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Show J IILUIULII f ULIIUU OFFICIAL MESSAGE t . Annual Document Read to Legislators in Both Houses of Congress.". the country, I urge upon the Congress the necessity of making the said approfor priation available fnr immediate useunder all such purposes to be expended the direction of the Attorney-OeneraNeeds for Treaties Making Bribery l. Extraditable. Steps have been taken by. the State Department looking to the making for-of-' bribery an extraditable offense with elgn. powers. The need of more effective treaties covering this crime is manlfest. The exposures and prosecutions of; official corruption in St. Louis, Mo., und other cifles and states have resulted in a number of givers and takers of bribes becoming fugitives in foreign lands. Bribery has not been Included In extradition treaties heretofore, as the necessity for It has not arisen, Vhlle there may have been as much official corruption in former years, there has been more developed and brought to light in the immediate of past than in the preceding century our country's history, it hhould Le thu policy of the United States to leave no place on enrth where a corruptrestman in fleeing from this country can peace. There is no reason why brlbesy should not be Included in all treaties as extraditable. The recent amended treaty with Mexico, whereby this crime was put in tho 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 foundation of ull law. Under our form of government all authority is vested In the people and by them delegated to those who represent them In ortUial cnpaelty. The exposure and punishment of public corruption Is an honor to u nation, not a disgrace. The shame lies in toleration, not In correction. No city or state, still less tiio 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 encouragement Is given them to continue their practices. If wo fail to do all that In us lies to stamp out corruption we can not escape our Bhare of responsibility for the gulll. The first requisite of successful Is unflinching enforcement of the law nnd 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 President recommends that the Con- sessions of the tribunal. It continues: gress direct the Secretary of the The result Is satisfactory In every way. Navy, the Posl master General, and the It is of rat material advantage to our. tne far Northwest. It has Secretary of Commerce and Labor, as- people In front the field of discussion nnd sociated with such a representation danger a question liable to from the Senate and House of Repre- possible more acutely accentuated with each sentatives as the Congress in its wis- passing year. Unnlly. it has furnished dom may designate, to serve as a com- a signal proof of the fairness and good will with which two friendly nations can mission for the purpose of Investigat- approach and determine issues Involving ing and reporting to the Congress at national sovereignty nnd by its next session what legislation Is de- incapable of submission to a third power sirable or necessary for the develop- for adjudication. Claims Against Venezuela. ment of the Amorictiii merchant mato the .iticcess which Referring rine and American commerce, and incrowned the efforts of the United a rational ocean mail cidentally of service of adequate auxiliary" naval States to have the Venezuelan dispute submitted to impartial arbitracruisers ami navel reserves. the President says: On the subject of immigration the tors Ther? seems good ground for the bemessage calN attention to the report lief that there his been a real growth of a committee of New York effiens among the civilized nations of a sentiwill pernot a gradual subot high standing. Messrs. Arthur v. ment whicli of other mett.ods than the Vriesen. Lee K. Frankel. Eugene A. stitution method of war In the settlement of disV. Piiilbin. Thomas Hyi.es, and Ralph putes. It is not pretended that as yet In which it will Trautman, which deals with the whole we are near a position possible wholly to prevent war. or situation at length, and concludes with le that a Just regard for national interest certain recommendations for adminis- and honor will In all cases permit of trative and legislative action. It is the settlement of International disputes but by a mixture of prunow receiving the attention of the by nt dence nnd firmness with wisdom we think of and Labor. Commerce Secretary it Is possible to do away with much of The message continues: excuse for war, and the provocation at least in many case to substitute some Laws. other and more rational method for the On the subject of the antitrust Settlement of disputes. The Hague court measures which have been dealt with offers so good an example of what ran tie done in the direction of mnh settleby the Congress the President says: ment thai It should be encouraged In In my Inst annual message. In connec- every way. tion with the subject of the due regulaPresident McKinley, in his mestion of combinations of capital which S'JH. urged that the are or may become Injurious to the pub-lb- sage of Dec. I recommended a rqieciat appropriaExecutive be authorized to correspond tion for the better enforcement of the with the governments of the principal anti-trulaw as It now stands, to be maritime powers with a view of Inexpended under Ihe direction of the Into the permanent law of legthe corporating fhy Accordingly islative, executive, nnd Judicial appro- civilized nations the principle of the priation net of February Z.'