Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 141, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1903 — Page 2

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.

4 '* T*. the Senate and Hopsc of Itbprescntatives: \ The country is to be congratulated on the amount of substantial achievement which has marked the past year botlijas regards our foreign and as regards our domestic policy. With a nation as,with a man live most important things arg, those of the house“hold, and therefore the country is especially to be congratulated on what has been accomplished in tlie direction of providing'for the .exercise of supervision over the great corporations and combinations of corporations engaged in interstate commerce. The Congress has created the Department of Commerce, aud Lnbor, including the Bureau of Corporations. with for the tirst time authority to secure proper publicity of such proceedings of these great corporations aa the public has the right to knoyf- It has provided for the expediting of suits for the enforcement of the federal anti,-* trust law; and by another law it has secured equal treatment to all producers in the transportation of their goods, thus taking a long stride forward in making effective the work of the Interstate-Com-merce Commission. 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 affecting capitalists and wage workers. The preliminary "work of the Bureau of Corporations in the department has shown the wisdom of its creation. Publicity in corporate affairs will tend to do away with ignorance, and will afford facts upon which Intelligent action may be.taken. The 1 department of Commerce hnd. Lnbor will be not only the ‘clearing house for' information regarding the business transactions of the nation, but the executive arm of the government to aid in strengthening our domestic and foreign markets, in perfecting our transportation facilities, in building up our merchant marine, in preventing the entrance of undesirable immigrants, in improving commercial and industrial conditions, nml in bringing together on common ground those necessary partners in industrial progress—capital aud labor. Capital and Labor. The consistent policy of tlie national government, so far as it has the power*, is to hold in check the unscrupulous man. Whether employer or employe; but to refuse to weaken individual initiative or to hamper or cramp the industrial development of the country. We recognize that this is an era of federation and combination, in which great capitalistic corporations and labor unions have become factors of tremendous Importance- In all industrial centers. Hearty recognition is given the far-reaching, beneficent work which has been accomplished through both corporations u.gjj' unions, and the line as between different corporations, as between different unions, is clrawn as it is*betwcen different individuals; that is, it is drawn on conduct, the effort being to treat both organized capital and organized labor alike; asking nothing save that the interest of each shall be brought into harmony with tlie interest of the general public, alid that the conduct of - «weh shwtt rite ••fnttdamnetrtnt rules oif obedience to law, of individual freedom, and of justice aud fair dealing towards all. WUeuever either corporation. labor union or individual- disregards the law or acts iu a spirit of arbitrary and tyrannous interference with ? the rights of others, whether corporations or individuals, then where the federal government has jurisdiction, it will see to it that The misconduct is stopped. ’ paying not tlie slightest heed to the position or power of the corporation, the union or the individual, but only to one vital sact —that is, the question whether or not the conduct of the individual or aggregate of individuals is iu accordance with the law of the land. Every man must be guaranteed liis liberty and liis right to do as be likes with liis property or his labor, so long as he does not infringe the rights of others. Xo man is above the law aud no man is below it; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience to tlie law is demanded as a right; ■ot asked as a favor.

Government Finances. From all sources, exclusive of the postal service, the receipts of the govern mcnt for the- last fiscal year aggregated $560.35H>.ti74. The expenditures for the same period were $50t?,0H9.0U7. the surplus for the fiscal year being so4,’Jlt7,tUi7. The indications are that the surplus for the present fiscal year will be very small, if indeed tTiere be any surplus. From July to November the receipts from customs 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 suffer much further decrease during the fiscal year, the surplus would vanish. A large surplus is certainly undesirable. Two years ago the war taxes were taken off with the express intention of equalizing the governmental receipts and expenditures, and though the first year thereafter still showed a surplus, it now seems likely that a substantial equality of reveaue and expenditure will he attained. Such being' the case, it is of great moment 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 wellbeing. Careful economy wherever possible .will alone prevent our income from falling below tlie point required in order to meet our genuine needs. The integrity of our currency is beyond question, and under present conditions it would be unwise and unnecessary to attempt a reconstruction of our entire monetary system. The same liberty should be granted the Secretary of the Treasury' to deposit customs receipts as la granted him In phe deposit of receipts from other sources. In my message of Dec. 2, l'Hbl, l called attention to certain needs of tly? financial situation, and I again ask the consideration of the Congress for these questions. Merchant 'Marine. A. majority of out people desire that steps be taken in