort to force against a sister republic of this hemisphere , as to the sovereign and uninterrupted use of a part of whose terri tory we are guarantors under the soIemB faith of a treaty. The abovt recital of facts establishes beyond question : First , that the United States has for over half a centurr pa tiently and In good faith carried out Ita ob ligations under the treaty of 1848 ; second , that when for the first time It became pos sible for Colombia to do anything In re quital of the services thus repeatedly ren dered to It for fifty-seven years by th United States , the Colombian Government peremptorily and offensively refused thus to do its part , evn though to do so would have been to Its advantage and Immeasur ably to the advantage of the State of Pan ama , at that time under Its jurisdiction ! third , that throughout this period revolu tions , riots and factional disturbances of every kind have occurred one after th * other in almost uninterrupted succession , pome of them lasting for months and eves for years , while- the central government was unnble to put them down or to rank * peace with the rebels ; fourth , that thes disturbances Instead of showing any slga of abating hnve tended to grow more nu merous nnd mere serious In the Immediate past ; fifth , that the control of Colombia aver the Isthmus of Panama could not b maintained without the armed Intervention ind assistance of the United States. la Jther words , the Government of Columbia , though wholly unable to maintain order > n the Isthmus , has nevertheless declined to ratify a treaty the conclusion of which jpened the only chance to secure Its own stability nnd to guarantee permanent peace ) n , and the construction of a canal across. : he Isthmus. Under such circumstances the Govern- nent of the United States would hav * ) een guilty of folly and weakness , nmount- ng In their sum to a crime against the na- lon , bad It acted otherwise than It did vhen the revolution of Nov. 3 last took > Inci * In Panama. This great enterprlsa if building the Interoceanlc canal cannot > e held up to gratify tne whims , or out of espect to the governmental Impotence , or 0 the even more sinister nnd evil political ecullarltles , of people who , though they [ well afar off , against the wish of th * ictual dwellers on the Isthmus , assert an inreal supremacy over the territory. Th * lossesslon of n territory fraught with ouch lecullar capacities ns the Isthmus In ques- lon carries with It obligations to man- : Ind. The course of events has shown that his canal cannot be built by private enter- irlse , or by any other nation than our wn ; therefore It must be built by th * Inlted States. Must Now Deal with Panama. Every effort has been made by the Gor- rnment of the United States to persuade 'olombla ' to follow a course which wa ssentlally not only to our Interests nnd to IP world , but to the Interests of Colombia , self. These efforts have failed ; and Co- imbla , by her persistence In repulsing th * ilvances that have been made , has forced B , for the sake of our own honor , and of IB Interest and well-being , not merely of ur own people , but of the people of th * sthmus of Panama and the people of the vlllzed countries 01 the world , to take de slve steps to bring to an end n condition ' affairs which had become Intolerable. The new Republic of Panama Immedlat- offered to negotiate a treaty with ua. his treaty I herewith submit. By It on ? iterests are better safeguarded than In th * eaty with Colombia which was ratified by le Senate at Its last session. It Is better 1 Its terms than the treaties offered to u * ir the Republics of Nicaragua and Cost * lea. At last the right to begin this great idertaktng Is made available. Panama ha > ne her part. All that remains Is for th * merlcnn Congress to do Its part and forth- 1th this Republic will enter open th * cecntlon of a project colossal In Its six * id of well-nigh Incalculable possibilities ir the good of this country and the n * tins of mankind. By the provisions of the treaty the United : ates guarantees and will maintain the In- > pendence of the Republic of Panama , liere Is granted to the United States la irpetulty the use. occupation , nnd control a strip ten miles wide and extendln * ree nautical miles Into the sea at elthe * rmlnal. with all lands lying outside o ? e rene necessary for the construction of _ e canal or for Its auxiliary works , and Ith the Islands In the Bay of Panama , le cities of Panama and Colon are not ibraced In the canal zone , but the United ates assumes their sanitation and. In cas * need , the maintenance of order therelDt e United States enjoys within the granted nits all the rights , power , and authority ilch It would possess were It the soverelem the territory to the exclusion of the exer- ie of sovereign rights by the Republic. All llway and canal property rights belonging Panama and needed for the canal nasS the United States , Including any property the respective companies In the cities of mama and Colon ; the works , prooerftx d personnel of the canal and rallwa& exempted from taxation as well In th les of Panama nnd Colon as In the canal tie and Its dependencies. Frpe Immlera- > n of the personnel and Importation of pplles for the construction nnd operation the canal are granted. Provision Is mnda r the use of military force and the hulld- : of fortifications by the United States the protection of the transit. In other tails , particularly as to the acquisition of Interests of the New Panama Canal mpany and the Panama Railway by th ilted States and the condemnation of given for these enlarged grants emalmi same , being ten millions of dolIaraT le on exchange of ratifications ; and mlng nine years from that date an a al payment of $250.000 during the life or i convention. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Positively UrntnL "Do you know what the average > man's weight is ? " asked the fal * iewriter boarder , who was Interested statistics. "Sure , " replied the scanty-haire * chelor at the foot of the table. "He * lit Is until some fool man propose * . * A Lost Opportunity. Cohen I often wish I had m&a , Hure of life. Levy Vy ? Cohen Dink vet a sugzew W C pe nl Brooklja Lift ,