. l'3. 82 of all private property at Stat.. KM. ls4. the Comrress appropriated, exemption for the purpose of enforcing the various sea. rot contraband of war, from caps ture or destruction by lelllgerenl Federal trust and laws, the sum of five hundred thousand power. dollars, to be expended under the direcPresident Roosovclt ay he corIn the emtion of the Attorney-tSenera- l renews this recommendation, as of and counsel dially agents special ployment in the Department of Justice to conduct a matter of humanity and moral. undr said proceedings and prosecutions Consular Service. Plates. Uws in the courts of the l"rlt-call your attention to the reduced cot I now recommend, a a matter of the utfor the consular err most importance and urgincy. the exten- in malntnlnli.g the fiscal ycr ending June 3c. l?aJ. sion of the purposes of this appropriar In the annual r'port of the tion, so that It may be available, under shown Htste Ihe for and other departments, A and the direction of the ttnrnf compared with the year previous. For until used, for the due enforcement of as lh year under consideration the excess tn the laws of the t'nlnd Stale general of on account 01 r and especially of the ivll and criminal of expenditures amounted to the consular rvrs'nclpts laws relating to public lands and the laws t'S.ST2. as for the year relating to postal crhnes and offnse and end.ng Junessstnst i. nd tU'.W IS for the Ihe subject of naturalization. H'cenl Inending June .i, I5d. This s the vestigations have shown a deplorable ver showing In il ls respect for the constate of affairs In these three matters of lMt service for th past fourteen years, vital concern Hy various frauds and sular snd the reduction In the cost f the r v by forgeries and perjuries, thousands of o the Ooveinment l. msde In acres of the public domain, embracing l of the fsrt that Ihe exiicnditures for lands of different character and extend- spite the year In ouetion were more lhan ing through various sections of the coungreater than for the previous year. try. hv been dishonestly acquired. Ite fi.ofl Rural Service. is hardly necessary to urge the lmiort-ancha been The rural free-of recovering these dishonest acquilivery sitions, stolen from the people, snd of sieaoi'y ftl'tidoi The attention f the promptly and duly tunlshlng the of- Congress is bskM, to the question of the fenders. compensation of the letter carriers and clerks engaged in the postal service, esPostal Frauds. very I speak In another psrt of this pecially on the fifw rural of the widespread crimes by which tha route. More rmites have been Installed sacred right of citizenship Is falsely as- since the first of July last than In any serted snd that "Inestimable heritage" like period In the depsrtment's history. due regard to economy must be perverted to base ends. Hy similar means WhileIn mind In the establishment of new that Is, through frauds, forgeries, and kept routes, yet the extension of the rural perjuries, and by shameless briberies system must be continue, the laws relating to the proper conduct of the public service In general and to for reasons of sound 'public policy. No the due administration of the Poatofflcc governments! movement of recent yesrs has resulted In greater Immediate benefit department have been notoriously vio- to the people of the conntry districts. lated, and many Indictments have been found, and lh consequent prosecutions Rural free delivery, taken In connection and tha srs In course of hearing or on the ev with the telephone, th bicycle, much toward lesthereof. For the reasons thus Indicated, trolley, accomplish and so that the Government may hm pre- sening the Isolation of farm life and makIt brighter sn.l more attractive. In pared to enforce promptly and with tha ing Immediate the lack of Just such greatest effect the due penalties for such the violations of law, snd to this end may facilities as these has driven many of the be furnished with sufficient Instrumental!