the interests of American shipping, so that we may once more resume our former position in the oeeau carrying trade. But hitherto the differ •nets of opinion as to the proper method of reaching this end have been so wide that it has proved imimssible to secure the adoption, of any particular scheme. Haring in vtew these facts, 1 recommend tliat the Congress direct the Secretary of the Postmaster Uen*Wd and the Secretary of Commerce and Issbor. associated with such a representation from the Senate and House of Iteptawntatives as the Congress in its wisdom may designate, to serve as a commission for the purpose of investigating end reporting to the Congress at its next session wbat legislation is desirable or necessary for the development of the American merchant marine and American commerce, and incidentally of a national ocean mail service of adequate •axillary naval cruisers and naval re-

serves. While such a measure is desirable in any event, it i&’especially desira-* ble at this time,-in view of the fact that our present governmental contract for ocean mail with the American Line will expire in 1005, Moreover, lines of cargo ships are of even more importance than fast mail lines; save so far ns the latter cfln be depended upon to furnish swift auxiliary;; cruisers in time of war. The establishment of new lines of cargo ships 'to South America, to Asia, and elsewhere would be much in the interest of our commercial expansion. Immigration. We cannot have too much immigration ■ of the right .kind, and, we should have none at nil of the wrong kind. The need is to devise some system by which undesirable immigrants shall be kept out' en-tirely*-"vtliiW desirable immigrants are properly distributed throughout the country. ‘ The special investigation of the subject of naturalization under the direction of the Attorney General, and the consequent prosecutions, reveal a condition of affairs balling for the immediate attention of the Congress. Forgeries and perjuries of shameless and- flagrant character have been perpetrated, »qt only in the dense centers of popcjprtion, but throughout the country; and ft is established beyond doubt that very many ,socalletFcitizens of the United States have, no title whatever to that right, and are asserting and enjoying the benefits of the same through the grossest frauds. The body politic cannot be sound and healthy if many of its,constituent members claim their standing through the prostitution of tlie high right and calling of citizenship. It should mean sometlung to heroine a citizen of the United States; and in the process no loophole Whatever should be left open To fraud. In my last.annual message, in connection with the subject of the due regulation of combinations of capital which are or may become injuriems to the public, I recommended a special appropriation for tlie better enforcement of the anti-trust law ns it now stands, to lie expended under the direction of the Attorney General. Accordingly the Congress appropriated the stun of five hundred thousand dollars, tp be expended under the direction of the Attorney General in the employment of special counsel and agents , in tlie Department of Justice to cqpduct proceedings and prosecutions tinder said laws in the courts of the United States. 1 now recommend, as a matter of the utmost importance and urgency, the extension of the purposes of this appropriation, so that it may be available, under tlie direction of the Attorney General, and until used, for 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 aud offenses and the subject of naturalization. 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 different character and extending through various sections of the country, have been dishonestly acquired. It is hardly necessary, to urge the importance of recovering these dishonest acquisitions, stolen from tlie people, and of proniptly and duly punishing the offendere. -—-Postal Frauds. I speakjti another part of this message of the wulesprcad crimes by which the sacred right of citizenship is falsely disserted nnd that "inestimable heritage” , perverted to base ends. By similar means—-thnt is, through frauds, forgeries and perjuries, and by shameless briberies —the laws relating to the proper conduct of the piiblhf service in general and to the due administration of the Postoflice Department have been notoriously violated, and many indictments have been found, and the consequent prosecutions are in course of hearing or on the eve thereof. For tlie reasons thus indicated, and so that the government may be prepared 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 instrumentalities and competent legal ,ls s!stui!ce for the Investigations ami trials which will be necessary at many ilifferent points of the country, I urge upon the Congress the necessity of making the said appropriation available for immediate use for all such purposes, to be expended under the direction of the Attorney-General. Steps have hern taken by the State Department looking to the making of bribery an extraditable offense with foreign' powers. The need of more effective treutles covering this crime Is manifest. The exposures and prosecutions of official corruption In St. Louis, Mo., and other cities nnd States have resulted in a number of Rivers and takers of bribes becoming fugitives in foreign lands. Briberv has not been Included In extradition treaties heretofore, ns the necessity for It has not arisen. 1\ hlle -there may have been ns much official corruption in former rears, there has been more developed and brought to light In the immediate past than In the preceding century of our country's hlstorv. It should be the policy of the United States to leave no plaee on earth where a corrupt man fleeing from this country can rest In peace. Thefo is no reason why briberv should not be Included iu all treaties ris extraditable.

