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VOLUME XXXIV. NUMBER 36.
COLUMBUS. NEBRASKA, WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 9. 1903.
WHOLE NUMBER 1.707.
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EL
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.
The Prsaidcm Charga
Bad Faith in Repudiating the Treaty Between That Country
and die United States Precedents Brought Forward to Explain
the Attitude of the State Department in the Recent Crisis
Country Has Been in an Almost Constant State of Turmoil
for Many Years The Importance of Preserving Peace in
the Isthmus Declared of Paramount Importance.
President Rosevelt's message to the
second session of the Fifty-eighth Con
gress is substantially as follows:
To the Semite and House of Represen
tatives: The country ia to be congratulated on
the amount at substantial achievement
which haa marked the past year fcth aa
retards our foreign and aa regarda our
domestic policy.
With a nation aa with a man the moat
important thinga are these of. the house
hold, and therefore the country ia espe
cially to b congratulated on what haa
been accomplished in the direction of pro
viding for the exercise of supervision
over the grat corporations and combina
tions of corporations engaged in inter
state commerce. The Congress has- cre
ated the Department of Commerce and
Labor including the Bureau of Corpora
tions, with for the drat time authority to
secure proper publicity cf such proceed
ings if these great corporations aa the
public haa the right to know. It haa pro
vided for the expediting of suits for the
enforcement of the Federal anti-truat
law. and by another law it haa secured
equal treatment to all producers in the
transportation of their goods, thus taking
a long stride forward In malting effective
the work of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Department cf Commerce and Labor.
The establishment of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, with the Bureau
of Corporations thereunder, marks a real
advance in the direction of doing all that
is possible for the solution of the questions
vitally affectirg capitalists and wage
workera. Functions cf New Department.
The preliminary work of the Bureau
of Corporations in the department has
shown the wisdom of its creation. Pub
licity In corporate affairs will tend to do
away with ignorance, and will afford
facts upon which Intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic, intelligent inves
tigation ia already developing facta the
knowledge of which i3 essential to a right
understanding of the needs and duties of
the business world. The corporation
which is honestly and fairly organized,
whose managers in the "onduct of its
business recognize their obligation to deal
ciuarely with their stockholders, their
competitors, and the public, haa nothing
to fear from such supervision. The pur
pose of this bureau is not to emfcarraa3
or assail legitimate business, but to aid
in bringing about a better fcdustnal con
dition a condition under which there
shall be obedience to !aw and recognition
of public obligation by all corporations.
great or small. The Department of Com
merce and Labor will be not only the
clearing house for mfirmation regarding
th business transactions of the nation
but the executive arm of the government
to aid in strengthening our domestic and
foreign markets, in perfecting our trans
portation facilities, in building up our
merchant marine. In preventing the en
trance of undesirable immigrants, in im
proving commercial and industrial condi
tions, and in bringing together on com
mon ground thoe necessary partners in
Industrial progress capital and labor
Commerce between the nations ia stead
ily growing in volume, and the tendency
of the times Li toward closer trade rela
tions. Constant watchfulness is needed
to .secure to Americans the fhance to par
ticipate to the 'st advantage in foreign
trade, and we may confidently expect
that the new department will justify the
expectation of its creators by the exer
cise of this watchfulness, as well as by
the businesslike administration of such
laws relating to our internal affairs as
are Intrusted to its care
In enact-ng the laws above enumerated
Ihe Congress proceeded on sane and con
servative lires. Nothing revolutionary
was attempted, but a common-sense and
successful effort was made in the direc
tion of seeing that corporations are so
handled as to subserve the public good.
The iecisiation was moderate. It was
cha-ac'-nzed throughout by the idea that
we a to not attaenng corporations, but
onde-ivoring to provide for doing away
with anv evil in them: that we drew the
line against misconduct, not against
wealth giidly recosrnizmg the great jood
dune by capitalists who alone, or In
conjunction with his fellows, dos his
work along proper and legitimate lines.
The purpose of the legislation, which pur
pose tv ul undoubtedly be tul111ed. was "to
favor such a man when, he does well, and
to supervise hia" action only to prevent
him from doing UL Publicity can do no
harm to the honest corporation. The
only corporation that has cause to dread
It ia the corporation whics shrinks from
the light, and about the welfare of such
corporations we need not he oversensitive.
The work cf the Department of Com-r-erce
and Labor has been conditioned
upon this theory of securing fair treat
ment alike for labor and for capitaL
Capital and Laccr.
The consistent policy of the national
government, so far aa it haa the power,
is to hold in eneck the unscrupulous man.
whether employer or employer but to re
fuse to weaken individual initiative or
to hamper or cramp the industrial devel
opment of the country. We recognise
that this ia an era of freedom and com
bination, m which great capitalistic cor
porations and labor anions have become
factors of tremendous Importance in. all
industrial centers. Hearty rscogsitian ia
gives the far-reaching, beneficent work
'vhich 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, the effort be
ing to treat bqth organized capital and
organized labor alike; asklns nothing
save the interest of each, shall be brought
into harmony witn 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 Whenevrr 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 ethers, whether corpora
tions or individuals, then where the
Federal 'Government has jurisdiction, it
will see to it that the misconduct ia
stepped, paying not the slightest heed to
the- position or power of the corporation,
the union, cr the individual, hut only to
nne vital fact that is. the question wheth
er or not the conduct of the individual
or asgregate of individuals ia in. ac
cordance with the law cf the land. Every
mas must be guaranteed bis liherty and
I bis right to do as he Ukea with, his prop-
I arty er bis lahor. so long as h does sat
infringe the rights of others. No man Is
above the law and no man la below it;
nor do we aak any man's permission when
we require him to obey it. Obedience to
the law i3 demanded aa a right; not asked
aa a. favor
Receipts and Expenditures.
