The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-30
A PECULIAR STATE OF AFFAIRS IN
SOUTH AMERICA.
OTHER REPUBLICS ARE INVOLVED
The Conservative Government of This
State an Object of Hostility { b
Liberal Governments and Parties
of Nefgnboring states Who Are
Aiding the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
bian Government Aiding Opponents
of L1beral Governments OF These
States.

Colon. Colombia, Friday, August %,
via Kingston. ia, August 26.-The CEN
sorship here prevents the transmission
of political news or news unfavorable
to the government.
The revolt of the liberal Colombian
rebels, now two years old. lately as
sumed a more serious aspect by the
liberals concentration On the isthmus.
It is believed they are contemplating
aggressive action. Consequently, I'M
easiness prevails at Panama, the lib
eral objective, which was nearly cap
tured a year ago. 1t is not believed
the rebels will modest the railroad or
interrupt traffic. The recent rebel
raids along the railroad amounted 10
bloodless raiding and the robbery. of
Chinese ~store-keepers, which the pres
enc of a few government troops ap-
parantly stopped. The area OF the re-
volt is extensive.
a noticeable. disting gushing fea ture of
the revolution is the actual. moral sup
port the liberals are receiving from Ven
eZuela. Ecuador n Nic1IagU2, in
which countries liberal governments
prevail. ColCmbia'S conservative gov
eminent is not popular with the gov
ernments of the counties mentioned;
but. is popular with the revolutionary
elements in the same countries. The
situation can be likened to a disrupted
federation, composed OF Venezuela,
Ecuador, Colombia and Nicaragua in
which liberal and conservative parti-
sans are helping each ether and in
triguing together; but. being separate
nations, the political and armed in
trigues threaten international trouble.
1t is reported hat the conservative re-
volt in Venezuela against President
Castro is receiving actual support from
the Colombian conservatives.
Nicaragua's threatened revolution
will probably be similarly aided on the
occasion arising. These conditions give
ground for the reports Of actual or
threatened international complications
between the countries mentioned, in
which the liberals are generally OPP
posed to Colombia's conservative ad-
ministration, whose proDheSied down
fall is accompanied by talk Of a feder-
alton or consolidation of some OF all
of the countries mentioned. under the
idea of a Grand Colombia" The Colon
bian government is in straits, inan-
cially.
The conditions in the interior are bad
The government is we'll supplied with
ammunition and this week unsuccess-
fully tried to become possessed Of con-
signments of the same to Ecuador and
Nicaragua in transit over n Pana-
ma railroad.
The rebels on the iSthmuS are ham,
pered by a lack of arms and ammuni-
ton, and are reported to be awaiting
the arrival of shipments and the pres.
ence in the field of certain leaders be-
fore commencing activities on the is
thmus.
ro,orol h1bop aorarpor Of Daoamo
who was recently granted ~eXtraordina-
ry civil and military power on both
sides of the sthmuS is now absent al
Savanilla. He is supposed to be bring
ing troops for the protection of the
isthmus. He lately invited a number OF
friends at Panam to his house, put e
guard at the door and forced his guests
to contribute literally to the govern
ment before releasing them. A Colon
bian holding monopolies under the con.
servatives is being forced to contribute
literally to h payment of the soldiers
and police of the isthmus.
The liberal revolutionary movemen
in Colombia is we'll supported through.
out the country and it is generally be-
lieved that it will eventually succeed
If the liberals could win without toe
much bloodshed, the foreigners on the
isthmus would welcome their admin
iStration.
Some decisive turn in the present
state of affairs is wanted as being pref
cradle to Inc present pe~rturbationh,
but there is nothing to snow that the
liberals would govern the country any
better than the present administration
The government has about 400 SOL
diers on the isthmus, while the whole
army amounts to from $4,000 to $4,000
men.
Interior communication, traffic and
transportation are bad. especially be-
tween the isthmus and the rest of the
country.
Commerce on the Magdelina river
continues at a standstill. h govern
ment is occasionally running armore
steamers connecting with Bogota, but
the river traffic is subjected to rebel
interference.