Alaskan Hniindnrr. 'Fpf several yenrs past the rapid develop ment of Alaska and the establishment of growing American interests in regions theretofore unsurveyed nnd Imperfectly known brought Into piomlncuce tlie urgent necessity of a practical demarcation of the boundaries between the Jurisdictions of the l lilted States aud Great Britain. Although the treaty of 1823 between Great Britain and Russia, the provisions of which were copied in the treaty of 1867. whereby Rus rin conveyed Alaskn to tlie United States was positive as to the control, first by Russia and Inter by the United States, oT a ’ strip of territory along the contliientMinaln land from the western shore of Portland Canal to Mount St. Ellas, following nnd surrounding the Indentations of the const and Including the Islands to the westward, its description of the landward margin of the strip was Indefinite, 1 resting on the supposed existence of a continuous ridge or range of mountains skirtJjig tno, coast as ttgurod In the charts of tlie early navigators. It hnd at no time been possible for either party lu Interest to lay down, tinder the authority of the treaty, a line so obviously exact 'according to Its provisions ns to command the assent of the other.) i-'or ncnrlv throe-fourths of a century the nbsenee of tangible local Interests demanding the exercise of positive Jurisdiction on either side of thq border left the question dormant. A permanent disposition of the uiatter fiually boenme Imperative. ; 1 After unavailing attempts to reach an understanding through a Joint High Commission. followed by prolonged negotiations, conducted In an amicable spirit, n convention l>etween tlie United Stales and Great Britain wns signed, .launary 24, 1903, providing for in examination of the subject by a mixed tribunal of six members, three on n side, with s view to Its final disposition. Ratifications were exchanged on March 3 last, whereupon-the two Governmental appointed their respective members On the twentieth of October, n ms'-'’ Jorlty of the tribunal reached and signed in agreement on all the questions submitted by the trrius of the convention. By this nwMrd the right of the United Stntes to the (ontrol of a cpntlnuons strip or border of the malulnnd shore, skirting nil the tidewater Inlets and sinuosities of tbe coast. Is confirmed. The result Is satisfactory In every way. It Is of great material advantage *to our people In the Far Northwest. It has trmored from tbe field of discussion and possible danger a question liable tq become more acutely accentuated with each passing year. Finally, It has furnished n signal proof the falrneaa and good will with

which two friendly nations can approach ■and determine issues Involving national sovereignty. Claims Against Venezuela. It will be remembered that during the second session of the. last Congress (Jreat Britain, (Jcrmnny. and Italy formed an alliance for the purpose of blockading the ports of Venezuela and using such other means of pressure as would secure.a settlement of claims due, as they alleged, to certain of their subjects. Their employment of force for the collection of those claims was terminated by an agreement brought about through the offices of the diplomatic representatives of the United States at Caracas and the Government at Washington, thereby ending a situation which was bound to cause increasing friction, and which ■jeopardized the peace of the eotftlflent. Under this agreement VenezuelA agreed to set apart a certain percentage of tfih customs receipts of two of her ports to be applied to the payment of whatever Obligations might be ascertained by mixed commissions appointed for that'purpose to* be due from her, not only to the three powers already mentioned, whose proceedings agnlnst her had resulted In a state of war, but also to the United States, Fiance, Spain, Belgium, the Netherthhds* Sweden and Norway, and Mexico, who had not employed force for the collection of the claims alleged to be due to* certain of their citizens. A demand was then made by the so-called blockading powers that the sums ascertained to. be due to their citizens b£ such mixed commissions should be accorded payment in full before anything was paid upon the claims of any 0f.,, the so-called" peace powers. Venezuela, on tlie other hand, Insisted that all her be paid upon a basis of exact equality. During the efforts to adjust this dispute It was suggested by the powers in interest that it should be referred to me for decision, but I was clearly of the opiniofi that a far wiser course would be to submit the question .to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. It seemed to me to offer an admirable opportunity to advance the practice of the peaceful meiit of disputes between nations and to se- v cure for the Hague Tribunal ’a memorable Increase of Its practical importance. The nations Interested In the controversy wore so numerous and In many Instances so powerful as to make It evident thnt beneficent results would follow from their appearance at the same time before the bar of that august tribunal of peace. Our hopes In that regard have been realized. Russia and Austria are represented In the persons of tlie learned and distinguished Jurists who compose the tribunal, while Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela are represented by their respective agents and counsel. There seems good ground for the belief that there has been a real growth among the civilized nations of a sentiment whtph will permit a gradual substitution of other methods than the method of war In the settlement of disputes. 