theodore roosevelt-第32章
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made more than fifty attempts to revolt from Colombia and establish their own independence。 The most illiterate of them could understand that； if they were independent； the money which they received and passed on to Bogota。； for the bandits there to spend； would remain in their own hands。 An appeal to their love of liberty； being coupled with so obvious an appeal to their pockets； was irresistible。
Just what devices the French Company employed to instigate revolution； can be read in the interesting work of M。 Bunau…Varilla； one of the most zealous officers of the French Company； who had devoted his life to achieving the construction of the Trans…Isthmian Canal。 He was indefatigable； breezy； and deliberately indiscreet。 He tells much； and what he does not tell he leaves you to infer； without risk of going astray。 Mr。 William Nelson Cromwell； of New York； the general counsel of the Company； offset Varilla's loquacity by a proper amount of reticence。 Bunau…Varilla hurried over from Paris； and had interviews with President Roosevelt and Secretary Hay； but could not draw them into his conspiracy。 The President told him that； at the utmost； he would only order American warships； which were on the Panama coast； to prevent any attack from outside which might cause bloodshed and interfere with the undisturbed passage across the Isthmus； a duty which the United States was pledged to perform。
The French zealot…conspirator freely announced that the revolution at Panama would take place at noon on November 3d。 It did take place as scheduled without violence； and with only the accidental killing of a Chinaman and a dog。 The next day the Revolutionists proclaimed the Republic of Panama； and on November 6th the United States formally recognized its existence and prepared to open diplomatic relations with it。 The Colombian Government had tried to send troops to put down the rebellion； but the American warships； obeying their orders to prevent bloodshed or fighting； would not allow the troops to land。
As soon as the news of these events reached Bogota； the halls of Parliament there resounded with wailing and gnashing of teeth and protests； and curses on the perfidious Americans who had connived to free the Panamanians in their struggle for liberty。 The mountain bandits perceived that they had overreached themselves。 Instead of the 10；000；000 which their envoy Herran had deemed sufficient； instead of the 40；000；000 and more； which their greed had counted on in 1904； they would receive nothing。 The Roosevelt Government immediately signed a contract with the Republic of Panama； by which the United States leased a zone across the Isthmus for building； controlling； and operating； the Canal。 Then the Colombians； in a panic； sent their most respectable public man； and formerly their President； General Rafael Reyes； to Washington； to endeavor to persuade the Government to reverse its compact with the Panama Republic。 The blackmailers were now very humble。 Mr。 Wayne MacVeagh； who was counsel for Colombia； told me that General Reyes was authorized to accept 8；000；000 for all the desired concessions； 〃and；〃 Mr。 MacVeagh added； 〃he would have taken five millions； but Hay and Roosevelt were so foolish that they wouldn't accept。〃
The quick decisions of the Administration in Washington； which accompanied the revolution in Panama and the recognition of the new Republic； were made by Roosevelt。 I have seen no evidence that Mr。 Hay was consulted at the last moment。 When the stroke was accomplished； many good persons in the United States denounced it。 They felt that it was high…handed and brutal； and that it fixed an indelible blot on the national conscience。 Many of them did not know of the long…drawn…out negotiations and of the Colombian premeditated deceit； others knew； but overlooked or condoned。 They upheld strictly the letter of the law。 They could not deny that the purpose of the Colombians was to exact blackmail。 It meant nothing to them that Herran； the official envoy； had drawn up and signed a treaty under instructions from Marroquin； the President of Colombia； and its virtual dictator； who； having approved of the orders under which Herran acted； could easily have required the Colombian Parliament to ratify the treaty。 Perfervidly pious critics of Roosevelt pictured him as a bully without conscience； and they blackened his aid in freeing the Panamanians by calling it 〃the Rape of Panama。〃 Some of these persons even boldly asserted that John Hay died of remorse over his part in this wicked deed。 The fact is that John Hay died of a disease which was not caused by remorse； and that； as long as he lived； he publicly referred to the Panama affair as that in which he took the greatest pride。 It is only in the old Sunday…School stories that Providence punishes wrongdoing with such commendable swiftness； and causes the naughty boy who goes skating on Sunday to drown forthwith； in real life the 〃mills of God grind slowly。〃 Roosevelt always regarded with equal satisfaction the decision by which the Panama Canal was achieved and the high needs of civilization and the protection of the United States were attended to。 He lived long enough to condemn the proposal of some of our morbidly conscientious people； hypnotized by the same old crafty Colombians； to pay Colombia a gratuity five times greater than that which General Reyes would have thankfully received in December； 1903。
Persons of different temperaments； but of equal patriotism and sincerity； will probably pass different verdicts on this incident for a long time to come。 Mr。 Leupp quotes a member of Roosevelt's Administration as stating four alternative courses the President might have followed。 First； he might have let matters drift until Congress met； and then sent a message on the subject； shifting the responsibility from his own shoulders to those of the Congressmen。 Secondly； he might have put down the rebellion and restored Panama to Colombia； but this would have been to subject them against their will to a foreign enemyan enormity the Anti…Imperialists were still decrying in our holding the Philippines against the will of their inhabitants。 Thirdly； he might have withdrawn American warships and left Colombia to fight it out with the Panamaniansbut this would have involved bloodshed； tumult； and interruption of transit across the Isthmus； which the United States； by the agreement of 1846； were bound to prevent。 Finally； he might recognize any de facto government ready and willing to transact businessand this he did。*
* Leupp； 10…11。
That the Colombian politicians； who repudiated the treaty Herran had framed； were blackmailers of the lowest sort； is as indisputable as is the fact that whoever begins to compromise with a blackmailer is lured farther and farther into a bog until he is finally swallowed up。 Americans should know also that during the summer and autumn of 1903； German agents were busy in Bogota。 and that； since German capitalists had openly announced their desire to buy up the French Company's concession； we may guess that they did not urge Colombia to fulfill her obligation to the United States。
Many years later I discussed the transaction with Mr。 Roosevelt； chaffing him with being a wicked conspirator。 He laughed； and replied： 〃 What was the use？ The other fellows in Paris and New York had taken all the risk and were doing all the work。 Instead of trying to run a parallel conspiracy； I had only to sit still and profit by their plotif it succeeded。〃 He said also that he had intended issuing a public announcement that； if Colombia by a given date refused to come to terms； he would seize the Canal Zone in behalf of civilization。 I told him I rather wished that he had accomplished his purpose in that way； but he answered that events matured too quickly； and that； in any case； where swift action was required； the Executive and not Congress must decide。
CHAPTER XII。 THE GREAT CRUSADE AT HOME
These early diplomatic settlements in Roosevelt's Administration showed the world that the United States now had a President who did not seek quarrels； but who was not afraid of them； who never bluffed； becauseunlike President Cleveland and Secretary Olney with their Venezuela
