第79章

Itookfinalactionin1903。Duringtheprecedingfifty-threeyearstheGovernmentsofNewGranadaandofitssuccessor，Colombia，hadbeeninaconstantstateofflux；andtheStateofPanamahadsometimesbeentreatedasalmostindependent，inalooseFederalleague，andsometimesasthemerepropertyoftheGovernmentatBogota；andtherehadbeeninnumerableappealstoarms，sometimesofadequate，sometimesforinadequate，reasons。ThefollowingisapartiallistofthedisturbancesontheIsthmusofPanamaduringtheperiodinquestion，asreportedtousbyourconsuls。Itisnotpossibletogiveacompletelist，andsomeofthereportsthatspeakof“revolutions“mustmeanunsuccessfulrevolutions：

July，1902——RevolutionTheaboveisonlyapartiallistoftherevolutions，rebellions，insurrections，riots，andotheroutbreaksthatoccurredduringtheperiodinquestion；yettheynumberfifty-threeforthefifty-threeyears，andtheyshowedatendencytoincrease，ratherthandecrease，innumbersandintensity。Oneofthemlastedfornearlythreeyearsbeforeitwasquelled；anotherfornearlyayear。Inshort，theexperienceofoverhalfacenturyhadshownColombiatobeutterlyincapableofkeepingorderontheIsthmus。OnlytheactiveinterferenceoftheUnitedStateshadenabledhertopreservesomuchasasemblanceofsovereignty。HaditnotbeenfortheexercisebytheUnitedStatesofthepolicepowerinherinterest，herconnectionwiththeIsthmuswouldhavebeensunderedlongbeforeitwas。In1856，in1860，in1873，in1885，in1901，andagainin1902，sailorsandmarinesfromUnitedStateswarshipswereforcedtolandinordertopatroltheIsthmus，toprotectlifeandproperty，andtoseethatthetransitacrosstheIsthmuswaskeptopen。In1861，in1862，in1885，andin1900，theColombianGovernmentaskedthattheUnitedStatesGovernmentwouldlandtroopstoprotectColombianinterestsandmaintainorderontheIsthmus。ThepeopleofPanamaduringtheprecedingtwentyyearshadthreetimessoughttoestablishtheirindependencebyrevolutionorsecession——in1885，in1895，andin1899。

ThepeculiarrelationsoftheUnitedStatestowardtheIsthmus，andtheacquiescencebyColombiainactswhichwerequiteincompatiblewiththetheoryofherhavinganabsoluteandunconditionedsovereigntyontheIsthmus，areillustratedbythefollowingthreetelegramsbetweentwoofournavalofficerswhoseshipswereattheIsthmus，andtheSecretaryoftheNavyontheoccasionofthefirstoutbreakthatoccurredontheIsthmusafterIbecamePresident(ayearbeforePanamabecameindependent)：

September12，1902。

Ranger，Panama：

UnitedStatesguaranteesperfectneutralityofIsthmusandthatafreetransitfromseatoseabenotinterruptedorembarrassed……Anytransportationoftroopswhichmightcontravenetheseprovisionsoftreatyshouldnotbesanctionedbyyou，norshoulduseofroadbepermittedwhichmightconvertthelineoftransitintotheaterofhostility。

MOODY。

COLON，September20，1902。

SecretaryNavy，Washington：

Everythingisconceded。TheUnitedStatesguardsandguaranteestrafficandthelineoftransit。To-dayIpermittedtheexchangeofColombiantroopsfromPanamatoColon，about1000meneachway，thetroopswithoutarmsintrainsguardedbyAmericannavalforceinthesamemannerasotherpassengers；armsandammunitioninseparatetrain，guardedalsobynavalforceinthesamemannerasotherfreight。

MCLEAN。

PANAMA，October3，1902。

SecretaryNavy，Washington，D。C。：

HavesentthiscommunicationtotheAmericanConsulatPanama：

“InformGovernor，whiletrainsrunningunderUnitedStatesprotection，Imustdeclinetransportationanycombatants，ammunition，arms，whichmightcauseinterruptiontotrafficorconvertlineoftransitintotheaterhostilities。”

CASEY。

WhentheGovernmentinnominalcontroloftheIsthmuscontinuallybesoughtAmericaninterferencetoprotectthe“rights“itcouldnotitselfprotect，andpermittedourGovernmenttotransportColombiantroopsunarmed，underprotectionofourownarmedmen，whiletheColombianarmsandammunitioncameinaseparatetrain，itisobviousthattheColombian“sovereignty“wasofsuchacharacterastowarrantourinsistingthatinasmuchasitonlyexistedbecauseofourprotectionthereshouldbeinrequitalasenseoftheobligationsthattheacceptanceofthisprotectionimplied。

MeanwhileColombiawasunderadictatorship。In1898M。A。SanclamentewaselectedPresident，andJ。M。MaroquinVice-President，oftheRepublicofColombia。OnJuly31，1900，theVic