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 interestnnd honor will in all cases permit of the settlement of international disputes by arbitration; but by a mixture of prudence and firmness with wisdom we think It is possible to do away with much of the provocation nnd excuse for war, and at least In many cases to substitute some other and more rational method for the settlement of disputes: Relations with Turkey and China. Early 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 -fur such service as might l>e 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 stnte of excitement and disorder which demanded immediate attention. The arrival of the vessels had the happiest result. A feeling of spcuwty at once took the place of the former alarm and disquiet; our officers were cordially weleolued by the consular body and the leading merchants, aud ordinary business resumed its activity. The Government of the Sultan gave a considerate hearing to the representations cf our minister; the official who was regarded as responsible for the disturbed condition of affairs was removed. 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 Bth of October, is a-cause for satisfaction. This act, the result of loug discussion nnd negotiation, places our commercial—relations with the great Oriental Umpire on a more satisfactory footing than they have ever heretofore enjoyed- It pro-* vldes not only for the ordinary rights and privileges of diplomatic aud consular officers, but also for an iniportaut extension of our commerce by increased facility of access to Chinese ports, aud for the relief of trade by the removal of some of the obstacles which have embarrassed It, in the past. The full measure of development which our commerce may rightfully expect cun hardly be looked for until the settlement of the present nbnormnl state of things lu the Empire; but the foundation for such development has at last been laid.

Kurnl Free Deliver*. The rural free-delivery service has been steadily extended. The attention of the Congress is asked to tip? question of the compensation of the letter carriers and clerks engaged in the postal service, especially on the new rural free-delfvery routes. More .routes have been installed since the first of .Tluly last than la any like period in the Department’s history. While a due regard to. economy must be kept In mind In the establishment of new routes, yet the extension of the rural free-dellvery system must be continued, for reasons of s’ound public policy. No governmental movement of recent years has resulted in greater immediate benefit to the people of tin; country districts. Rural free delivery, taken lit connection with the telephone, the bicycle, and the trolley, accomplishes much toward 'lessening ttie Isolation of farm life ami making It brighter and more attractive. Rural free delivery is not only a good thing In Itself, hut Is good because It Is one of■ the causes which check this unwholesome tendency toward the urban concentration of our population at the expense of the country districts. It Is for the same reason that we sympathize with and approve of the policy of building good roads. Alaska an{j Insular Possessions. 1 call your special attention to the Territory of Alaska. The country is developing rapidly, ami it lias an assured future. The mineral wealth Is great and has as yet hardly beeu tapped. The fisheries, If wisely handled and kept under national control, will be a business as permanent as any other, and of the utmost importance to the people. The forests If properly guarded will form another great source of wealth. Portions of Alaska are fitted for farming and stock raising, although Ihe methods must be'adapted to the peculiar conditions of the country, Alaska Is situated lu the far north; but so are Norway and Sweden and Finland; and Alaska can prosper and play Its part In the New World Jusrns those nations have prospered and played their parts In the Old World. Of our Insular possessions the Philippines and Porto Rico It Is gratifying to say that their steady progress has been such as to make It unnecessary to spend much time In discussing them. Vet 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 tarlfT arrangements. It would, of course, be Impossible sudden'll to raise the people of-the Islands to the high pltt-fi«of Industrial prosperity and of governmental clffcleucy to which they will In the end by degrees attain; and the caution and moderation shown In developing them have been among the mhln reasons why this development has hitherto gone on so smoothly.- Scrupulous care has 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 governmental. Intellectual, and moral advance has kept pace with their material advance. No one people ever benefited another people more than we have benefited

the Filipinos bjr taking possession of the Islands. Experience has Shown that In the Western States themselves, as well as In the rest of the country, there Is widespread conviction, that certain of the public-land laws and the resulting administrative practice no longer meet the present needs. The character and uses of the Remaining public lands differ widely frolfo those of the public lands which Congress had especially In view when these laws werfe passed The rapidly Increasing rate of disposal of the public land is not followed by a corresponding Increase In home building. There 9 .Si t S£3§ ncr to , maßs ,n lar se holdings public lauds, especially timber and grazing lands, and thereby to retard settlement. I renew and emphasize my recommendation of last year That so far ns they are available for agriculture In its broadest sense, and to whatever extent they mar be reclaimed under the national Irrigation law the remaining public