The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-21

tournment would, they argued, sound the
death knell over the canal treaty and sim
ultaneously give to the United States an in
republic on the isthmus. The project was
accordingly held in allegiance although
there was no cessation in the matter of
working out the details. Realizing that If 1t
should become necessary to deliver the
blow commission would have to be sent to
took into their confidence Senior Manuel
Espanoza, with the idea of substituting him
for Frederick Boyd a member of the
provisional governing junta, which would
have TO be created, and which Ii was de-
cided should be composed of Arrange, who
welded all the influence of the Panama
Railroad; Arias, who had been a depart
mental senator federal representative and a
general officeholder, and Boyd, who repre-
sented the heavier vested interests on the
isthmus. DIR. Amador was reserved to be
public; Constantine ArOsemena was selected
to be the expert member of the commission
ment; De Obarria was slated for the minis
try of war, which he now holds. and Ri
cardo Arias was to be the active fiscal
agent of the proposed new government.
None of these details were neglected, the
systematic manner in which the conspira-
tors went about their work showing that
they possess unusual ability I'M political
scheming and that they were ably advised
Proceeding in the same careful way, with
q view to leaving no stone unturned to in
sure success, the conspirators reached,
about Oct q. that point at which they
realized that they would need declaration
of independence. All Panama was talking
OF scheme for independence, rumors of
every sort being current, but nothing def
mite being known. To have prepared a
declaration OF Independence ready for use
adjourn, the conspirators took into their
confidence three lawyers of Panama, all
enthusiastic supporters of the canal propo-
sition. These men were T.. A. Morales,
who was advised that If the scheme should
go through he would be made minister of
government domestic affairs) in the pro-
visiOnal Cabinet; c. A. Mendoza, who was
slated for the ministry of justice, and ].
Henriquez, whose official status has rot
yet been defined Morales, Mendoza and
HenriQuez undertook the work of framing
in secret the declaration and to have II
ready for immediate use.
CHOOSING A FLAG.
Another thing was the flag for the new
republic. The conspirators consulted over
this several times. 1t was desired to evolve
an emblem which should signify the unfit
cation Of the Liberals and Conservatives
| into a party standing for Panarnaian in
| dependence. A number of designs were
submitted. but it was finally decided to
adopt the combination of red and one
blue square, with two white squares, one
bearing red star and the other a blue.
red being the color of the Liberals and blue
or the conservatives. The design being
agreed upon, a colored plate showing the
proportions of the flag and its color scheme
was prepared and intrusted TO DR.. Amador.
who advised his niece, Senorita Maria
Emilia Ossa, daughter of the CHILEAN con-
sui general in this city, that there might
soon come a time when a new flag would
| be needed in Panama and that she should
have the honor of making IL.
There remained, then, only the army and
navy and the police force to be looked after.
| Isaac Brandon & Brother and Henry Ehr-
| mann had charge of the departmental
money and from them it was learned that
there would be no trouble in getting hold
of fhn an n f.1lD.
| department. the moment independence
| should be declared. Trusted agents were
| then commissioned to fix the military
| and naval establishments and the police
| force. General Huertas who was I'm com
| mand of the Colombian battalion the gar
rison OF the isthmus, was approached. and
| movement for certain stipulated consider
| atoms, chief among which was bonus of
$500 (silver for himself. Gen. Ruban
boat Twenty-first of November formerly
| the Padilla. which sunk the LauteYo in the
battle in which Governor Alban lost his life
( and which. since the revolution, has had her
| name changed to the Third of November
| was also approached. He. too, was willing
/ to become a Panamaian patriot in exchange
| for $4,000. and the officers and men under
| him on the gunboat were equally suscepti-
bic to influence. the chief engineer and chief
| $4,000, and the others for smaller sums
| None of this money was paid in cash: but
promises were made TO pay IL after the re-
public was established, and il has since
| been paid.
| In General Huertas's battalion were "a
| number OF officers and men whom he dis
trusted. SO story was artfully concocted
| that revolutionary party Of seventy men
had landed on the coast of Chiriqui. the
| western province of the department. and
| the officers and men under Huertas's sus-
/ picion were dispatched To quoll the disturb
/ ance. Whether they know of the establish
/ ment of Panamaian independence or not at
| this time is a matter of conjecture. as they
have not yet returned from hunting the
/ revolutionists, nor have they been heard
| from. Other individuals and agencies were
manipulated in manner similar to that en-
| ployed In handling Huertas, Varon and the
| others referred TO. and thoroughly was
| the work done that when the Colombian
/ Congress adjourned. on Oct. 81 without
| having ratified the treaty the powder train
| for Panamaian revolution had been laid
and the match had actually been lighted 10
/ ignite IL. MERRILL. A LEAGUE
Thousand Miners ON Strike.
/ CUMBERLAND. Md, Dec. 2O.-One thou