- - more active and restless young men and , PANAMA TO indeed there bo any surplus. Krom July to November the. receipts from .customs were, approximately, nine million dollars less than the .receipts, from the samo source for a corresponding portion of last year. Should this decrease continue at the same ratio throughout the fiscal year, the surplus would bo reducod by, approximately, thirty million dollars. Should the revenue from customs suffer much' further decrease during the lliscal year, the surplus would vanjfch. Two certainly undesirable. surpluses the "war taxes weje taken off years ago with the express Intention of equalizing the government receipts and exiiendltures, and though the first year thereafter still showed a surplus, It now seems likely that a substantial equality of revenue and expenditure will be 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 can not afford to bo parsimonious In providing for what is essential to our national Careful economy wherever , possible will alone prevent our Income from falling below the point required in order to meet our genuine needs. ' Needs of Financial Situation. The Integrity. of our currency is beyond question, and under present conditions it would be unwise and unnecessary to attempt a reconstiuction of our entire monetary system. The snme liberty should be granted the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit customs receipts as is grunted him in the deposit of receipts from other sources. In my message of Dec. 2, 1!02, 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 fcufiKcstion of a Joint note from the Hepublic of Mexico and the Imperial (Jovcrntmnt of China. a.nd in harmony with an act of the Congress appropriating Ji'a.uof) to pay the expenses thereof, a commission was appointed to confer with the principal Kuropean countries In the hope that some plan might be devised whereby n fixed rate of exchange could be nssun il between ttie councountries and the tries. This commission has filed its preliminary repot t. which hns been made I deem It important thnt the public. commission be continued, nnd that n sum of money be Appropriated HUtliclent to pay the expenses of its further labors. With regards to the improvement of the American merchant marine the Events Which Led Up to the Establishment of the New Republic Given in Detail Policy of the Government Toward Capital and Labor Public Lands and Postal Frauds Need for Treaties Making Bribery , Extraditable. - well-bein- g. . President Rosevelt's message to the Consecond session of the as follows: is substantially gress To the Senate and House of Representatives: Fifty-eight- h With a nation as with a man the most Important things are those of the household, and therefore the country is especially to be congratulated on what lias been accomplish). d In the direction of providing for tho exercise of supervision over the great corporations and combinations of corporations engaged in interstate commerce. The Congress has created the Department of Commerce and labor, including the Bureau of Corporations, with for the first time authority to secure proper publicity of such proceedings of these great corporations as the public has the right to know. It has pio-liled for the expediting of suits for the enforcement of the Federal untl-trulaw; and by another law It has secured equal treatment to all producers in the transportation of their goods, thus taking u long stride forward In making effective the work of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Department of Commerce and Labor. The establishment of the Department of Commerce und Labor, with the Hurenu of Corpoi at Kins thereunder, marks u real advance in the direction of doing all that Is possible for the solution of the questions vitally, affecting capitalists ami A st wage-worker- s. Functions of New Department. The preliminary work of the llurcau of Corporations in the department has shown the wisdom of Its citation. Publicity in corporate affairs will tend to do away with ignorance. and will afford facts upon which Intelligent action may lie taken. Systematic, intelligent investigation is already developing facts the knowledge of which Is essential to a light understanding of the needs and duties of The corpo'iitlon the business world. which Is honestly and fairly oiganlzed. whose managers in the conduct of Its business recognize their obligation to deal I ;iiaiily with their stockholders, their competitors, and the public, has nothing to fear from such supervision. The purpose of this huroHii is not to eniha trass or assail legitimate business, but to aid In bringing about a better Itulnsti lal condition a condition under which there rdiall tie obrdlcree to law and recognition of public obligation by all corpora Ions. BTent or sum II. The Department of Cum. merce and will bo no only the dear Ins bouse for Information regarding the business transactions of the nation but the executive arm of the government to aid In strengthening our domestic and foreign rnaikets. In perfecting our transforation facilities. In building up our merchant marine, in preventing the entrance of undesirable immigrants. In Improving commercial and Industrial conditions, and in bringing together on common g'otind those necessary partners in lmhiKtil.il pt ogress capital and labor. I'otnir.i rce bctwun the nations Is stcad-l'- v grotvh'g In volume, and the tendency of the times Is toward closer trade relations. Constant watcbfulness Is needed to Americans the chance to parlo ticipate to the het adcantpge In foreign trnle; and we rnny confidently expect lhat the new department will Justify the t X! cctntlon of Itfcteatots by the exer- Ise of this watchfulness, an well as by the I tislnrsslike administration of such lsw relating to our Internal affairs as are intrusted to Its care. Capital and Labor. The consistent policy of the national Kovernment. so far as It has the power, in lo hoid in check lh unscrupulous nmn. whether employer or employe: but to refuse to weaken individual Initiative or t liarnHT or cramp the Industrial e of the country. We recoitnize hat Hits Is an era of fre,lom end In which grat capitalistic and la'tor unions have become fctuiH of treineuiloiis importance nil Industrial llesrty recognition Is beneficent given the be.