Evening star., 1901-08-26
UNEASY AT PANAMA
Citizens Fear an Attack Of the Lib
eralists There.
RAILROAD Is NOT In DANGER
Colombia Rebels Aided by Friends
in Neighboring States.
1T IS A CURIOUS MIX-UP

COLON, Colombia, Friday, August %
(via Kingston, Jamaica, August 26).-The
censorship here prevents the transmission
of political news or news unfayorable to
the government
The revolt of the liberal Colombian
rebels. now two years old, lately assumed
a more serious aspect by the liberals con-
centrating on the isthmus. 1t is believed
they are contemplating aggressive action.
Consequently uneasiness prevails at Pana-
ma. the liberal objective, which was nearly
captured a year ago.
1t is not believed the rebels will modest
the railroad or interrupt traffic. The re-
cent rebel raids along the railroad amount
ed to bloodless raiding and the robbery of
Chinese storekeepers, which the presence
of a few government troops apparently
stopped. There is a report that the gov
ernment is bringing troops to protect the
isthmus This viii be difficult without ex-
posing to rebel attacks the points whence
they are taken The area of the revolt is
extensive.
Aid From NeighbOrinE States.
A noticeable. distinguishing feature Of
the revolution is the actual, moral support
the liberals are receiving from Venezuela,
Ecuador and Nicaragua, in which coun-
tries the liberal governments prevail. CO.
lombias conservative government is not
popular with the governments of the coun-
tries mentioned, but is popular with the
revolutionary elements in the same coun-
tries. The situation can be lkened to a
disrupted federation composed of Venez-
uela. Ecuador, Colombia and Nicaragua.
in which liberal and conservative partisans
are helping each other and intriguing to-
gether. But, being separate nations, the
political and armed intrigues threaten in
ternational trouble. 1t is reported that the
conservative revolt in Venezuela against
President Castro is receiving actual sup
port from the Colombian conservatives.
Nicaragua's threatened revolution will
probably be similarly aided on the occa-
sion arising. These conditions give ground
for the reports of actual or threatened in
ternational complica tions between the
countries mentioned, in which the liberals
are generally opposed to Colombia's
servative administration, whose prophesied
downfall is accompanied by talk of a fed
Grafton or consolidation of some or all of
the countries mentioned, under the idea of
a Gran Colombia" The Colon bian gov
ernment is in straits, financially, at present.
Paper Money Deprecated.
At present forty Colombian paper dollars
are equivalent in value to one gold dollar.
The government is printing paper money
indiscriminately, lately established heavy
export duties, payable in gold, and has sold
monopoles and privileges of all kinds, all
of which has greatly injured commerce.
Ihe conditions in the interior are bad.
The government is well supplied with am
munition, and this week unsuccessfu.ly
tried to become possessed of consignments
of the same to Ecuador and Nicaragua in
transit over the Panama railroad.
The rebels the iSthmus are hammered
by lack of arms and ammunition and
are reported to be awaiting the arrival of
shipments and the presence III the field of
certain leaders before commencing activ-
tiles the iSthmuS.
General Alban, governor of Panama who
has recently granted extraordinary civil
and military powers both sides of the
isthmus, is now absent at Savanla. He is
supposed to be bringing troops for the pro-
lection of the isthmus. He lately invited
number of friends at Panama to his house,
put guard at the door and forced his
guests to contribute literally to the govern
ment before releasing them A Colombian
holding monopolieS under the conservatives
is being forced to contribute literally to
the payment of the soldiers and police of
the isthmus.
The liberal revolutionary movement in
Colombia is we'll supported throughout the
country, and 1t Is generally believed that
1t will eventually succeed If the liberals
could win without too much bloodshed the
foreigners on the isthmus would welcome
their administration. Some decisive turn
in the present state of affairs is wanted
as being preferable to the present perturDa-
tions, but there is nothing to show that
the liberals would govern the country
any better than the present administration.
The government has about 400 soldiers on
the isthmus, while the whole army amounts
to from $4,000 to $4,000 men.
The Namouna, now called the General
Pinzon, is useless, because she lacks
crew. The natives seem incapable of prop
erly handling her, and lack of proper care
is likely to render the vessel permanently
useless. 1t is understood that the govern
ment Is trying TO get American officers for
the Namouna.
Loss of La Popa n Bad Blow.
The loss Of the gunboat La Popa, the re-
mainder. of whose crew is now reported
safe, was blow to the government which
now has only two small gunboats on the
Atlantic and three on the Pacific.
Interior communication, traffic and trans
portation are bad, especially between the
fsthmuS and the rest of the country
Commerce on the Magdalena river con-
tinues at a standstil. The government is
occasionally running armored steamers
connecting with Bogota, but the river traf-
fic is subjected to rebel interference.
The isthmus district of Colombia is prac-
tically distinct from the other parts Of the
country, canal and railroad treaties facili-
tating transportation and making Colon
and Panama almost free ports.
General Albans continued absence causes
uneasiness In government circles. His
powers give him unrestricted sway over
the isthmus, and the lack of communica-
tion with Bogota, the capital. renders him
more or less independent of the govern
ment.
The arrival of American warships Is ex-
pected. The impression prevails locally
that IN case Of trouble on the isthmus the
United States will actively interfere
The governments decree, dated July lS,
cabled today, revives the talk Of the pos
sibility Of forced loan from the foreign
ers inc olombia. The decree shows the gov
ernment's severe financial extremity,
~