From all sources, exclusive of the pos
tal service, the receipts of the govern
ment for the last fiscal year aggregated
EC0.33;.o74. The expenditures for the
same period were J30tj.fc9,0Q7. the surplus
for the fiscal year being S34.CD7.fi6T. The
indications are that the aurplua for the
present fiscal year will be very small, if
indeed there be any surplus. From July
to November the receipts from cuatoms
were, approximately, nine million dollars
less than the receipts from the same
source for a corresponding portion of last
year. Should this decrease continue at
the same ratio throughout the fiscal
year, the surplus would be reduced by,
approximately, thirty million dollars.
Should the revenue from customs snffer
much further decrease during the fiscal
year, the surplus would vanish, A large
surplus ia certainly undesirable. Two
year3 ago the war taxea were taken off
with the expreaa intention of equalizing
the government receipta and expenditures,
and though the flrat year thereafter still
ahowed a surplus, it now seems likely
that a substantial equality of revenue
and expenditure will be attahied. Such
being the case it ia of great moment both
to exercise care and economy in. appro
priations., and to scan sharply any change
in our fiscal revenue aystem which may
reduce our income. The need of strict
economy in our expenditures ia empha
sized by the fact that we can not afford
to be oarsimonious in providing for what
ia essential to our national well-being.
Careful economy wherever possible will
alone prevent our income from falling
below the point required n order to meet
our genuine needs.
Needs cf Financial Situation.
The integrity of our currency Is beyond
question. aniLunder present conditions, it
would be unwise and unnecessary to at
tempt a reconstruction of our entire mon
etary system. The same liberty should
be granted the Secretary of the Treasury
to deposit customs receipta aa ia granted
him in the deposit of receipts from other
sources. In my message of Dec 2. 1302.
I called attention to certain needs of the
financial situation, and I again ask the
consideration of the Congress for these
questions.
Gold and Silver Standard.
During the last session of the Congress,
at the suggestion of a joint note from
the Republic of Mexico and the Imperial
Government of China, and in harmony
with an act of the Congress appropriat
ing J25.Q00 to pay the expenses thereof,
a commission was appointed to confer
with the principal European countries in
the hope that some plan might be devised
whereby a fixed rate of exchange could
be assured between the gold-standard
countries and the silver-stantiard coun
tries. This commission has filed its pre
liminary report, which haa been made
rubllc I dmm it Important that the
inmmission be continued, and that a sum
of money be appropriated sufiicient to
pay the expenses of its further labors.
With, regards to the improvement of
the American merchant marine the
President recommends that the Con
gress direct the Secretary of the
Navy, the Postmaster-General, and the
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 serve as a com
mission for the purpose of investigat
ing and reporting to the Congress at
its next session what legislation ia de
sirable or necessary for the develop
ment of the American merchant ma
rine and American commerce, and in
cidentally cf a national ocean mail
servire of adequate auxiliary naval
cruisers and navel reserves.
On the subject of immigration the
message calls attention to the report
of a committee of New York citizens
or high standing. Messrs. Arthur t.
Vriesen. Lee K. Frankel. Eugene A.
Philbin. Thomas W Hynes, and Ralph
Trautman. which deals with the whole
situation at length, and concludes with
certain recommendations for adminis
trative and legislative action. It is
now receiving the attention of the
Secretary of Commerce and Labor.
The message continues;
Anti-Trust Laws.
On the subject of the anti-trnst
measures , which have been dealt with,
by the Congress the President says:
la my last annual message, in connec
tion with the subject of the due regula
tion of combinations of capital which
are or may beccme injurious to the pub
lic I recommended a. special appropria
tion for the better enforcement of the
anti-trust law as it now stands, to be
expended under the direction of the Attorney-General.
Accordingly (by the leg
islative", executive and judicial appro
priation act of February 25. 1203. 32
Stat.. S4. 904). the Congress appropriated,
for the purpose of enforcing the various
Federal trust and interstate-commerce
laws, the sum of five hundred thousand
dollars, to be expended under the direc
tion of the Attamcy-General in the em
ployment of special counsel and agents
in the Department of Justice- to conduct
proceedings and prosecutions under said
laws in the court3 of the United States
I now recommend, as a matter of the ut
most importance and urgency, the exten
sion of the purposes cf ithis appropria
tion, so that it may be available, under
the direction of the Attorney-General, and
until used, far the due enforcement of
the laws of the United States In general
and especially of the civil and criminal
laws relating to public lands and the laws
relating to postal crimes and offenses and
the subject of naturalization. Hecent in
vestigations have shown a deplorable
state of affairs ia these three matters of
vital concern. By various frauds and
by- forgeries, and perjuries, thousands of
acres of the public domain, embracing
lands of different: character- and extend
ing through various sections of the coun
try., have been dishonestly acquired. It
Is hardly necessary to urge the import
ance of recovering these dishonest acqui
sitions, stolen from, tfee people, aad oC
promptly M duly punishing tba of
fenders. Postal Frawes.
