The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-15
Will Panama Secede From Colon bia7


There is nothing improbable in the re-
ports that reach us from the lsthmus TO
the effect that, il the canal treaty is re-
iected at Bogota, the States of Panama
and Cauca. which would derive the most
profit from the construction OF the in
teroceanic waterway, win secede from
Colombia and organize an independent
republic.
There would be nothing new in such
movement. Not only was the Republic
OF Colombia founded by BOLIVAR quickly
divided into Venezuela, Ecuador and
New Granada. but secession has since
been rife among The eighteen provinces
of which New Granada was originally
composed. In 1870, for example, the
Province Of Cartha gena seeded. and
about a year later Panama and Veragua
also declared themselves independent
under the title Of the State of the 18TH
mus Of Panama. Their restoration to
New Granada, however, was at that
time speedily effected, but, after the
New Granadan Constitution had been
altered in 1853, and the right granted
to every province TO declare itself in
dependent, retaining a merely federal
connection with the other provinces,
Panama and Antioquia took advantage
OF the permission. Thenceforward until
1885 Panama enjoyed more or less au-
tonomv. according as successiveVrebel-
lions gave ascendancy to the federal
or to the centralizing party in New
Granada, but, IA the year last named,
a Constitution was adopted whereby
all the provinces OF New Granada, now
numbering nine. were consolidated into
a unified and highly centralized Com
monwcalth That Constitution, sup
ported by the Nationalist Conservatives
and the so-,.alled Historical party. is
still nominaly in force. but the Liberals
have necessarily tried TO overthrow it,,
and il was but tho other day that they
came near'gaining control of the Isthmus
of Panama.
The Province Of Panama itself is about
half az large again az ia Costa RIGA. the
respective figures being 81 92l and 81 +o5
square miles. The population Of the
State or province is about equal to that
of Costa Plea, or, say. 3OO,Oo0. II Panama
we're combined with Cauca which adj
Joins it on the cast and comprises all
the rest of the Colombian coast on the
Pacific. the two provinces would have
between them larger area than all the
rest OF Colombia. for Cauca compre-
bends 257, 900 square miles The Re-
public of Panama-Cauca would have
about $40 .OO6 inhabitants, or nearly as
many as Honduras and Nicaragua put
together.
Our Government, Of course, would
take no part in the war which would
inevitably follow an attempt on the part
OF Panama and Cauca TO scoede from
Colombia, but it could scarcely be blamed
for regarding the success of the move
ment with equanimity. All maritime
peoples are deeply interested in the
completion Of the isthmian canal, and
would applaud revolution which should
have the effect of removing the OBJ
struction offered Mt Bogota TO the project
Precedents would constrain us promptly
to recognize the new republic after it
had achieved its independence, for that
was the course pursued by VA when BOIL
VARS Colombia was dissolved into three
parts, and when the old Central Ameri-
can Confederation was broken up and
superseded by FIVE independent Com
monwealths
II is obvious that Panama and Cauca
would have much to gain, and nothing
to lose, nv snceding from The rest OF
Colombia. II tho ten million dollars in
gold payable under 'hc canal treaty
should ~ given TO the Bogota politi-
clans. neither Panama nor Cauca would
be likely 70 get share Of it, The same