The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-26
Political Situation in the South
American Republics.
Revolutions in Progress in a
Number of Them.
REBELS ARE UNITED.
All Pull Together While Gov
ernments Are at War.
Forced Loans Are Impoverish-
ing the Inhabitants.

Colon, Colombia, Aug. %, Friday, via
Kingston, Jamaica, Aug. 26.-The CEN
sorship here prevents the transmission
of political news, or news unfavorable
to the government
The revolt OF the Colombian rebels,
now two years old, lately assumed a
more serious aspect by the Liberals
concentration on the isthmus. 1t is be-
lieved they are contemplating agrees
sive action. Consequently, uneasiness
prevails at Panama. the liberal objec-
tive, which was nearly captured a year
ago. It is not believed the rebels will
modest the railroad or interrupt traf-
fic. The recent rebel raids along the
railroads amounted to bloodless riots
and the robbery of storekeepers, which
the presence of few government
troops apparently stopped. There is a
report that the government is bringing
troops to protect the isthmus. This viii
be difficult without exposing to rebel
attacks the points whence they are ia
ken. The area of the revolt is extern
Sive.
A noticeable. distinguishing feature
of the revolution is the actual, moral
support the liberals are receiving from
Venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua in
which countries liberal governments
prevail Colombia's conservative govern
ment is not popular with the govern
ments of the countries mentioned, but
is popular with the revolutionary ele-
ments in the same countries. The stu
alton can be likened to a disrupted fed
Grafton, composed of Venezuela, Ecua-
dor, Colombia and Nicaragua, in which
liberal and conservative partfsans are
helping each other and intriguing to-
gether, but being separate nations the
political and armed intrigues threaten
international trouble.
1t is reported that the conservative
revolt in Venezuela against President
Castro is receiving actual support from
the Colon bian conservatives. Near
agua's threatened revolution will pro-
badly be similarly aided on occasion
arising. The conditions give ground for
the reports Of actual or threatened in
ternational complications between the
countries mentioned, in which the lib
erals are generally opposed to Colon
bias conservative administration whose
prOphesied downfall is accompanied by
talk of a federation or consolidation of
some of the other countries mentioned,
under the idea of a Grand Colombia"
The Colombia government is in straits,
financially.
At present 40 Colombian paper dollars
are equivalent in value to one gold dol
lar. The government is printing paper
money Unfortunately, lately estab
1ished heavy export duties, payable in
gold, and has sold monopolies and priv
ileges of all kinds, all of which has
greatly injured commerce.
The conditions in the interior are bad.
The government is well supplied with
ammunition and this week unsucceSS-
fully tried to become possessed of con
signments of the same to Ecuador land
Nicaragua in transit over the Panama
railroad.
The rebels on the isthmus are ham,
pered by a lack of food and ammuni-
ton and reported to be awaiting the
arrival of shipments and certain lead
ers before beginning activities on the
isthmus. General Alban, governor of
Panama, who was recently granted ex-
traordinary civil and military powers
on both sides of the isthmus is now
absent at Savanilla- He is supposed to
be bringing troops for the protection of
the isthmus. He laely invited a num-
Der of friends at Panama to his house,
put a guard at the door and forced his
guests to contribute literally to the
government before releasing them.
Colombian hold on the monopOlies I'M
der the conservatives is being forced to
contribute literally to the payment of
soldiers and police of the isthmuS