lands should be held rigidly for the home builder. The nttentlon of the Coilgress is especially directed to the timber and stone law, the desertInnd law, and the commutation clause of the homestead law, which In their operation have In many respects conflicted with wise public-land policy. The work of reclamation of the nrld lands of the West Is progressing steadily nnd satisfactorily under the terms of the law setting aside the proceeds from the disposal of public lands. Surveys and examinations are progressing throughout the arid States nnd Territories, plans for re* claiming works being prepared nnd passed upon by boards of engineers before annroval by the Secretary of the Interior. In Arizona and Nevada, In localities where such work is pre-eminently needed • coiistructlon has already been begun. In’ other parts of the arid West various projects are well advanced toward the drawing un of contracts, these being delayed In part bv necessities of reaching agreements or understanding as regards rights of way or acquisition of real estate. During the year ended June 30 lafc 25 560 persons were appointed through «’ompetitivo examinations under the elvll-ser vice rules. This was 12,672 more than during the preceding year, and 40 per cent of those who passed the examinations This abnormal growth was largely Occasioned by the extension of classification to the rural free-dellvery service and the appointment last year of over 9,000 rural carriers. A revision of the civil-service rules took effect on April 15 last, which has greatly improved their operation. Army and Navy. : The effect of the laws providing a General Staff for the Army nnd for the more effective use of the National Guard has been excellent. Great Improvement has been made in the efficiency of our Army In recent years* Such schools ns those erected at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Itlley and the Institution of fall maneuver work accomplish satisfactory results. Tlie good effect of these maneuvers upon the Nntlonal Guard Is marked, and ample appropriation 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 permanent 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 satisfied tvjth what has been done, however The only people who are contented with li system of promotion bv mere seniority are those who are contented with the triumph of mediocrity over excellence. ()n the other hand a system which encouraged the exercise of sorial or political favoritism in promotions would be even worse. But it would surely be easy to devise a method <rf promotton from grade to grade in whieli the opinion of the higher officers of the service upon the candidates should fee decisive upon the standing and promotion of the latter. Just such a system now obtains at West Point. I heartily congratulate the Congress upotf the steady progress In building up the American Navy. We can not afford a letup in this grent 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 nnd the officers of the Navy are doing well their part by providing constant service at sea under conditions akin to those of actual warfare. Qnr officers nnd enlisted men are learning to handlo the battle ships, cruisers, and torpedo boats with high efficiency in fleet and squadron formations, and the standard of marksmanship is being steadily raised. 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.

Isthmian 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 secure such treaty after the lapse of a reasonable time, recourse should be had to building a tanal through Nicaragua. It has r.ot been necessary to consider this alternative, as 1 am enabled to lay before the Senate a treaty providing for* the building J's the canal across the Isthmus of Panama. This was the route which commended itself to the deliberate judgment of the Congress, and we can now ncquire by treaty the right to construct the canal over Ibis route. The question' now, therefore, Is not by which route the Isthmian canal shall be built,’ for that question has been definitely and irrevocably decided. The question is simply whether or not we shall have an isthmian canal. When the Congress directed ' That we should take the Panama route umber treaty with Colombia, the essence of the condition, of course, referred not to the Govcinnrtut 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 bore on the map. The purpose of the law was to authorize the President to make a treaty with the power In actual control of the Isthmus of Panama. This purpose has been fulfilled. In the year 1846 this .Government entered Into a treaty with New Granada, the predecessor upon the Isthmus of the Republic of Colombia and of the present Republic of Panama, by which treaty "It was provided that the Government and citizens of the- United States should always -have free and open right of way or transit across the Isthmus of Panama by any modes of comm unteat lon that might be constructed, while in return our Government guaranteed the perfect neutrality of the above-men-tioned Isthmus with the view that the free transit from the pile to the other sea might not be Interrupted or embarrassed. The treaty vested lu the United States a substantial property right curved out of the rights of sovereignty and property which New Granada then hud and possessed over the said territory. The name of New Granada has passed away and Its territory has been divided. Its successor, the Government of Colombia, has ceased to own any property lu the Isthmus. A new Republic, that of Panama, which was at one time a sovereign State, and at another time n mere department of the successive confederations known ns New Granada and Colombia, has now succeeded