New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-13
BOGOTA AND PANAMA.

A demonstra ton at Bogota follows secession
at Panama. 1t is not, however, so much a
! demonstration against the secession as against
the unworthy government that made secession
possible and actually provoked it, and yet made
no preparation TO deal with it. Such demon
stration is not in the least surprising. 1t would
rather have been surprising if it had not oc-
Cured. For the provocaton Of the people Of
Bogota against the government of Colombia is
second only 10 that of the people of Panama.
The full details of the outbreak at Bogota are
not at hand. But the salient fact is that in
stead of rising with patriotic ardOr TO the sup
port of the government in its desire and effort
10 suppress the Panama revolution, the people
of the capital rose against that government or
against the President who is its head. We do
not say they were in sympathy with Panama.
That may or may not be. But they were against
the Colombian President.
Why: Reason enough, we should say. The
people of Colombia doubtless wanted canal.
But their government not only failed, but de-
liberately refused. to secure it. More than that
1t gravely endangered Colombia's ever getting
it. Nor was that ALL 1t adopted a course
which it knew, which every well informed man
knew, was practically certain TO provoke Pan
anna TO carry into effect the long contemplated
secession The Colombian government knew,
before it did TO death the canal treaty, that the
non-ratifcation Of that treaty would in all prob
ability cause revolution at Panama. When it
finally killed the treaty il knew it had thus laid
the last straw upon the camels back of 18TH
mian patience. Thereafter it knew that insur-
rection and secession were being planned. Its
course would have been bad enough had it
taken measures for the suppression of the re-
volt which it had itself provoked. But ii did
not do even that. 1t stupidity watched without
action the lighted fuse burning its way toward
the powder magazine. or else shut its eyes
against the sight. with the result that it de-
liberately let the explosion occur and let itself
be caught unprepared for putting out the fire.
In the face Of weeks Of warning that the 18TH
mus would revolt it had only handful of opera
bouffe troops at the scene. who were promptly
arrested by the isthmians run in" to the
calaboose as though they were drunk and dis
orderly and finally shipped out OF the States
/ after the manner of assisted emigrants After
such display of ineficiency, what wonder that
/ the Colombian government incurs the wrath #
the Bogota populace?
1t is no particular business Of the United
States what the people of Bogota do. But it
! viii not escape notice that the very circum-
/ stances which seem TO have aroused their dis
! pleasure with their government afford iustifica-
ton OF our own governments course Despite
Coombia's attempted "holdup" Of the United
States. there can be no doubt that If she had
had a decent force on the isthmus and had
] thus been able 20 make a promising show Of
suppressing the rebellion aud maintaining her
sovereignty. the United States would not have
interfered against her. but would have let her
put down the insurgents and keep Panama in
her union. But It was not So She let herself
he caught mapping. She had Just enough force
there to endanger the peace and to make II
necessary for us to intervene for the main
tenanoe Of transit on the railroad. Now, after
her men have been shipped homeward by the
triumphant revOlUtionists and order has been
restored en- the isthmus, with what grace can