And State Papers 77 



territory. The possession of a territory fraught 

 with such peculiar capacities as the Isthmus in ques- 

 tion carries with it obligations to mankind. The 

 course of events has shown that this canal can not 

 be built by private enterprise, or by any other nation 

 than our own; therefore it must be built by the 

 United States. 



Every effort has been made by the Government of 

 the United States to persuade Colombia to follow a 

 course which was essentially not only to our inter- 

 ests and to the interests of the world, but to the 

 interests of Colombia itself. These efforts have 

 failed ; and Colombia, by her persistence in repulsing 

 the advances that have been made, has forced us, for 

 the sake of our own honor, and of the interest and 

 well-being, not merely of our own people, but of the 

 people of the Isthmus of Panama and the people of 

 the civilized countries of the world, to take decisive 

 steps to bring to an end a condition of affairs which 

 had become intolerable. The new Republic of Pan- 

 ama immediately offered to negotiate a treaty with 

 us. This treaty I herewith submit. By it our inter- 

 ests are better safeguarded than in the treaty with 

 Colombia which was ratified by the Senate at its 

 last session. It is better in its terms than the trea- 

 ties offered to us by the Republics of Nicaragua and 

 Costa Rica. At last the right to begin this great 

 undertaking is made available. Panama has done 

 her part. All that remains is for the American Con- 

 gress to do its part and forthwith this Republic will 

 enter upon the execution of a project colossal in its 



