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Show THE RAPE OF COLOMBIA. In his letter accepting the Democratic nomination nomina-tion for president, Judge Parker alludes to the Panama canal grab, lie traced the act to that sentiment "of perverted Americanism allied with imperialism, and rebuked the conscience that would justify the spoliation of a Aveak power as a means toward an end. In such criticism. Judge Parker reflects the halcyon age of Democracy. Far better would it be to wait a century rather than obtain the right fo dig a canal through the isthmus of Panama by burglarizing our sister republic, Co- luuii.ia- or, wnat is ine same thing, aiding and abetting the robbers. If our power abroad is to be established only through the sacrifice of national conscience, then farewell to all the ideals of government gov-ernment cherished by the Fathers. The deed is done, and there is now no way of undoing it. The Panama canal will be built, some time or other, under the administration of a president presi-dent or under the reign of a king. The encroachment encroach-ment of the executive upon the legislative functions func-tions of government is not more insidious and ccr-' tain than the growth of the jingo spirit to place ours among the nations of war powers. From the republic to the monarchy may be the thought of treason today. Tomorrow it will be counted patriotism. Xo matter how great the results to flow from the isthmus canal, it will go down in history as 'stolen property. We have the proof at last, despite the ingenious explanation of the president. The person who comes forward to establish the charge of bad faith was one of tie actors' in the conspiracy to rape, Colombia. - Gabriel Duque, editor of the Panama Star and Herald of Colon, arrived at Xew York last week on the steamship Advance Colon. He is one of those'who helped bring, about the revolution from Colombia,, and in telling the story placed the whole matter - at the door of William Xelson Cromwell, the attorney of the French Panama Canal company, com-pany, ,novr counsel of the new republic. "Mr. Cromwell offered me the presidency of the republic," said Mr. Duque, "if I would raised small force of men and declare a secession from Colombia. Colom-bia. He even guaranteed to pay my men well if I would do the work, lie also guaranteed if Colom- j bia attempted to land a force in Panama the United Unit-ed States government would send a force there to keep the Colombians out. - "I could not take the offer. I had great land interests. m the country, and could not afford to take the place as leader. I know, however, the United States government was aware the revolution revolu-tion was being brought about, and that the president presi-dent had a force ready to go to Panama at onee if the Colombians sent any force there. "When I refused to take Cromwell's offer he went to other men in Panama, and by giving several sev-eral generals a few thousand dollars for themselves, and some money for their men, he won all of them over, and when the time came to strike for freedom free-dom Colombia had only troops paid by Cromwell. e also were promised enough money to establish es-tablish ji government so we could put through the Panama canal deal, but we did not need assistance on that line, for when we revolted we found about $200,000 in the t reasury. , '"Cromwell did not pay a cent out of his own pocket, but I do not know who did pay it. There was not a general who didnot get at least $3,000 to get on Cromwell's 'side, and the Colombian officials of-ficials all were bought off, even to the Colombian general who was sent to Panama to lead his forces against the revolutionists. . - |