to the rights which first one and then the other formerly exercised over the Isthmus. Rut ns long ns the Isthmus endures, the mere geographical fact of its existence, and the peculiar Interest therein which Is required by onr position, perpetuate the solemn contract which hinds the holders of the territory to respect our right , to-freedom of transit across It, and binds us In return to safeguard for the Isthmus and the world tlitf exercise of that Inestimable privilege. The true Interpretation of the obligation upon which the United States entered lu this treaty of 1846 has been given repeatedly In the utterances of. Presidents and Secretaries of State. Secretary Cass In 1858 officially Btated the position of this Government as follows: “The progress of events has rendered the Interoceaule route serosa the narrow portion of Central America vastly Important to the commercial world, and especially to the United States, whose possessions exteud along' the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and demand the speediest and easiest modes of eomihunicatton. While the rights Of sovereignty of the Statn-oeeupying this region should always be respected, we shall expert that these rights be exercised In a spirit befitting the occasion and the wants and el reu mats Dees that have arisen. Sovereignty has Its dntles as well as Its rights, and none of these local govern

me, ris 1 » even If administered with more regard ito the just demands of other na•PiTA aan lhe y have been, would be permitted, in a spirit of Eastern Isolation, to close the gates of intercourse on the great highways of the world, and Justify the act by the pretension that these avenues of trade and Travel belong to them and that tney rnoose to shut them, or, what is al*. ffiost equi valent* -to encumber them with such unjust relations as would prevent their general use/’ Seven years Rlter, in 18ft'., Mr. Seward lu positioiv communlcations took the following "The United States have taken and will taße po Interest in any question of internal resolution in the State of Panama, or any State of the United States of Colombia, but will maintain a perfect neutrality in connection with aurii domestic altercations. A"e United States will, nevertheless, hold themselves ready to protect the transit h acro l s tbe . Isthmuß against invasloh ?/L i th domestic or foreign disturbers of the peace -of the btate of Panama. • • P. H le B P lrlt of the stipulation in that article by which the United engages to preserve the neutrality of the Isthmus of Panama, Imposes an obligation on this Government to comply with tp e requisition ( 0 f the President of the United States of Colombia for a force to protect the Isthmus of Panama from,a body of insurgents of that country). - ' The nurPi? 86 . Al eripulatlon wns to guarantee the Isthums against seizure or Invasion by a foreign power only.” U Attorney-General Speed, under date of November 7, 1865, advised Secretary Seward as follows: "From this treaty It can not be supposed 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 sides In the domestic broils of New Granada. The United States did guarantee New Granada lu the sovereignty and property over the territory. This was as against other and foreign governments.” For four nundred yfars, ever since shortly after the discovery of this hemisphere, the canal across the Isthmus has ’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 in control of the Isthmus and with foreign nations In reference thereto our consistent good faith In observing our obligations; 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 others in letter and In spirit, nnd we have shown tbe utmost forbearance In exacting our-own rights. Last spring, under the act above referred to, a treaty concluded between the representatives of the Republic of Colombia and of our Government was ratified by the Senate This treaty was entered Into nt the -urgent solicitation of the people of Colombia and after a body of experts appointed by our Government especially to go Into theuiatter of the routes across the Isthmus had pronounced unanimously iu favor of the, Panama route. In drawing up this treaty every concession was made to tlie people and to the Government of Colombia. We were more than 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 forbearande, we yielded in all possible ways to her desires In drawing uprThe Treaty. 'Nevertheless the Government" of Colombia not merely repudiated 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 ev-or get--ting a satisfactory treaty from them. The Government of Colombia made the treaty, and yet when the Colombian Congress wns called to ratify it the vote against ratification 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 in. Panama. The people of Panama had long been discontented with the Republic of Colombia, and they had been kept quiet ouly by the prospect of the conclusion of the treaty, which was to them a matter of vital concern. When it became evident that the treaty was hopelessly lost, the people of Panama rose literafly as ode mail. Not a shot was fired by a single man on the isthmus in the interest of the Colombian Government. Not a life 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 astonishing unanimity the new Republic was started. The duty of the Uulted States in the premises was clear. In strict accordance with the principles laid down by Secretaries Cass and Seward in the official 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 railroad and of the proposed canal, and an interruption of transit us an inevitable oousequence. The do facto Government of Panama was recognized lu the following telegram to