The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-16
LETTER FROM AsPINwALL.

commence This letter by saying That after |
period of two months, during which we
have had no talk or fears OF a revolution
on the 1sthmus, the appearances for the
past few days have been anything but pro-
phetic of peace. The national congress as
sembled in Bogata on the first of February,
and was quietly organized. The friends of
both the candidates for president of the
republic at the last election were out in full
force, however, and after the organization,
at one time, so noisy did the spectators in
the house of representatives become that
the soldiers of the national guard were
called upon to quiet them and keep order.
The cause OF this trouble was that the
house passed resolution excluding the
delegations from the states OF Cundina-
marca and Panama, both states having
delegations present, one in favor of the
government and one opposed. Our latest
dates received from the capital notify
US that Doctor Para has been de-
clared the legally elected president of
the republic, and 1t was feared that gen.
eral war would be the result. The friends
of Senior Nunez, the defeated candidate
have made common cause with the conser-
vatives against the president elect, and 1t is
announced in our latest news that the lat
ter threaten 10 form second house of re-
representatives. of their own, which If they
do, will make more confusion, and do much
to stir up feeling between the two parties
that will certainly lead to conflict at arms.
To us who have been brought up IN a
country where elections are held by the
people, and, save in the south, no intimi-
dation or violence permitted, it is matter
of wonder that in a country like this the
year of an election always brings with it
strife and bloodshed. The Panama Star
and Herald, in commenting upon the pos
sibility of revolution and its conse-
quences, states as follows-which gives
quite clearly the conditions and results
that nearly always follow the election of a
president in any of the Spanish American
republics
1t is the nature of man to differ from
each other in almost everything in life, in
thought, in reason, and in belief. But
this should not be the cause of allowing
discord to acquire so preponderating an In
| fluence that only the bloody knife and the
bullet can become the pacitcator. In all
these countries, and in Columbia especially,
we have laws and constitutions of unrival-
led llberality, beneath the Egls of which
the citizens might live IN peace and har-
| mony with each other, and with profit to
| themselves and to their country. But
| there is so much dissention in nearly all
their political movements, discord between
parties and discord among the partsans
| Them sa] va, wars VI faction aud wars With
| in war, that no step can be taken or any
| motion made save with the nfleXible re-
solve not to surrender a single point or
cede one solitary idea, unless forced to do
at our hands an instance of this unpaata-
BILE truth. The election of the president
of the Union that should have been con-
Quoted with only the legitimate contest of
| freemen, is attended with bloodshed in the
past and with a probability of further
bloodshed in the future. Why such a sys-
TEN is encouraged why so much mortal
strife; why SO much blood why so much
detraction for the good of the country, and
why all this is permitted by the sanction OF
the people and the laws OF the land is be.
yond the conception of those who have moi
| yet learnt the economy of Spanish-Ameri
can politics and Spanish civiliza.
ton. 1t Is hopeless to expect better sys.
TEN will soon take the place of the present
one. The people are welded to their idol
and no amount of outside example can in
duce them to discard it for anything how
ever highly commended.
AS an illustration of the way in which
English subjects are protected, let me give
the following: A few weeks ago Mr.
Grindale, doing commission business a.
Buenaventura, Columbian port Oh the
Pacific coast, was threatened with assassi
nation by a native, formerly in the employ
of Mr.. G., but who had been discharged
for dishonesty. Not being contented with
threatening, an attempt was made to xii
Mr.. Grindae while in his own house, anC
while defending his life the assailant was
killed. Mr.. G. was Immediately arrested
confined IN calaboose, fed on bread anC
water not permitted to employ any coun
sci, or go on bail, which was offered t.
any amount, and lis lite was even threat
ened by a mob, who undertook to take hin
out and dispatch him, but he was protected
by the foreigners living at that place. TIL,
attention of the English consul at Panama
was called to the matter, who Immediately
dispatched the war vessel "Albatross" t
that place, with orders to secure the re
lease of Mr.. Grindale, which was done
and he was allowed to return to his bust
ness, the authorities there being informed
| sl.Ut l. 1. s..
there would be a day of reckoning, anC
they would have to pay dear for the wills
tie. The action of the consul and of thu
captain of the ship brought out a yer,
nicely gotten up memorial to each, eignet
by all the foreign residents of that place
without any regard to nationality.
From the south coast, Peru, the lates
advices bring information that the dull
times still continue, and exchange with tn
United States and Europe is very high, an,
while the shipments of produce are slight,
on the increase, general restitution prevails
In Ecuador we hear of continual riot
and bloodshed, while several of the state
on the north OF us Central America ar,
engaged in a war with each other, and
although they are all poor enough, the re
suit can only be to make them muc
poorer. While we on the Isthmus are en-
joying peace and quietness as long as W
can, the authorities at Panama are agita
ting the subject of much needed improve
ments In that place, such as bank, goo
, supply of water, numbering the houses O
the streets, etc. A supply of water i
much needed there, (and here also.
, In Panama water is carried aroun
on cart, and sold at the rate O
, fifty cents per month for one pail full a do
= In this place, Ave thousand gallons q de-
are brought from Frijoli, distance of
J miles, by the Panama railroad company,
J tanks built expressly for that purpose, an
7 given away daily. Panama has been sevt
raj times visited with destructive fires an
: it does seem as though her inhabitapt
would at last stir themselves and do somt
fhinn heaidea talk eaneeiallx now that III