New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-30
MEN OF PANAMA.
Prospective President Who
Haze Worked scith Him.


braced within the list OF those who had TO do
with bringing the Republic OF Panama into exist
Panama is land OF the most remarkable
complexities in human nature, the population being
thoroughly nondescript; and while among the orig
fnal seoessionists, their councillors and activ.
aids marked types are common. the complex
phases Characteristic OF the general populacs are
dscoverabie in more or less certain measures
Foremost in the list stands Dr. Manuel Amador
Because Of his recent stay in the United States
br- Airaoors personality must have become IA
h-lilI 10 the newspaper reading public but the
fallaina view OF him is not without current inter
est bF- Aniaoor is practising physician. the
leader OF his profession on the isthrnus ard a man
OF decided opinions and sterling character His ac-
Quaintanoe among the isthmians is large and
oeihg regaroeo as OF exceptional learning
ne IS looked up 10 and esteemed as a natural born
leaoer- Al Panama reverenoes his name. and so
great is Tie popular affection for him that while
certain individuals would ike TO Jose Augustin
arrange MADE President OF the republic that
distinction viii probably go 10 Dr. Amador Quiet
and reserved in manner. he lives unostentatiously
on the second and third floors Of building which
fronts the Cathedral Plaza The first floor o. this
ool.alIg Is occupied by 4 firm OF bankers and
Whle Dr. ArnadOr is man OF ample means h,S
oisposilon is such that he has endeavored 70
isolate himself from his fellow PanarnLns by main
tanning domiciie part OF which is devoted 10
commercial purposes
II has political proclivities, Dr. Amador has al
ways been Liberal be is g Catholic comnuni-
cant. bUt he has held-au his views are Of
The advanced type-thAt church and state should
be independent q each other. He has there
Iofe, always been active IN furthering the rev.
oluronary cause tho isthmus his labcrs TO
overthrow the Conservative party having been so
open and 50 Strenuous that upon one occasion not
many years ago. he was forced by the dictates
OF self preservation 10 have himself hacked In a
barrel and shipped across the iSthnus In order m
escape his enemies. Dr. Amador had PLAYED the
REVOLUTIONARY game so boldly and dehantly that
the government, then in the hands Of the Cousery-
w lz71r horra
warning 70 less conspicuous isthrnians Being
warned OF the designs against him. and having
no tine 10 spare, the venerable doctor did not
hesitate 10 accept the avenue OF escape offered by
the barrel Il was empty but had never been
cleaned Into It climbed the father Of Fhanamsn
Independence II was headed up, carted TO the
railroad station. loaded on a freight car and sent
across the isthmUs Colon, where Dr. Araador
found refuge among his Liberal friends The rase
worked most successfully. The experience was not
pleasant one 10 OF DR.. Arnador's years
but the incident goes 10 show that the man who
fOstsred the scheme for an independent nation On
The isthInus has long labOred zealously IN
the cause he was finally permitted TO Lead to VIC
tory
WOULD MAKE a GOOD PRESIDENT
The people OF Panama know Dr. Arnador's rec
ord IN this respect and his services to Panama
have given him claim upon the regard Of the
FEnsmans stronger than that held by eny other
individual II has never been said OF him that
he Is strong in initiative or that he has any nat
cral aptitude for the handling Of large admins
trei-ve problems Panama does not however stop
10 weigh these things The people look upon Dr.
AmadOr as s patriarch; they know that he is an
educated thinker; that he Is and safe
II his views; that he Is connected. by birth or mar
rage with all OF the leading families on the 18TH
mus; that he r1Sked as q man OF considerable
wealth. probably than did any other indi-
F1cual in forcing the revolution. most insist
emily do they hold that his motives were more uu-
selfish and more truly patriotic than were those
OF other member OF the original band OF seces-
sionists II is for these reasons and because they
deem themselves indebted TO him for their inde-
pendence. that the Panamans propose to make him
the first President OF the republic
In that o11ce DIT. Amador, while by no means a
statesman. VIII almost certainly the new
nation well he can be most determined when
c2slOn requires Determination; but he Is free from
that arrogance. avarioe and bumptiousness that
prove the undOlng Of many Of those raised to
be chief magistrates OF Larn-Amerlcan republics
The suTest guarantee that he Will make a good
President for Panama lies in the fact that he is
ever and always willing 70 aeceDt advice. He Is
ready and eager 10 do whatever promises improve
ment IN The conditions surrounding his people. but
he seldom trusts 10 his Judgment On the
morning OF November :. when was learned in
Panama that the Colombian gunboat Cartagena
had landed $50 men at Colon. DR. AnladOr aid not
hesitate Every other man Of the company OF
original consPirators disappeared rnysteriousIy
and completely though the earth had swaI-
lowed them Up. some Of them found until
late in The day DR.. AIna6or sought advice Of
mani, {, Prescott assistant superintendent OF
osLat for iEthLnian Independence should be exc
cCLec 81 Hnce bis fellow coI.spiratOrs had ap
parently deserted him; but he sounded the army,
found 4 was sun willing 10 30 ahead with the
scheme, and originated. under advice the plan by
gt1ch Generals Ioyar and AInayH were entioed to
Al OF that Gay DR.. Auaador was flying from place
q place, agile as young boy. and incessant in
the arrest OF Generals T'oTar and Anays DR. ANA
dor stood just behind the soldiers who made the
rest as the leader OF an orderly mob OF Panamans
whom he had inciJec 70 follow him and see that
The JOB was done and the republic actually
launched
Il he were inclined TO unscrupulousness, DR..
AInsdor would De a dangerous leader for the Pana-
mans Happily for them. however. his character
8 q The most sterling sort He Is sufficiently
vel endowed with goods and chattels TO care
htt.e for any pecuniary profits that may accrue
q him through Independence His nature Is in
making him cheerful labOrer In hunnaIitys cause.
and his present purposes are directed unselhshly
terneat q the PanaTnans What Is even more
fortunate the fact that he has had the beneht Of
with Implicit faith and he Ia turn depends upon
those who have guided his hands and his mind in
principally Ansr5cans-have proved safe and <on-
seTYafiVe coUnsellors. and while they viii occupy
unofficial stations under the new government, DR..
AuadOr viii continue 10 90 10 them for advice. so
that his administration seems destined be
cessful
SENIOR JOSE AGUsTTN ARANGO.
Next 10 LII. AnaadOr. the most Interesting char
acter IN the republic is Jose Agustin Arrange.
OF medium height. slightly built with dropping
shoulders and & half shutting gait. SehOr Arrange
has been and VIII continue TO be q great factor
IN the Affairs OF Panama He Is well into
the sixties. with white hair, beard and mus
tache- His skin Is fair. and his eyes soft and
gentle. tnclining 70 the most beseeching express
seem 70 irnDsrT and TO invite confidence and his
is gracious and winning For years Don
lose Agustin has been q politician. he has served
az q member Of the Colombian House OF Repre-