Mr. Ehrman: “The people of Panama have, by apparently unanimous movement, dissolved their political connection witii the Republic of Colombia and resumed their Independence. When you are satisfied that a de facto government, republican ih form and without substantial opposition from its own people, has been established in the State of Panama, you will enter into relations with it ns the responsible government of the territory and look to It for all due action to protect the persons and property of citizens of the United States and to keep open the Isthmian transit, In accordance with the ‘obligations of existing treaties governing "the , relations of the United State»*to that’territory.” The-Government of Colombia was noth' fled of our nctlon by the following telegram to Mr. Beaupre: “’Nhe people of Panama haring, by au apparently unanimous movement, dissolved their'political connection with the Republic of Colombia and resumed their Independence, and bnving adopted a government of their own, republican In form, with which the Government of the United States of America has entered Into relations, the President of the United States, in accordance with the tics of friendship which have so long und so happily existed between the respective nations, most earnestly commends to the Government of Colombia and of Panama the peaceful and equitable settlement of all questions at Issue between them. He holds that he Is bound not merely by treaty obligations, hut by the Interests o's civilization, to see that Ihe peaceful traffic of the world ucross Ihe Isthmus of Panama shall not longer he disturbed by n constant succession of unnecessary and wasteful civil wars.” , When these events hnppened. flfty-sevdn yenrs had elapsed since the United'Statin had entered Into its treaty with New Granada. During that time the Governments of New Grnnndn and of Its successor, Colombin. have been In a constant state of flux. There have been revolutions, rebellions, ItmiirreetloiisA riots, and other outbreaks, numbering 53 for the 57 years. It Is a fact that one of them lasted for nearly three years before It was quelled; another for nearly it year. In short, the experience of over half a century has shown Colombia to be utterly Incapable of keeptng order on the Isthmus. Only the nctlve Interference of the United Htatcs hns ennbled her to preserve so much as a semblnnce of sovereignty. Hnd It not been for the exercise by the United States 'of the police power In her Interest, her connection with tbe Isthmus would have been sundered loug ago. In 1856, In 1860, In 1873, Jn 1885. In 1901. and again In 1002, sailors and marines from United States war ships were forced to land In order to patrol tbe Isthmus, to protect life and property, and to see that thp transit across tbe Isthmus was kept open. In 1861, In 1885,. and In 1900, the Colombian Government asked that the United States Government wonld land troopa to protect Its Interests and maintain order on tbe Isthmus. Coloasbla'a li«tHt Proposition. Perhaps the most extraordinary request la that which hat Jnat been received aud which ran* as follows: . “Knowing that revolution baa already

commenced In Panama'(an eminent Colombian) says that if the Government of the United States will land troops to preserve ’.Colombian sovereignty, and the transit, if requested by Colombian charge d’affaires, this, government will declare martial law; and, by virtue of vested constitutional authority, when publle order is disturbed, will approve by decree the ratification of the canal treaty as signed; or. If the Uovernment of the United States prefers, will call extra session of the Congress—with new and friendly members—next May to approve the treaty. (An emineut (Sbloitibian) has the perfect confidence of vice president, he says, and If At became necessary will go to the Isthmus or send representative there to adjust matters along above lines to the satisfaction of 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 opd contemptu-. ous refusal of the Congress which has Just closed Its sessions to consider favorably such a treaty; It shows that the government which made the .treaty really had absolute control over the' sltuatlon, but did not choose to exercise this control. The dispatch further calls on us to restore order and secure Colombian supremacy In the Isthmus from which the Colombian Government has just by Its action decided to bar us by preventing the construction of the canal. (ontrol of Great Importance. The control. In the interest of the commerce and traffic of the whole civilized world, of the means of undisturbed transit across the Isthmus of Panama has become of transcendent importance to the United States. We have repeatedly exercised this control by Intervening In the course of domestic dissension, and by protecting the territory from foreign invasion. In 1853Mr. Everelt nssured the Peruvian minister that we should not hesitate To maintain the neutrality of the Isthmus In the case' of war between Peru and Colombia. Iu 1864 Colombia, 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 nnd Spain the United States would carry Into effect the guaranty of neutrality. There have been few administrations of the State Department In which this treaty has not, either by the one side ot the other, been used as a basis of more A or less Important demands... It was said by Mr. Fish In 1871 that the Department of State had rbnson to believe that an attack upon Colombian sovereignty on tbe Isthmus had, on several occasions, been averted by warning from this government. Iu 1886, when Colombia was under the menace of hostilities from Italy in tbe Cerruti case, Mr. Bayard expressed the serious