-r( which has through arromplihi both corporation and unions, and the line a different corporations, us Iwtwe.-different unions. Is drawn as It Is Irf'tween different lnJlvldu.il; that it Is lrnwn on conduct, the effort to tret both otginizeil capital nnd organised libit ailke; asking nothing itve the Interest of each shhll be bronchi "to harmony wltn the Interest of general puhl'e. and that the conduct of each ehall conform to the fundamental rules of obellrnre lo biw. of Individual freedom, and of Jltb-- and fair dealir.g towards all. Whenever either corpora-!jn- . latior union, or Individual s the law or acts In a spirit of arbitrary and tyrannous Interference with the rights of others, whether corporations or Individual, thin where the Federal Government hss Jurisdiction, It will see to It that the misconduct is stopped, paying not the slightest heed to the position or power of the corporation, the; union or Ihe individual, but only to on vital fact that Is. Ihe question whether or not the conduct of Ihe Individual or aggregate of Individuals Is In accordance with the law of the land. Kvery man must ire guaranteed his lllsrty and his right to do as he likes with his propas h does not erly or his labor, sooflong others. No man IS Infringe the rights above the law and no man Is below It; nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience to right; not asked thi law Is demanded aa a favor . se-m- c devel-opm- com-blnatl-- ti g, n i, be-l- o e re-r- Receipt and Expenditures. From all sources, exclusive of th postal service, the receipts of the government for ths last fiscal year aggregated The expenditures "0..7arne p Hod were WH.9O07. - the for the surplus gold-standar- sliver-standar- d nt d bo-co- their-natur- bitr-itlon- ; rfn-- Anti-Tru- st -. st - Interwtate-commerc- d 1 vt-- e And-Ito- tJi.-125.1- 2. -- Free-Deliver- y d ma erre rre-d- free-delive- rst ,...,.iu,;.'ll...'" "... i.4 uu... a.n.V nnd undesirable for the cities to grow at the expense1 "of the 'country; ' and - rural free delivery is not only a good thing but is good because it is one of the causes which check this unwholesome tendency towurds the urban concentration of our population at the expense, of tho country districts. . It is for the same reason that we sympathize wUh and approve of the policy of building The movement .for good good 'roads. roads is one fraught w'th the greatest ; boneiit to the country tiistrlt ts. In the Philippines and Porto Rico, it is declare, steady progress Is being made and the condition of' the islanders already has been materially advanced. Receipts of General Land Office. On the subject ot the public lands of the country the message says: . J10.191.S3ti. A gratifying disposition has been evinced by titose. having unlawful Incisures of 'public land to remove tbeir fonccs. Nearly two million ucres so inclosed have been thrown open on demand. In but comoaratlvely few cases has it been necessary to go Into court to accomplish this purpose. Tills work will ba vigorously prosecuted until all unlaw' ful inciosures have been removed. Irrigation. The work of reclamation of the arid lands of the AVest is progressing steadily and satisfactorily under the terms of the law setting uslde the proceeds from the disposal of public lands. The corps of engineers known as the lleelamatlon Service, which is conducting the surveys and examinations, has been thoroughly organized, especial pains being taken to secure under the rules a body of skilled, experienced, and etlkient men. nnd examinations ure Surveys progressing throughout the arid states nnd 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 needed, construction has already been begun. In other parts of the arid West various projects are well advanced toward the drawing up' of contracts, those being delayed In part by necessities of reaching agreements or understanding as regards rights of way or acquisition of real estate. Most of the works contemplated for construction are it national Importance, involving Interstate questions or the securing of stable, 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 ns they do to the wealth and stability cf the country, and furnishing a home market for the products or tho Kast ano South. Tv.e reclamation law. while perhaps not ideal, appears ut present tn answer the larger needs for which It U designed. Further legislation Is not recommended until the necessities of change ere more apparent. Preservation of Forests. civil-servi- 01'! ailli' 1IHU11 !ll'U)d liii' ce ly The President points out the