The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-03-12
ARTHUR ROPES, General Editor.
CENTRAL AMERICAN SHARPERS

The public is familiar with the
course of events up to the supplement-
al report of the canal commission
unanimously recommending the Pan
anna route, by reason of the offer of
the French company to sell its prop
erty and franchises to the United
States for the sum of $40, 900, 600, their
value as estimated by the American
commission. But recently the stock
holders of the Panama company were
assembled in Paris to ratify the pro-
posed sale to the United States, when
they were notified by the Colombian
government by cable not to thus COM
plete the arrangements that had been
agreed upon, the Colombian govern
ment assisting in and asserting to the
plan of sale. Colombia had taken a
second thought 1t seemed favor
able opportunity for the Central Amer
lean States to squeeze the great repub.
lie of the north continent, and compel
it to make terms of greater advantage
to the States of the Middle America.
In proof of this view of the matter
the New York Sun enumerates the
following circumstances:
First: Colombia sent to the 18TH
mas 5000 soldiers, larger number
than she ever sent in the most critical
moments Of her most volcanic revolu-
tions.
Second. She cabled the share
holders of the Panama company in
Paris not to ratify the terms of the
sale to the United States, upon which
it had agreed at its meeting on the
22d of December last, at which meet
ing representative of the Colombian
Government was present and voted
Colombia's $4,000 shares in favor of
the sale.
Third: The President of Colombia
then recalled his Minister Plenipoten-
tiary at Washington, Senior Martinez
Silva, by telegraph just as the latter
was about to sign protocol for the
contamination of the SALE
Fourth: Senior Concha, Colombia's
Minister of War, was sent to replace
Senior Silva, and reached New York,
on the 25th of February, bearing spe-
cial instructions.
Fifth: The new minister has re-
manned ever since his arrival in this
city in an incomprehensible seclusion,
made conspicuous by his failure to
proceed to the seat of government to
which he is accredited.
Colombia's course in refusing to
conclude the arrangement it's min
lister had actively participated in for
warding, surprising as it was, was
followed recently by greater surprise
the retraction by Nicaragua and Costa
Rica of the right of way for canal
through their territories
The Interpretation placed upon the
concerted action, in this matter, of
the States of Central America, is that
they are ION the make;n that they
are banking on fixed purpose on the
part of the United States to build an
isthmian canal that they are regard
ing the proposed waterway as neces-
sity so great that the United States
government will submit to any condi-
lions in order to carry out its purpose
that the Nicaragua and Costa RIGA par
ties of the first part, and Colombia
party OF the second part, hitherto ri
walls in bidding for canal routes, have
become partners in scheme to fleece
the. United States, expecting thereby
to reap large financial advantage; that
The United States, having settled
npon the Panama route, will be asked
to pay Colombia large additional
sum for franchises and concessions and
that this additional sum will be the
spoil of the coalition. So long as
Nicaragua retained the favor of the
United States, and so long as the
French company was continuing its
efforts to build the Panama canal, or
was holding on to its franchises and
concessions, there was no ground for
combine; but when the French were
willing to sell and the United States
manifested an eagerness to buy, at its
own price, the Panama interests, the
status of things on each peninsula was
suddenly changed, and the opportunity
for what has recently happened, as
set forth above, was presented and
seized
Whether the Central American States
took the initiative in scheme to
hold up the United States and share
the booty they expect to get, or wheth-
er it is all the work of the Pacific rail
way companies to block the consum-
nation of an enterprise, through the
recent acceptance by the French COM
pany of the American offer approach
i'm, % 90
dreaming and speculation, time may
show. The canal situation, but recently
bright with promise has become over
cast. The United States will undoubt-
eddy leave the Central American sharps
to their fate With golden prospects
before her, Colombia has overreached
and the consequences will be disas-
trous to that State. The United
States can wait