I speak in aaother part of this sMaaaca
of the widespread crimes by whick th
sacred right of citizenship m falsely as
serted and that "lnestiasabla heritage
perverted to base ends. By similar awana
that is. through frauds, forgeries, and.
perjuries, and by shameleaa briberies
the laws relating to the proper caaduet
of the public service in general aad to
the due administratlan at the PestoMct
department have been aotoriaaaty- vio
lated, and many indictments have bees.
found, and the consequent praaecntlaBat
are In course of hearing or an the era
thereof. For the ieasona thus indicated.
and. so that the Government may be pre
pared to enforce promptly and witk the
greatest effect the dae penalties for sacs.
violations of law., and to this end. amy
be furnished with sufficient Instrumentali
ties and competent legal assistance far
the investigations and trials which, will
be necessary at many different points of
the country, I urge upon the Congress
the necessity of making the said appro
priation available for immediate naa for
all auch purposes, to be expended under
the direction of the Attorney-GeneraL-Needs
for Treaties Making rifeary
Extraditafcle.
Step- have been taken by the State
Department looking to the ma lrmg ot
Bribery an extraditable offense with for
eign powers- The need of more effective
treaties covering this crime is manifest.
The exposures and prosecutions of of
ficial corruption la St. Louis. Mo., and
other cities and states have resulted in
a number of givers and takers of bribes
becoming fugitives In foreign lands. Brib
ery has not been included in extradition
treaties heretofore, as the necessity for
it has not arisen. While there may have
been as much, official corruption in former
years, there " been more developed
and brought to light in the Immediate
past than in the preceding century of
our country's history. It should be the
policy of the United States to leave no
place on earth where a corrupt man
deefaig from this country can rest in
peace. There la no reason why bribery
should not be included in all treaties as
extraditable The recent amended treaty
with Mexico, whereby this crime was
put in the list of extraditable offenses,
has established a salutary precedent in
this regard. Under this treaty the State
Department has asked, and Mexico has
granted, the extradition of one of the St.
Louis bribe givers.
There can be no crime more serious
than bribery. Other offenses violate one
law, while corruption strikes at the foun
dation of all law. Under our form of gov
ernment all authority is vested in the
people and by them delegated to those
who represent thein in official capacity.
The exposure and punishment of public
corruption la an honor to a nation not
a disgrace. The shame lies In toleration,
not in correction. So city or state, still
less the nation, can be injured by the
enforcement of law. As long as public
plunderers when detected can find a
haven of refuge in any foreign land and
avoid punishment, just so long encour
agement is given them to continue their
practices. If we fail to do all that ia us
lies to stamp out corruption we can not
escape our share of responsibility for the
guilt. The first requisite of successful
self-government is unflinching enforce
ment of the law and the cutting out of
corruption.
Alaskan Boundary.
The message gives in detail the
causes which led to the appointment
of the Alaskan boundary commission,
and congratulates both countries on
the satisfactory termination of the
sessions of the tribunal. It continues:
The result is satisfactory in every way.
It is of great material advantage to our
people in the far Northwest. It haa re
moved from the field of discussion and
possible danger a question liable to be
come more acutely accentuated with each
passing year. Finally, it haa furnished
a signal proof of the fairness and good
will with which two friendly nations can
approach and determine issues involving
national sovereignty and by their nature
incapable of submission to a third power
for adjudication.
Claims Against Venezuela.
Referring; to the success which
crowned th efforts of the United
States to have the Venezuelan dis
pute submitted to impartial arbitra
tors the 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
be possible wholly to prevent war. or
that a Just, regard for national interest
and honor will in all cases permit of
the settlement of international disputes
by arbitration: but by a mixture of pru
dence and firmness with wisdom we think
it ia 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 message-
of Dec. 5. 2598, urged that the
Executive be authorized to correspond
with the governments of the principal
maritime powers with a view of in
corporating into the permanent law of
civilized nations the principle of the
exemption of all private property at
sea, not contraband of war, from cap
ture or destruction by belligerent
powers.
Presideat Roosevelt says he cor
dially renews this recommendation, as
a matter of humanity and morals.
Consular Service.
I call your attention to the reduced cost
in maintaining the consular service for
the fiscal year ending June 30. 1302. as
shown In the annual report of the Aud
itor for the State and other departments,
aa compared with the year previous. For
the year under consideration the excess
of expenditures over receipts an account
of the consular service amounted to CS,
125.12. aa against 9JC5T2.9 for the year
ending June X, 1302. and XU7.040.XS for the
year ending June 30. 1S0L This is the
best showing in. this respect for the con
sular service for the past fourteen years,
and the reduction in the cost of the serv
ice to the Government has been made in
spite of the fact that the expenditures for
the year in question were more than
J2O.00Q greater than for the previous year.
Rural Free-Delivery Service.
The rural free-delivery service has been
steadily extended. The attention of the
Congress is asked to the question of the
compensation of the letter enrrten and
clerks engaged in the postal service, es
pecially on the new rural free-delivery
routes. More routes have been installed
since the first of July last than in any
like period in the department's history.
While a due regard to economy must bo
xept tn nuna in tne estaousnment or new
! routes, yet the extension of the rural
j free-delivery system must be continued.
' for reasons of sound public policy- Xo
governmental movement of recent years
' has resulted, in greater immediate benefit
to the people of the country districts.
