The sun., 1901-08-27
OUTLOOK ON lSTHMUS
Colombia Liberals Now Deemed Ready
For Aggressive Action.
SITUATION VERY COMPLEX.
Cnn BE Likened to Disrupted FEEDER
alton Of venezueia, Ecuador, Nj
caragua and Colombia, In Which
Partisans Are Intriguing.

Colon, Colombia, Aug. %. via King.
iton, Jamaica, Aug. 26.-The censorship
here prevents the transmission of Do
litical news or news unfavorable to
the government.
The revolt of the Liberal Colombian
rebels. now two years old. lately as
sumed more serious aspect by the
Liberals concentration ON the isthmus.
1t Is believed they are contemplating
aggressive action. Consequently un-
easiness prevails at Panama, the Lib
eral objective, which was nearly cap
tured year ago.
1t is not believed the rebels will mo-
lest the railroad or interrupt traffic.
The recent rebel raids along the rail-
road amounted to bloodless raiding and
the robbery Of Chinese storekeepers,
which the presence Of few govern
ment troops apparently stopped. There
Is report that the government is
bringing troops to protect the isthmus.
This will be difficult, without exposing
TO rebel attacks the points whence they
are taken. The area of the revolt is
extensive.
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 gov
crnment is not popular with the gov
ernments of the countries mentioned,
but is popular with the revolutionary
elements In the same countries.
Broken Federaey.
| The situation can be likened to a dis
| rupted federation, composed OF yen-
ezuela, Ecuador. Colombia and Mica
ragua. in which Liberal and Conserya-
tive partisans are helping each other
and intriguing together; but. being sep
arate nations. the political and armed
intrigues threaten International trou-
BILE
! 1t is reported that the Conservative
| revolt in Venezuela against President
| Castro Is receiving actual support from
the Colombian Conservatives. xicara-
gua's threatened revolution will prob
ably be similarly aided on the occasion
arising.
| These conditions give ground for the
reports of actual or threatened interna-
! tional complications between the coun-
tries mentioned. In which the Liberals
are generally opposed TO Colomba's
Conservative administration, whose
prophesied downfall Is accompanied by
nf "a fntn . Al tf "a
some or all of the countries mentioned
under the idea of Gran Colombia"
Colombia Needs Money.
The Colombian government Is in
straits financially. At present 40 Co
lomhian paper dollars are equivalent in
value to one gold dollar The govern
ment is printing paper money indis-
crlminately, has lately established
heavy export duties, payable In gold.
and has sold monopolies and privileges
OF all kinds. all Of which have 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 and
Nicaragua in transit over the Panama
railroad
The rebels on the isthmus are ham
pered by II lack of arms and ammuni-
tion and are reported to be awaiting
the arrival Of shipments and the pres
cnce III the field of certain leaders be-
fore commencing activities on the 18th
mus.
General Alban. governor of Panama,
who was recently granted extraordina-
ry civil and military powers on both
sides of the isthmus, Is now absent at
Savanilla. He is supposed 10 be bring
Ing troops for the protection of the 18TH
mus. lie lately invited number of
friends AT Panama to his house. put
guard NJ the door and forced his friends
to contribute literally to the govern
mrnt before releasing them. A Colon
bian holding monopolies under the Con,
Servatives is being forced TO contribute
literally TO the payment OF the soldiers
and police of the isthmus.
If the Liberals could win without too
much bloodshed. the foreigners on the
isthnlus would welcome their admins
tration. Some decisive turn In the pres
ent state of affairs is wanted az being
preferable 10 the present perturbations.
hut there is nothing to show that the
Liberals would govern the country any
better than the present administration.