The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-30
PLOTTERS OF PANAMA.,
MEN WHO SCHEhED FOR
AN ISTHHIAN REPUBLIC
Character Sketches of Chief Con-
spirators in the Successful In
dependence Movement.
DIR. AMADOR IS FOREMOST
Liberal in Politics and Religion,
Well Beloved and Probably Will
Be Chosen President.
ARANGO ALSO POPULAR
One of the Most Interesting Per-
sons in the New Republic
Boyd and Other Leaders.
DIR. AMADOR IS FOREMOST
ARANGO ALSO POPULAR

PANAMA, r. p, Dec. B-It would be
extremely difficult 10 discover, in a much
more DrOtracted search than il is neces-
sary TO make here, a more varied assort-
ment Of characters than are embraced
within the list OF those who had to do
with bringing the republic of Panama into
existence. Panama is a land of the most
remarkable complexities in human nature,
the population being thoroughly nonde-
script; and while among the original seces-
sionists. their counselors and active aides
pronounced types are common, the COM
plex phases characteristic of the general
populace are discoverable in more or less
certain measures.
Foremost in the list of the independence
conspirators stands DR.. Manuel AmadOr
Because Of his recent stay in the United
States. Dr. AmadOr's personality must
have become familiar to the newspaper
reading public; but the Panama view of
him is not without current interest. DR..
Amador IS a practicing physician. the lead
er of his profession on the isthmus. and a
man of decided opinions and sterling char
acter. His acquaintance among the 18TH
mians is very large and being regarded
as a of exceptional learning. he is
looked I'D to and esteemed as natural
name. and so great is the popular affec-
tion for him that while certain individuals
chiefly found among what may be desig-
mated as 1.-The Panama Railroad crowd"
would like to see Jose Agustin Arrange
made president of the new republic. that
distinction will surely go to DR.. Amador.
Quiet and reserved I'm manner, he lives un-
ostentatiOusly on the second and third
floors OF a building which fronts the Cathe-
dral Plaza. The first floor OF this build
ing is occupied by firm of bankers, and
while DR.. Amador is a man of ample
means. his disposition is such that he has
never endeavored to isolate himself from
his felIow-Panamanians by maintaining a
domicile no part of which is devoted to
commercial purposes.
ALWAYS A LIBERAL.
IN his political procIIvities DIR. Amador
has always been Liberal. He is Cath
olic communicate: but he has ever held
all his views are of the advanced type
that the church and the state should be
Independent of each other. He has, there
fore. always been active in furthering the
revolutionary cause on the isthmus, his
labors TO overthrow the Conservative party
having been so open and strenuous that
upon one occasion. not many years ago,
he was forced by the dictates of self-pres-
ervatiOn to have himself packed i'm a lard
barrel and shipped across the isthmus In
order to escape his enemies. Dr. AmaC;,jr
had played the revolutionary game so bold
ly and defiantly that the government, then
gladly have exacted his life n warning
10 less conspicuous isthmians Being
warned OF the designs against him. and
having no time to spare. the venerable doc
tor did not hesitate TO accept the avenue
OF escape offered by the lard barrel. 1t
was empty; but had never been cleaned.
Into II climbed the father of Panamanian
independence. 1t was headed up, carted
10 the railroad station. loaded on freight
car and sent across the iSthmus to Colon,
where DR.. AmadOr found refuge among
his Liberal friends. The ruse worked most
successfully. The experience was not a
pleasant one TO man of DIR. AmadOr S
years: but the incident goes To show that
the man who fOstered the scheme for
independent nation on the isthmus has long
labOred most ZealOusly in the cause he was
finally permitted to lead TO victory.
The people of Panama know Or. ANA
doris record in this respect. and his serv-
ices To Panama have given him a claim
upon the regard of the Panamaians stronger
than that held by any other Individual
it has never been said OF him that he is
strong in initiative, that he has any
natural aptitude for the handling of large
administrative problems. Panama does not.
however. stop To weigh these things. The
people look upon DIR. AmadOr a patriach
they know that ne is an educated thinker;
that he Is conservative and safe i'm his
views: that he is connected. BY birth or
marriage. with all of the leading families
on the isthmus; that he risked. as a man
of considerable wealth. probably more than
did any other individual in forcing the revO-
luton. and most insistently do they hold
that his motives We're more unselhsh and
more truly patriotic than were those of any
other member of the organized band Of
secessionistS. Ii is for these reasons and
because they deem themselves indebted to
him for their Independence that the Pana-
mat raro 10 a l<a I'm hn fret
dent of the republic.
FREE FROM AvARICE.
In that office Or. Amador. while by no
means statesman, will almost certainly
serve the new nation WELL He can be
most determined when occasion requires
determination, but ne is free frcm that ar
rogance. avarice and bumptiousness that
prove the undoins of so many of those
raised To be chief magistrates OF Latin
American republics. The surest guarantee
that he will make a good President for PAN
anna lies in the fact that he is ever and
always willing to accept advice He is
ready and eager to do whatever promises
Improvement IL the conditions surrounding
his people, but he seldom trusts TO his own
Judgment on the morning of Nov & when
II was learned in Panama that the Colom-
bian gunboat Cartagena had landed 45O
men at Colon. DR.. AmadOr did not hesi-
tate. Every other man of the company of
original COuSpiFatOrS disappeared mVS-
teriously and completely as though the
earth had swallowed them up; nor were
some OF them found until late in the day.
Dr.. AmadOT sought advice of one man
II q. Prescott. assistant superintendent of
the Panama Railroad-and decided that the
coup detat for isthmian independence
should be executed at once. His fellow
conspirators had apparently deserted him.
but he sounded the army. found IL was still
willing 10 go ahead with the scheme, and
originated. under advice the plan by which
Generals Tovar and Amaya were enticed To
Panama, away from their troops, 10 be ar
rested. All OF that day Or. Amador was
flying from place 10 place. agile as a young
boy. and incessant in his efforts, and when
General Huertas effected the arrest OF
Generals Tovar and Amaya, DR. Amador
stood just behind the soldiers who made
the arrest as the leader OF an orderly moi
of Panamaians, whom he had melted "a
follow him and see that the job was done
and the republic actually launched.
II he were inclined TO unscrupiousness
DIR. AmadOr would be a dangerous leader
for the Panamanians. Happily for them
however. his character Is OF the most sterl-
ing sort He is sufficiently well-endoWed
with goods and chattels as 10 care little
for any pecuniary profits that may accrue
CONTINUED On PAGE 5. COL Il