1 Rural free delivery., taken in connection
with- the telephone, the bicycle, and the
trolley, accomplishes much toward les
sening the isolation, of farm life and mak
ing it brighter and more attractive.. In
the immediate past the lack of Just such,
facilities as these has drives assay of the
more active and restless yosng ates and
women from the farms to ta cities;: for
they rebelled at loneliness aad lack of
mental companionship- It is unhealthy
and undesirable for the- cities ts grow at
the expense of the country;: aad. rural
free delivery ia sot only a good thins:
in itself, but is good, beranar it i as
of the causes which check: thai unwhole
some tendency towards the. araaax csa-
i cenrratipn of our papulation at tha ex
pense of the country ducietav It is far
the same reason that wa tjmpatnlss witk.
and approve of tike policy of aofTrtlnc
good, roads, Ther movement 3sr good
I roads is one fraugnr with, the
( benefit: to the- country districts.
la. the Pbilippises aad Porta sUea
It Is fcclared,. steady pTogreaa I
SKssa) aad the comditSon. of the
ers already baa bees, ataterially
0 tae subject of the public Iaads
of taW ceustrr the message says-
That cask receipts or the General Hand
Oales- for the last fiscal year- were $n.
etttstsL aa increase of K7g.S&T over
that preceding year: Of this sasa. apprax
Issately, IMEMS wHL go to the credit
of the fn"d for the reclamation of arid
land, siartng the total' of this fund, up
to the 3Bth of June, X98B, approximately.
pg,tatqs.
A. gratifying- disposition haa bees
evfaeed by those having- unlawful in
i Iiieui 1 1 of public land to remove their
fences, Nearly two million acres so in
closed sawa been thrown open on demand-
la hut comparatively few cases
has It seen necessary to go into court
to aecoatpiiah ' purpose. This work will
be vlgaraualy prosecuted until all unlaw
fal tnHaaarm have been removed,
IrrigatiQR.
Tha work of reclamation of the arid
laais ef the West ia progressing steadily
aad satisfactorily under the terms uf
the knr setting aside the proceeds front
taw iVaiwnsl of public lands The corps of
jmown as the Wpci-i wanna
Service, which, ia conducting the surveys
and examinations, has been thoroughly
organised, especial, pains being taken to
secure under the civil-service rules a
body of skilled, experienced, and efficient
men. Surveys and. examinations are
progressing throughout the arid states
and territories, plans for reclaiming works
being prepared and passed upon by
boards of engineers before approval by
the Secretary of the Interior. In Arizona
and Nevada, in localities where such
work is pre-eminently needed, construc
tion has already been begun. In other
parts of the arid "West various projects
are well advanced toward the drawing
up of contracts, these being delayed in
part by necessities of reaching agree
ments or underataading as regards rights
of way or acquisition of real estate. Host
of the works contemplated for construc
tion are of national Importance, involv
ing interstate questions or the securing
of stable, self-iupporting communities in
the midst of vast tracts of vacant land.
The Nation as a whole is of course the
gainer by the creation of these homes,
adding as they do to the wealth and sta
bility cf the country, and furnishing a
home market for the products of the Hast
anu South. The reclamation law, while
perhaps not ideal, appears at present to
answer the larger needs for which, it is
designed. Further legislation is not rec
ommended until the necessities of change
are more apparent
Preservation of Forests.
The President point3 out the neces
sity of taking- steps for the preserva
tion of oar forests, especially at the
headwaters' of streams. Of the cotton
weevil he says:
The cotton-growing States have re
cently been invaded by a weevil that has
done much, damage and threatens the
entire cotton Industry. I suggest to the
Congress the prompt enactment of such
remedial legislation as its Judgment may
approve.
The Philippines and Porto Rico.
Of our insular possessions the Philip
pines and Porto Hlco it Is gratifying, to
say that their steady progress has been
such as to make it unnecessary to spend
much lima in discussing them. Tet the
Congress should ever keep in mind that
a peculiar obligation rests upon us to
further in every way the welfare of these
communities. The Philippines should be
knit closer to us by tariff arrangements.
It would, of course, be impossible sud
denly to raise the people of the islands to
the high pitch of industrial prosperity
and of governmental efficiency to which
they win In the end by degrees attain r
and the caution and moderation shown
in developing them have been among
the main reasons why this development
has hitherto gone en so smoothly. Scru
pulous care haa been taken in the choice
of governmental agents, and the entire
elimination of partisan politics from the
public service. The condition of the
islanders is in material things far better
than ever before, while their govern
mental, intellectual, and moral advance
haa kept pace with their material ad
vance. No .one people ever benefited an
other people more than we have bene
fited the Filipinos by taking possession
of the islands.
isthmian Canal.
The causes leading up to the estab
lishment of the new republic of Pan.
ama. and its recognition by the
United States are given in much de
tail, as follows r
By the act of June 2S. 1302. the Con
gress authorized the President to enter
into treaty with Colombia for the 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 be had to building a canal
through Nicaragua, It haa not been
necessary to consider thi3 alternative, as
I am enabled to lay before the Senate
a treaty providing for the building of the
canal across the Iathmua of Panama.
Thia was the route which commended
Itself to the deliberate Judgment of the
ucngress, and we can now acquire by
treaty the right to construct the canal
over this route. The question now, there
fore, ia not by which route the isthmian
canal shall be built, for that question
haa been definitely and irrevocably de
cided. The question ia simply whether or
not we shall have an isthmian canal.
When the Congress directed that we
should take the Panama route under
treaty with. Colombia, the essence of the
condition, of course, referred not to the
Government which, controlled that route.
but to the route itself; to the territory
across which the route lay, not to the
name which, for the moment the territory
Kni-A w Th man. The nurnose of th law
was to authorize the President to make T
a treaty with the power in actual control
of the Isthmus of Panama. This purpose
ha3 been fulfilled.