necessity of taking steps for the preservation of our forests, especially at the headwaters of streams. Of the cotton-weevhe tays: HUM uw portion of Central America vastly impor- tant" to the commercial wo:ld,. and vspewhose posdally to the United States, sessions extend along the Atlantic und Ptuille coasts, ami demand 'the speediest and easiest modes of communication. While the lights of sovereignty of the states occupying this region should always be" rctjjMeteJ, we shall expect that theHts rights he exercised In a spirit befitting the occasion and the wants and circumstances that have arisen, Sovereignty has its duties as well us its rights, and none of these local governments, even if administered with more regard to the just demands of other nations than in a would .. be permitted, they . have been, . . . I... - - ; 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 they choose to shut them, or, what Is almost equivalent, to encumber them with such unjust relations aa would pre-- , vent their general use." Seven years later. In 1865, Mr. Seward In different communications took the fol' lowing position.: .' "The 'United- States have taken and will take no Interest In any question of internal revolution in the State of Pan ama, or anv State of the United States of Colombia, but will maintain a perfect neutrality in connection with such domestic altercations. The United States will, nevertheless, hold themselves ready to protect the transit trade across the" Isthmus against Invasion of cither domestic or foreign disturbers of the peace of the State of Panama. Neither the text nor the spirit of the stipulation in that, article by which the United States engages to preserve the neutrality of the Isthmus of Pnnama. Imposes an obligation on this Government to comply with the requisition of 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 purpose of the stipulation wns to guarantee the isthmus against si Izure or Invasion by a foreign power only." Last spring, under the net above referred to. n maty concluded between the representatives of the Itepublic of Columbia and of our Government was ratified by the Senate. Tills trenty was entered Into at the urgent solicitation of the people of Colombia and after a body of txo. rts appointed by our Government especially to go Into the matter of the routes across the isthmus had pronounced unanlmouvly in favor of the I'nnama route. In drawing up' this treaty every concession wns made to the peoplo and to the Government of Colombia. We were more than just in dealing wltn them. Our generosity was such as to make It a se-- r ioiis whether we had not gone too far in their Intel the of our own: for In our scrupulousexpense desire to pay all possible heed, not merely to the real but even to the fancied rights of our weaker ncliihhor. who already owed so much to our protection and forbearance, we yielded in all possible ways to her desires in drawing up the 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 temalned of ever getting a satisfactory treaty from them. The Government of Colombia made the treaty, and yet when tho Colombian Congress was cnlhd to ratify it the vote against ratification was unanimous. It does not appear that the Government made any real crYoi t to eute lutl.'lcntinn. M The cash receipts of the General Land Ofiice for the last fiscal year were an increase of $i.7ti2. 816.47 over the preceding year. Of this sum, approximately, 18.4tll.493 will go to the credit of the fund for the reclamation of arid land, making the total of this fund, up to the 30th of June, 1103, approximately, ' hlll'i "UU' A . I .- - est-nt Revolution in 'Panama. Immediately after the adjournment of the Congress n revolution broke out In Panama. The people of Panama had The cotton-grolug States have relona been discontented with the Itepublic cently been Invaded by a Weevil that has of Colombia, and they had been kept quiet done much damage and threatens the entire cotton Industry. I suggest to the iiniy by tie prospct of the conclusion .f the treaty, which was to them a matt'ongress the prompt enactment of such ter of vital concern. When It became remedial legislation aa its Judgment may evident that the treity was hopelessly approve. lost, the people of Panama rose literally Isthmian Canal. one man. Not a shot as fired by a The causes leading up to the estab- single mnn on the isthmus was in the Interest lishment of the new republic of Pan- of the Colombian Government. Not a was lost in the accomplishment of ama, and its recognition by the life the The Colombian troops United States are given In much de- st foned on the Nthmus. who had Ionic been unpaid, made common cause with tail, as follows: the people of Panama, and with astonUy the act of June 2s. li2. the Congress authorized tlie President to enter ishing urn trinity the new republic was "ta'lol. The duty of the United States into traty with Colombia for the buildIn the premises was clear. In strict acing. of the canal across the Isthmus of cordance with the principles Uid down Panama; it lielng provided that In tha