The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-26
The Colombian s.ruxs,o-o.r Interests.


Our recent Colombian news indicates that
the elements of revolutionary struggle are far
from settled. For the present they simply re-
main quiet, ready 10 burst out into warfare
80 soon as European intrigue can be brought
TO bear upon shem The struggle in Colombia,
which has thrown the country into constant
turmoil since its war of independence, has
within recent period grown into new issue,
in which the old war to separate Church and
State takes secondary position. The contest
to-day results from The geographical position
of that country, or rather New Granada. From
the outgrowsh of Pacific trade it has drawn she
eyes Of the commercial nations to the narrow
transit between the two great oceans, and
made that strip Of land the diamond prize in
the great national commercial tournament. 1t
is evident that, sooner or later, the Panama
isthmus will be cut by ship canal, that other
railways will connect the two oceans, and that
the nation that can control all these, by hold
ing the territory, will hold also the key to half
the commerce of the world
Europe, always more active in seeing and
Selling commercial advantages than even our
own plodding government, and keenly slive to
the immense importance of the strategic COM
mercial points that shape the courses Of the
great trade currents of the world, has set It's
whole energies to the task Of controlling
Panama. In this Is found, too, great political
as well as comm ercial advantage. In the
hands of France and England Panama is the
greatest barrier to tho progress of their only
great commercial rival Ii every ton Of our
freight that m axes the transit between the
Atlantic md Pacific oceans pays tribute to
our European rivals, we may we'll say that we
have no distinct nationality of our own, but
live really under the shadow of the monarchics
that would destroy u.s. or prop themselves into
q factitious existence by drawing, as their SUI
perior commercial policy already draws, upon
our national vitality. In view Of these things
the political events occurring I'm Colon
bia become of earnest importance to
US. The interference OF Europe in our
own ncighboring sister republic having
been gloriously crushed, the Colombian
question now becomes o primary and
prominent one with France and England.
Before the empire was overthrow in Mexico
Colombia was secondary; for. had the Mexican
republic fallen, Colombia would have bowed
to the control of European influence without o
struggle Now the problem Is shifted from
Mexico to the next great republic south Of US.
Mosquera's Official organ-La Prvnsa, Of Bo-
gotta, February 2, 1s67-stated the character Of
the political struggle we'll when speaking Of
Mexico relative to Colombian interssts:-''That
expedition was carried out with the connivance,
if not the secret completely, of the governments
of Europe. For this reason we have been par
tisans Of the empire in Mexico not precisely
from love Of monarchy, but because il is
necessary to dam up the invading spirit OF the
United States"
Mosquera had at that time been allowed to
sport his tinsel uniform at the courts 81 France
and Spain he had been Toasted and petted by
Earl Clarendon !; ho had been allowed 10 boast
his relationship TO Eagenie, the Empress, and
Isab ella, from the Peninsula, had turned the
old mans head by nattering letter. Hence
| forth Mosquera worked for royalty in the
Western World. His first announced policy,
however, was the consolidation Of Colon
bian unity. Maracaibo was to be cut
out Of Venezuela, Ecuador was to be overrun.
and, finally, Costa Rica was to be annexed.
Thus the now European-Napoleonic -Claren-
don-Palmsrston scheme was to concentrate .
new force to impede the march Of the United
States, and, ct the same time, hold the key to
the worlds commerce. The desperate efforts
Of Mosquera to gain his point by the assump
ton Of dictatorial power, bis sudden overturning
by bis clearsr-hcaded colleague, with the pre-
sent uncertainty Of national unity upon either
side Of the question, show what strong political
forces there are at work 10 give Colombis
an increasing interest In the eyes Of the United
States. There 10 something more than the
Panama railway franchise involved in the
struggle. II IL . contest Of the same nature
with that which we have just terminated 10
Mexico-ths republication Of the New World
headed By the United States, against Eur ops
With lsmentabls ignorance, our State Depart
ment lately said that IL knew very little Of
Colombian Affairs, II was . confession not
necessary to make. II will be wise, howevsr,
N our government swakens In time to the vas'
importance which the control Of Panama bear
to our future.
The nrst Designsdo was absent In Europe
when Mosquers was deposed. The 'secont
pesiQnsdo holds the power until his return
We see that Nosquera's leading military com
mander has left Panama for st. Thomas fof
the purpose Of meeting the first Desisnado
when Level dc Coda meets Santos Gutierrez
at the above island we shall have the new
plot. and, backed by England and France
the Mosquera party may open new campaign
In favor Of Europe. Under no circumstance
must Panama be allowed to fall unde|
European control better FIVE years foreie'