In the year 16 this Government en
tered Into a, treaty with a'ew Granada,
the predecessor upon the Isthmus of
the Republic of Colombia aad of the
present Republic of Panama, by which
treaty it wa3 provided that the Govern
ment and citizens of the United States
should always have free and open right
of way or transit across the Isthmu3 of
Panama by any modes of communication
ffia might be constructed, while ia re
turn, our Government guaranteed the
perfect neutrality of the above-mentioned
isthmus with, the view that the free tran
sit from the one to the other sea might
not be interrupted or embarrassed. Tha
treaty vested ia the United States a
substantial property right carved out of
the rights of sovereignty and property
which New Granada then had aad pos
sessed over the said territory. The name
ofTNew Granada has passed away aad its
territory has been divided. Its successor,
the Government of Colombia, has ceased
to own any property in the Iatnmus. A
new republic, that of Panama, which was
at one time a sovereign state, aad at
another time a mere department of the
successive confederations known as New
Granada, and Colombia, has now suc
ceeded to the right3 which first one and
then the other formerly exercised over
the isthmus. But as long as the isthmus
endures, the mere geographical fact of Its
existence, and the peculiar interest there
in which Ia required by our position.
perpetuate the solemn contract which
binds the holders of the territory to re
spect our right to freedom of transit
across it. and binds us in return to safe
guard for the isthmus and the world the
exercise of that Inestimable privilege.
The true interpretation of the obliga
tions upon which, the United States en
tered in this treaty of 1S46 has been given,
repeatedly in. the utterances- of Presi
dents and Secretaries of State, Secretary
Cass ia. 1KB officially stated the position
of this Government as follows:
"The progress of events has rendered
the interoceanic route across the narrow
portion of Central America vastly intpor
taat to- the commercial world, and espa
dally to the United States, whose paa
naiiun i extend along the AfTanric and
Pacific, coasts, and demand the speediest
and easiest modes of commum'carioa.
Wail th rights of aovereignty of the
states occupying this, region.- should al
ways a respected, we shall expect that
at a spirit a
aad the wants
that 1
has Its duties as well as Its rights.
asat aasis of these local sevaraaaemta.
vast a? adaataiatared with, mart regard ts
ta Jaat deaaaaas of other nation than
they have teas, would s senaitted, kt a
spkic. of eastern laolatlaa. ta doe tha
gates of intercourse on'ta great high
ways of th world, and Justify the act by
th pi atari atan that these avenues of
trade sad travel belong to them and that
they canoaw to shut them, or. what is
alwast eqaivaleat. to encumber them
with sock unjust relations, aa would pre
vent their general use.'"
Seven yeara later. In 1363. 3fr. Seward
in diaTereat communications took the fol
io wins; poattiant
"That United States have taken and
wiU take no interest in any question of
internal revolution in .the State of Pan
ama, or any State of the United States of
Cakmbta. feat will maintain a perfect
neutrality is connection witk such do
mestic altercations. The United States
wiH. nevertheless, hold themselves ready
to protect the transit trade across th
isthmus against invasion of either de-
meatle or foreign disturbers of the
of th Stat of Panama, Not
the test ner the spirit of the stipulatias
in that article by which the United Stataa
engages to preserve the neutrality at ta
Isthmus of Panama. Imposes an obliga
tion on thia Government to comply with
the requiaitian of the President of th
United Status of Colombia, for a farce to
protect the Isthmus af Panama from a
body of insurgenai of that countryl. The
purpose of the stipulation was to guar
antee th iathmua against seizure or In
vasion by a foreign power only,"
Attorney-General Speed, under date of
Nov. T. 136, advised Secretary Seward as
follows:
"From this treaty lt 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 became bound
to take sides in the domestic broils of
New Granada. The United States did
guarantee New Granada m the sovereign
ty and property over the territory. This
was as against other and foreign govern
ments.
For four hundred years, ever since
shortly after the discovery of this hem
isphere, the canal across the isthmus has
been planned. For two score years it
has been worked at When made it is to
last for th ages. It is to alter the
geography of a continent and tne trade
routes of th world. We have shown by
every treaty we have negotiated or at
tempted to negotiate with tne peoples in
control of the isthmus and with foreign
nations in reference thereto our consis
tent good faith in observing oiir obliga
tions r on the one band to the peoples at
the isthmus, and on the other hand to
the civilised world whose commercial
rights we are safeguarding and guaran
teeing by our action. We have done our
duty to others in letter and in spirit and
we have' shown the utmost forbearance in
exacting our awn rights.
Last spring, under the act above re
ferred to. a treaty concluded between the
representatlnea of the Republic of Co
lombia and of our Government was rati
fied by the Senate. This treaty was en
tered Into at the urgent solicitation of
the people of Colombia and after a body
of experts appointed by our Government
especially to go into the matter of the
routes across the Isthmus had pronounced
nnanimonsly 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 than Just In dealing witn them. Our
generosity was such as to make it a se
rious question whether we had not gone
too far in their interest at the expense of
our awn: 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 yielded in all possible ways to her
desires in drawing up the treaty. Never
theless the Government of Colombia not
merely repudiated the treaty, but repu
diated it In such manner as to make It
evident by the time the Colombian Con
gress adjourned that not the scantiest
hope remained of ever getting a satis
factory treaty from them. The Govern
ment of Colombia made the treaty, and
yet when the Colombian Congress was
called to ratify it the vote against rati
fication was unanimous. It does not ap
pear that the Government made any real
effort to secure ratification.
