Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-11-16
ISTHMIANSLAUGH|NG
The Idea Of Colombian Troops
Marching on New Republic
Causes Merriment.
THEIR SECURITY is ABSOLUTE
United States Alone Would Prevent
Any Such Aetion--colombia Has
Trouble Enough at Home 70 Occupy
Her-Infant Nation Is Busy.

Panama, Nov. 16-President Mar
roquin's statement. as conveyed in a
cablegram to General Plaza, president
of Ecuador, that Generals Reyes, Ca
balIeros. Ospina and Holguin are now
marching on the isthmus to suppress
the isthmian traitors" has set the en-
tire population of the isthmus laugh
ing Protected by the impenetrability
of the land and the many leagues of
coast line separating the isthnus from
Colombia and confident that the Unit
ed States intends TO prevent the land
ing of Colombian soldiers from the
sea, the isthmians feel that their Sc
eurity is absolute. .
The loss of the isthmian terri DRY
is, of course, a tragedy for Colombia
The government at Bogota is proba-
bly, ignorant of the attitude taken by
the government of the United States
during the last two weeks. In frenzy
ito save its face, to appease an angry
and disappointed populace and to sat-
isfy the public demand for some ap-
pearance of activity and an attempt
to save the honor and the territorial
integrity of Colombia, the government
Is no doubt promising and threatening
to send forces to the coast and to take
other aggressive steraa
Outbreak Threatened at Bogota.
Well informed people on the 18TH
mus believe that the Colombian gov
eminent is going through all these
forms of organizing expeditions not
merely for the foregoing reasons, but
owing to the necessity of forestalling
or weakening the threatened revolu-
tionary outbreak in Bogota
The growing feeling against Presi-
dent Marroquin is believed to be due
to the fact that he did not show suf-
ficient determination to effect ratifica-
ton of the canal treaty, which would
have saved the isthmus to Colombia,
and because he appointed General
Obaldia governor of the department
of Panama after Obaldia had declared
that he would remain a Colombian If
the treaty were ratified, but that 9TH
erwise he would only be a Panaman-
ian. General Obaldia was born IN
Chiriqui, in the state of Panama
Miners and others familiar with the
coast on both sides of the isthmus de.
clare that any attempt to march an
expeditionary army from any part OF
Colombia to the isthmus would be flu
tile. Both coasts consist of impassi-
Bile jungles and. swamps and rivers,
without towns or roads or any means
for the provisioning of an army. The
members of the junta have not the
slightest fear that any such expedi-
tion will be attempted and they re-
ceive the reports of such expeditions
with equanimity
Troops Cannot Be Landed.
What is described here in Panama
as the United States broad interpre-
tation of the clause of the treaty Of
1876 regarding the protection of traf
fic across the isthmus," is deemed am
pie for the prevention of the transpor-
tation of troops by sea and of conse-
quent hostilities The Pacific Steam
Navigation company, British con-
Germ, plying between Panama and
Buena Ventura, has a clause in it's
contract with the Colombian govern
ment which says that it must under
normal conditions" transport govern
ment troops. 1t can, however, be said
authoritatively that the company will
not transport Colombian troops to the
isthmus under present conditions and
that 1t has not been asked by the Co.
lombian government to do so.
The revenues of the new republic, if
economically administered promise to
meet all expenses. These revenues
consist of 10 per cent advalorem
duty on imports, slaughter house taxes.
liquor licenses and similar sources of
income, as well as the fair yearly sums
derived from those holding a monop-
oily of the tobacco business; from the
gambling privileges at Panama and
Colon and from the lottery. These
sources of revenue do not include
$4,000 in gold per week formerly paid
by the Panama Railroad company,
United States concern, to the Bogota
government, which retained $4,000.
giving to the state of Panama only /
$500.
Keeping the Army Contented.
The government of the new repub.
lie, realizing the necessity of keeping
its army in contented condition, is
paying its officers and soldiers with
the utmost promptness,
General Obaldia appeared on the
streets of Panama for the first time
since Nov g. when the independence
of the isthmus was proclaimed. Ee
was greeted cordially by friends ana
acquaintances
1t Is generally asserted that the 18th.
mians will eventually insist upon the
separation of church and state, as
separation was one of the measures
demanded by the liberal party in the |
last revolution, and the population OF
the isthmus is largely liberal.
The question of the admission OF |
Chinese is being seriously discussed |
by the press and in other quarters, |
the consensus of opinion appearing to |
be opposed to such admission
The junta has invited designs for c
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