The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-11-30
No Immediate Rush TO Panama

No Immediate Rush to Panama.
Casual thinkers are freely predict
ing that as soon as the United States
is granted absolute sovereignty over
that little canal strip across the 18TH
mus Of Panama there will be a whole
sale Eruption of enterprising Ameri-
cans, in quest OF the fortunes, advent
ureS and homes to grow out Of this
latest enterprise OF Uncle Sans. They
are counting Oh the typically Ameri-
can passion for new ATTITUDES, and the
Well-known tendency of certain classes
OF our citizenry to regard emigration
as the salve for all individual fail
ures-as if the qualities of aggression
which We're lacking in the non-success
in the temperate zone would be sup
piled by nature in the torrid.
Persons of responsibility who have
spent some time on the isthmus and
who are thoroughly familiar with its
climatic peculiarities, advance very
different views. According to their
levelheaded statements the new re-
public as it is at present conducted, is
=
fever and the most sinister form Of
malaria. Outside Of a few isolated
spots the isthmus is virgin jungle, I'M
touched by the hand of man, much less
civilization What the isthmians do
not know about the ordinary laws of
sanitation and hygiene is only equaled
by their Indifference toward healthier
conditions. They have lived and
thriyed in their own fond fashion for
a great many years, and while they
vaguely realize that life might be pro-
longed and made more endurabie dur
ing its tenure. they plead the charac'
teristic, drawing ''manana, senior, ma.
nana,"
It is reported on reliable authority
that the United States government
will not permit any considerable inya-
sion of Panama for a year following
its acceptance of dominion. At least
this length OF time win be required
for cleaning out the infected and lOath-
some districts OF the little neck Of
land, the Introduction OF American
methods Of sanitation, and the thor
ough acclimatization Of policing squad,
rons, finished in drill and emergency
peace work after the sterling Ameri-
can fashion. Il is openly asserted that
should these commonscnse precau-
lions not be taken, the bones OF the
first few thousand American hustlers
would enrich the soil Of the isthmus
rs a testimony 10 their reckless enter
prise.
y lp t,1 M,
a thoughtful government Tor saving
them from their own folly Whether
the prospective army Of suffers and
prospectors OF all degrees Will be
properly thankful is another matter.
There is no doubt though, that the
stay-at homes viii view the affair from
a broad. sane standpoint
Those too who contemplate rush
ing pellmell 10 the isthmus as soon as
this government will give them the
privilege had best bear in mind the
w0eful analogy which the like inva-
sion OF Cuba furnishes The priYa-
tons. the appointments the disillu-
sionmenls and the Gripping OF the
thousands Of young men who blithely
stepped across the gulf to Havana, in
the fatuous BELIEF thaJ the land was q
new FL Dora0o, are too severely real
ana 700 recent 10 require a recountal.
There is little reason for the statement
that diverse conditions are present in
Panama While it is even less mod
ernly developed than was Cuba. il Will
lie all the more a place for the man
without money 10 shun until he has
conscientiously investigated the en-
vironmenJ be VIII encounter
The Constitution has no desire to
pull a long lace over the matter.
There IS no Disgusting the fact that
the canal via be the biggest thing OF
this century from a commercial and
industrial perspective. Bat the man
who expects 10 make q fortune on the
isthmus, without preparation OF infor-
nation viii 10 wen TO look carefully
before he makes the r. ical leap
There viii be an abunda' &c OF worll
for many classes OF laborers-1ut the
time VIII not be ripe Tor many months
10 come.