Revolution in Panama.
Immediately after the adjournment of
the Congress a revolution broke out In
Panama. The people of Panama had
long been discontented with the Republic
of Colombia., and they had been kept quiet
only by the prospect of the conclusion
of the treaty, which was to them a mat
ter of vital 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 an the isthmus In the interest
of the Colombian Government. Not a
life was lost in the accomplishment of
the revolution. The Colombian troops
stationed on the Isthmus, who had long
been unpaid, made common cause with
the people of Panama, and with aston
ishing unanimity the nw republic was
staned. The duty of the United States
in the premises was clear In strict ac
cordance 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 landing of no expeditionary force,
the arrival of which would mean chaos
and destruction along the line of the rail
road and of the proposed canal, and an
interruption of transit as an inevitable
consequence. The de facto Government
of Panama was recognized in the follow
ing telegram to Mr. Ehrman.
"The people of Panama have, by ap
parently unanimous movement, dissolved
their political connection with the Re
public of Colombia and resumed their in
dependence. When you are satisfied that
a de facto government, republican in
form and without substantial opposition
from its awn people, has been established
In the State of Panama, you will enter
mto re!aIion3 lth lt tne responsible
government of the territory and look So
It for all due action to protect the per
sons aad property of citizens of the
United States and to keep open the
Isthmian transit, in accordance with the
obligations of existing treaties govern
ing the relations of the United States to
that territory."
Disturbances on Isthmus Since 184e.
When these events happened. flfty-3even
years had elapsed since 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, have been in a constant 3tate
of flux.
A long list of the disturbances and
revolutions which, have convulsed the
Isthmus is given, and the report con
cludes: The above Is only a partial list of the
revolutions, rebellions. Insurrections,
riots, and other outbreaks that have oc
curred during the period In question, yet
they number S for the oT years. It will
be noted that one of them lasted for near
ly three years before it was quelled; an
other for nearly a year. In short, the
experience of over half a century ha3
shown Colombia to be utterly incapable
of keeping order on the isthmus. Only
the active interference of the United
States has enabled her to preserve so
much as a semblance of sovereignty. Ead
It not been for the exercise by the United
States of th police power in her interest,
her connection with the Isthmus would
have been sundered long ago. In 12. in
IS, in 1S7I. in. 1SSS. in 1361. and again in
1302. sailors and marines from United
States war ships were forced to land in
order to patrol the isthmus, to protect
life and property, and to see that the
transit across the isthmus was kept
open. In ISO. in ISC. is ISS. and m 1300.
the Colombian Government asked that the
United States Government would land
troops ta protect its interests and main
tain order on the isthmus. Perhaps the
most extraordinary request is that which
has Just been received and which runs
as follows:
"Knowing that revolution haa already
caatmencad in Panama, an eminent Co
Ioasbianl says that if the Government of
the United States will land troops to pre
serve Colombian sovereignty, and the
transit IT requested by Colombian charge
d'affaires, this Govenusent will declare
ma-ini law; and. by virtue of vested con
stitutional authority, when public order
sttiaar th orcaataw
ta 1
ratification of the canal treaty
or. if the Government of th United
States prefers, win. call extra saaaVaa of
th Congress with, new and friendly
members next May to approv th
treaty. Aa eadnent Colombiaa ass th
perfect confidence of vice-president, h
says, and if it became necessary will so
to th isthmus or send tepresentativ
there to adjust matters aloag abov uses
to th satisfaction at the people there."
This dispatch is noteworthy from two
standpoints. Its offer of Immediately
guaranteeing the treaty to us Is in sharp
contrast with the positive and contemp
tuous refusal of the Congress which has
Just dosed Its sessions: to consider fa
vorably such a treaty r lt shows that th
Government which made the treaty really
had absolute control over the situation,
but did not choose to exercise this con
trot. The dispatch further calls oa us
to restore order and secure Colombian
supremacy in the isthmus from which, th
Colombian Government has Just by its
action decided to bar us by preventing:
th construction of the canai.
Imasrtanc of Peace in Isthmus.
The control. In the Interest of the com
merce and traffic of the whole civilised
world, of the means of undisturbed tran
sit "" the Isthmus of Panama has
became of transcendent Importance to
th United States. We have repeatedly
exercised thia control by intervesina; la
the coarse af domestic dissension, and
by protecting- the territory front foreiam
Invasion. In 1&53 Mr. Everett assured
the Peruvian minister that we should
not hesitate to maintain the neutrality
of the isthmus tn the case of war be
tween Peru and Colombia. In 1SG4 Co
lombia, which has always been vigilant
to avail itself of its privileges conferred
by the treaty, expressed its expectation
that in the event of war between Peru
and Spain the United States would carry
into effect the guaranty of neutrality.
There have been few administrations ef
the State Department in which this
treaty has not. either by the one side
or the other, been used as a basis of
more or less Important demands. It was
said by Mr. Fish In 1S7I that the Depart
ment of State had reason to believe that
aa attack upon Colombian sovereignty
on the iathmua had. on several ocea
sions. been averted by warning front this
Government In lS3v when Colombia was
under the menace of hostilltiea from
Italy In the Cerruti case. Mr. Bayard ex
pressed the serious concern that th
United States could not bat feel, that a
European power should resort to fore
against a aiater republic of this hemis
phere, as to the sovereign and uninter
rupted use of a part of whose territory
we are guarantors under the solemn faith
of a treaty.