concern that the United States could not |but feel thnt 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 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 patiently and In good faith carried out Its obligations under tho treaty of 1846: second, that when for the first time it became possible for Colombia to do anything In requital of the services thus repeatedly rendered to It for fifty-seven years 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 advantage and Immeasurably to the advantage of the State of Panama. at that time under Its Jurisdiction; third, that throughout tills period revolutions, riots and factional disturbances of every kind have occurred one after the other In almost uninterrupted succession, some of them lasting for months aud 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 it abating have tended to grow more numerous and more serious In the Immediate past; fifth, that the control of Colombia over the Isthmus of Panama could not be maintained without the armed Intervention and assistance of the United States. In other words, the Government of Oolumfiln, though wholly unable to maintain order on the Jsthmus, has nevertheless declined to ratify a treaty the' conclusion of which opened the only chance to secure its own* ’ stability nnd to guarantee permanent peace on, and the construction of a canal across, the Isthmus. Under such circumstances the Government of the United States would have been guilty of folly nnd weakness, amounting In their sum to a crime against the nation, had It acted otherwise than It did when the revolution of Nov. 3 last took place In Panama. This great enterprise of building the lnteroeepnlc canal cannot be held up to gratify the whims, or out of respect to the governmental Impotence, or to the even more sinister nnd evil political peculiarities, of people who, though they dwell afar off, ngnrnst the wish of the actual dwellers on the Isthmus, assert an unreal supremacy over the territory. The possession of a territory fraught with such peculiar capacities as the Isthmus In question carries with It obligations to mankind. The course of events has shown that this canal cannot be built by private enterprise or by any other nation than our own; therefore It must be built by the United States.

Must Now Dent with rannmn. Every effort hns been made by the Government of the United States to pci's mule Colombia to follow n course which was essentially not only to our Interests and to the world, but to the Interests of Colombia itself. These efforts hnve fulled; and Colombia, by her persistence lu repulsing the advances that have been made, hns forced us, for the sake of our own honor, and of the Interest and well-being, not merely of our own people, hut of tbe people of (lie Isthmus of Pnunnin aud the people of the civilized countries of the world, to take do*elslve steps to bring to an end a eomlltibn of affairs which had become Intolerable. The new Republic of Panama Immediately offered to negotiate a treaty with us. This treaty I herewith submit. By It our 'lnterests are better safeguarded than In the treaty with Colombia which was ratified by the Semite at its last session. It Is better lif Its terms than the treaties offered to us by the Republics of Nicaragua and Costs Iliea. At last tlie right to begin tills great undertaking Is mnde available. Panama has done her part. All that remnlus Is for the American Congress to do Its part and forthwith this Republic will -enter upon the execution of a project colossal In Its size ami of well-nigh Incalculable possibilities for the good of this country and the nations of muuklnd. By the provisions of tho treaty the United Ftntes guarantees and will maintain tlh> Independence Of Ihe Republic of Panama. There Is granted in the United States In perpetuity the use. occupation, and control of a strip ten miles wide and extending three nautical miles Into the sen'at either tcnnlnnl. with nil lands lying outside of the zone necessary for the construction of tho enni.l or for Its auxiliary works, nml with the Islands In the Ray of Panama. The cities of Panama and Colon are not embraced in the canal zone, bttt the United States assumes their sanitation and. In ease of need, the maintenance of order therein; * the United States enjoys within the granted IlmltH nil the rights, power, and authority which It would possess were It the sovereign of the territory to the exclusion of the exercise of sovereign rights by tho Republic. All mllwny nnd canal property rights belonging to panama and needed for the canal pass to the United States, including any properly of the respective companies In the cities of Panama and Colon; the works, property, nnd personnel of the ennnl nnd riilTwsvs are exempted from taxation ns well In tlio cities of Pnnninn nnd Colon ns In the ennnl lone and Its dependencies. Free Immigration of the personnel nnd Importation of supplies for the const ruction nnd operation of the ennnl are granted. Provision. Is mnde for the use of military force and the building of fortifications by the United States for the protection of tlie transit. In other details, particularly ns to the acquisition of* Ihe Interests of the New Panama Cnnnl Company nnd the Pnnnmn Knllwny by the United States and the condemnation of pri-vate-property for the uses of Hrc canal, the stipulations of Ihe llny-llerran treaty are elosely followed, while the compensation to lie given for tbeso enlarged grants remnlus the same, being ten millions of dotlnrs payable on exchange of rallflentlons; and. be- - ginning nlue years from that date, an annual payment of B'JSO.OOO during the life o( the convention.. . THEODORE ROOSEVELT.