Secretarl'-- Cass and Seward In the ofeent of failure to secure such treaty by reasonable tlm re- ficial documents ahnvo quoted, the United after the 'apse i course should be boil to building a canal give notite that It would permit tin expeditionary force, through Nicaragua. Il has not been ttie i.'nl.tiK orof which would mean chaos necessary to cotiMder this alternative, as the arrival I am ena tiled lo lay before th Senile end dentin lion along the line of the rail a treaty providing for the building of the road .rnd of the proponed canal, and an canal across the Isthmus of Panama. Inlet n.piioii of transit as an inevitable consequence. Tile ile facto Government This was the route which commci.ded in the folio Itself to Ihe Judgment of the of Panama wnsto recognised t .ngress, and we can now acquire by Ing 'e'egintn of Mr. fchrman: "The people Panama have, by a p. treaty the right t ctnstruct the canal unanimous movement, dissolved over this route. The question now, therepiieiitiy fore, is not by which route the tsthmltn their tmiltb n! connection with the llc of Columbia and resumed their Incanal shall be built, for that question When you are satisfied that has been definitely ar d Irrevocably de- dependence. . j,r,,,f . ifirnrTWnl cided. The question Is simply whether or n tit facto fiii'Mi nil iin form end without substantial opposition not we shall have sn Isthmian canal. tro-its own people, hns been established In the year 1M this fJ.;veriirr,f nt entered Into a treaty with ew Oranada. In the stit ol Panama, you will enter the preoWesor tqiori the Isthmus of Into reisfions with It as the responsible mint of the territory and look to the Itepublic of Colombia and of the Kiivi'tt it for all due action to protect the perpresent He piddle of Punania. by which son that the Oovern-me- Unite. nd j.rorty of cltisens of the treaty it was provided putcs and to keep open the and citizen or the I'mte-- Htates IMhinir-transit. It accordance with the should always have Tree and open right Ihe IsthmiM of oblU: (Hons of existing treaties governof way or transit Panama by any modes or communication ing the relations of the United States to. that might - constructed, wiille In re- that territory." turn our tSovernment guaranteed Treaty With Republic of Par.ima. the Kviry rffott has been made by the perfect neutrality of the of td United Slates to persuade isthmus with the view that the free transit from the one to the other sea might Colombia to follow a course which was not be Interrupted or embarrassed. The rsMniis11y not only to our Interests and treaty vested In the United States a to the Interests of the world, but to the or Col. .mild Itself. substantial property right csrved out of Irder These efthe rights or sovereignty snd property fort lave failed; and Colombia, by her nce in which New Rratiada then had and pos-.the advances that over the ld territory. The nam? j.erit r.svc en made, has forced us. for the or New Oranada has passed away snd its sake of our own honor, and of the Internot merely of our own territory has ben divided. Its successor, est and the Government of Colombia, hss ceased people, lut of tre peoplo of toe Isthmus A of Panama snd the peoplo of the civilised lo "wn any proert in the Istnmus. lie republic, that of Panama, which was countries .f the wot id, to take decisive at one time a sovert ign state, and at tP to bring to an end a condition of another lime a mere department of the affairs which tad become Intolerable. successive confederations known a New The new republic or Panama Immediate(tranada and Colombia, has now sucly offered to nfgotiate a treaty with us. ceeded to the rights which first one and This treaty 1 herewith submit. It our then the other formerly exercised over Interests are better safeguarded Hythan la the Isthmus. Hot as long as the Isthmus the treaty with Colombia which was ratiendures, the mere geographical fact of Its fied by the Senate at Its last session. It Is therebetter in Ms terms than the treaties ofexistence, and the peculiar Interest in which la required by our position, fered to us by the Republics of Nicarawhich perpetuate the solemn contract gua and Costa Rica. At last the right binds the holders of the Ufrltory to reto begin this great undertaking Is midt spect our right to freedom of transit available. Panama has done her part. across It, and binds us In return to safeAll that remains Is for the Amerlcsn Conguard for the Isthmus and the world the gress to do Its part and forthwith this exercise of that Inestimable privilege, Republic will enter upon the execution The true Interpretation of Ihe obligaof a project colossal In Its slse and of tion upon which the United Htates enIncalculable possibilities for the tered In this treaty of 1M has been given good of this country aad the nations ef repeatedly In the utterances of Presi- tnankfnd. dents and Becretsrlee of State. Secretary THEODORE POOSEVELT. Cass tn officially stated tee position White House. 7, tm. il s S-t- dclllM-Tiit- s e Ke-p- ut - - n nl s above-mention- Oov-errm- wcll-tlt- well-nlg- .. lc. nt |