The above recital of facts establishes
beyond question: First, that the United
States has for over half a century pa
tiently and la good faith carried out its
obligations under the treaty of 1348; sec
ond, that when for the first time it be
came possible for Colombia to da any
thing in requital of tht services thus re
peatedly rendered to it for fifty -seven
yeara by the United States, the Colombian
Government peremptorily and offensively
refused thus to do its part, even though
to do so would have been to Its advan
tage and immeasurably to the advantage
af the State of Panama, at that time
under its Jurisdiction: third. that
throughout this period revolutions, riots,
and factional disturbances of every kind
have occurred one after the other In al
most uninterrupted succession, some of
them lasting for months and even for
years, while the central government was
unable to put them down or to make
peace with the rebels: fourth, that these
disturbances instead of showing any sign
of abating have tended to grow more nu
merous and more serious in the imme
diate past: fifth, that the control of Co
lombia over the Isthmu3 of Panama could
not be maintained without the armed In
tervention and assistance of the United
States. In other words, the Government
of Colombia, though wholly unable to
maintain order on the isthmus, has nev
ertheless declined to ratify a treaty the
conclusion of which opened the only
chance to aecure its own stability and to
guarantee permanent peace on. and the
construction of a canal acroas. the isth
mus. Under such circumstances the Govern
ment of the United States would have
been guilty of folly and weakness,
amounting In their sum to a crime
against the nation, had It acted otherwise
than It did when the revolution of Nov. Z
last took place in Panama. Thi3 great
enterprise of building the Interoceanic
canal can not be held up to gratify the
whlma. or out of respect to the govern
mental Impotence, or to the even morw
ainister and evil political peculiarities, of
people who. though they dwell afar off.
yer, againat the wiah of the actual dwel
lers on the iathmua. aaaert an unreal
supremacy aver the territory. The pos
session at a territory fraught with such
peculiar capacities aa the Isthmus in
question carries with It obligations to
mankiniL The course of events has
shown that this canal can not be built
by private enterprise, or by any other na
tion than our own; therefore it must b
built by the United Statea.
Treaty With Republic cf Panama.
Every effort has been made by the Gov
ernment of the United States to persuade
Colombia to follow a course which was
essentially not only to our interests and
to the Interests of the world, but to th
Interests of Colombia itaelf. Thes ef
forts have failed; and Colombia, by her
persistence in repulsing the advancea that
have been made, haa forced us. for the
sake of our own honor, and of the Inter
eat and well-being, not merely of our own
people, but of the people of tne Isthmus
of Panama and the people of the civilized
countries of the world, to take decisive
steps to bring to an end a condition of
affairs which had bcom intolerable.
The new Republic of Panama immediate
ly offered to negotiate a treaty with ua
Thl3 treaty I herewith submit By lt our
intereata are better safeguarded than la
the treaty with. Colombia which was rati
fied by the Senate at Its Iaat session. It is
better in its terms than the treaties of
fered to us by the Republics of Nicara
gua, and Costa Rica. At Ia3t the right
to begin thi great undertaking Is made
available. Panama haa done her part
All that remains Is for the American Con
gress to do its part and forthwith this
Republic will enter upon the execution
of a project colossal in Its size and of
well-nig incalculable possibilities for the
good of thia country and the nations of
mankfnd.
Provisions of Treaty.
By the provisions of the treaty th
United States guarantees and will main
tain the independence of the Republic of
1 Panama. There Is granted to the United
States in perpetuity the use. occupation,
and control of a strip ten miles wide and
extending three nautical miles Into th
sea at either terminal, with all lands ly
ing outside of the zone necessary for th
construction of the canal or for It3 aux
iliary works, and with the islands In th
Bay of Panama. The cities of Panama
and Colon are not embraced In the nnal
zone, but the United Statas assumes
their sanitation and. in case of need, th
maintenance of order therein: the United
States enjoys within the granted limits
all th rights, power and authority which
it would possess were lt the sovereign at
the territory to the exclusion cf the ex-
L ercise. of sovereign rights by. the Republic.
All railway and canal property rights be
longing to Panama and needed for the
canal pass to the United States, includ-
4 ing any property of the respective' com
panies in the cities of Panama and Co-
f Ion: the war-3. property, and personnel
of the canal and railways are exempted
from taxation aa well in the cities of
Panama and Colon as in the canal son
and its dependencies. Free t7mnia7arioa
cf the personnel and importation of sup
plies for the construction and operation
of the m1 are granted. Provision Is
made for the use of military farce and
the building of fortificationa by the Unit
ed States for the protection of the tran
sit. In other details, particularly as ts
the acquisition of the interests of th
New Panama Canal company and th
Panama railway by the United States aad
the condemnation of private property far
the uses af the- canal, the stipulation of
the HayHerraa treaty are closely fol
lowed, while the compensation ta ha
given for these enlarged grants remaias
the same, being ten millions of doQaxs
payable on exchange of ratifications aaaV
I beginning nine years from that data, as
armuaT payment of $20.044 duraas; tha
life of the. convention,
THEODOBE ROOSZVaXX,
"White House, Bee 7. 132,
a
- I
is restores, will approve ay
News in Brief
Ta Tint graduates of Talc aad
Harvard are oUaisters,
A deal haa bee, closed for the erec
tfcaa at a. theater at Chicago to coat
1.50O,O0,
miffra B. Caddis. aed 5? years a.
molti-amillloaaire, died suddenly' at
Newark, X. J.
David HoIIister is dead at MapJ
toa, Iau. at the age of 101. He was im.
good health, for KM) years.
It has beea. arranges! at the nary"
department that the battleship Mis
souri, now at Newport News, shall 5)
put in commissias.
D. P, Crnikshank, New York Impor
ter and coaanuasioa merchant, died a
pernios is. bankruptcy. Liabilities.
$243,212; asaets. $219,250,
The Korean government haa order
ed th all Koreans, without regard to
raak or class, should not wear riotaes
except oT a brae or dark: color.
Presfdest R. EL Neal of the Bank of
Ravav I- T.. was arrested at Madill
aad taken back to Ravia, charged witk
taking; $3,000 of the bank's money.
Coaunissioner of Pensions Ware has"
received a letter from Governor Bliss
of Michigan formally relinquishing
his pension because he says he does
not need it
Edmund Stabler, superintendent alt
the Baltimore manual school, was"
found guilty of cruelty in beating a
boy inmate and was fined $3 and costs
by the court.
The supreme court declared that -the
state was under no moral obliga
tion to pay sugar bounty under the
law enacted in 1895 and declares th
law unconstitutional.
A. C. Thomas of Omaha purchased
Sunolito. a v year-aid mare, half sis-
ter of Sunol, for 435 at a horse sale
in New York. He also purchased
Queen's Heiress for $1,300.
A wagon load of Chinamen, who
were biag smuggled Into this country.
was overturned at Buffalo. N. Y.. anc?
fell into the Erie canaL Four of the "
Chinamen were drowned.
Senator Mitchell has introduced a.
bill providing- that every carrier in the
rural free delivery mail service, in ad
dition to his salary fixed by law.
shall receive $250 a year far subsistence-Representative
Wachter of Mary
land introduced a bill making April
14 of every year a legal holiday to be
known as "Martyr's Day; in com
memoratloa of the death of Abraham
Lincoln.
With twenty-one stiletto wounds in
it. the frozen body of Salvador Bat
talia was found in Minneapolis, on tha
Franklin avenue bridge. Robbery
was not the motive, as $55 was found .
in the pockets.
Rev. Felipe Villahox. a Spanish -priest
of the Catholic church at Su
macao. Porto Ricor has been convict
ed by the district court of a violation
of the civil marriage law in marrying
a couple without a license.
After a service of fil yeara Thoma
Wentwortb Hlgginson. the well known
historian, has rescned as chairman of
the committee whieh inspects the
course of instruction in English lit
erature at Harvard university.
War department officials are en
couraged In their efforts to develop
a coal mine on the island of Batan on
the east coast of Luzon. This mine
is located near deep water and prom
ises to give a fair quantity of coal. .
The University of Wisconsin vit
celebrate next June the fiftieth anni
versary of its firat commencement,
during which time the newly elected
President. Charles R, Van Hl3e. wiir
be inauzurated.
The state department has issued a
warrant for the surrender to the British-
of David Janes, who i3 held und
arrest in New York on a charge of
perverting the sum of $fiO.00O while
acting as trustee of the town of
Llanrwst. Wales.
The nationalist members of the
French chamber of deputies Md a
meeting in Paris, at 'vhich they adapt
ed a resolution criticising th sovern
ment's action in the revision of th'
Dreyfus case, saying they regarded it
as a political move.
The Rock Island System Surgical
association, an organization made np
of snrzeons employed by the Rock Is
land along its lines. -zn& formed at
Kansas City. About 200 sunreons
were present out of a total of 225 em
ployed by the railroad.
Governor Peabody of Colorado has
refused to grant extradition papers
L far Sherman Berlin, who was arrest
ed at White Horse last Sunday, charr
ed with a bank robbery committed on
August 21, last, at Lebanon. Neb.
Friends of Berlin produced evidence
which. It Is claimed, e-tonerates him.
and he will be released.
Andy Walsh of Brooklyn and Andy
Stevenson of St. Louis boxed ten
rounds to a draw at Sc Louis.
The Americans in Mexico City gave
a bail at Orrin's institute in honor oi
Thanksgiving day. Ambassador Clay
ton and a committee received Presi
dent Diaz on his arrival ar the balL
The Beaumont (Tex.) Federated
Oil and Pipe Line company was pfcu.
ed in the hands of i receiver.
The president ha3 pardoned William
J. Wright. He was convicted In Ari
zona of criminal assault and sentenc
ed, in 1339, to Imprisonment: for life
in the territorial prison,
Prairie fires are raging in the west
era part of Caddo county, Oklahoma,
south of the Washita river.
The interior department has or
dered that 33,000 head of sheep and
5.000 head of cattle aad horses be al
lowed to graze on the Logan forest
reserve in. Utah next season.
Some of the large hotels of Boston,
which, have been served by the Bos
ton Cab company, whose drivers are
an a strike, took a hand in the trou
ble by securing non-onion help to man,
carriages. Objection to this was
made by the teamsters who deliver
coal ar the various hotels.
The well known De HoIIandsche
bank has stopped payment, says a
! dispatch, from The Hague, Of late a
great many banks have failed, espe-.
dally in Haarlem and. DIft. but also
la the scwrtn of Holland. The fiaaa-
ciai conditions, due to a decline fax
Americas securities, ia depressed,-
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