The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-21
COLOMBLA'S HARD FIGHT
FOR BARE EXISTENCE
How Her People Have Struggled Against Msfor
DISQUALIFICATION of an American Against
United States
BY CLIFFORD sMYT
and the Only Representative

BarranQuilla, December 4-When / last
visited Colombia, four years ago, the
country was in the first throes of one of
It's worst revolutions Ever since that
time the republic has been confronted
with one disaster after another, that has
brought about condition Of political I'm
rest and commercial stagnation thorough
~ disheartening to those whose lives and
fortunes are involved here During this
disastrous period there have been months
when all river and railroad traffic have
been suspended: the wealth-producing
part of the country, the INTERIOR has been,
at times. shut off fom the rest of the
world; crops have been either abandoned
Or wantoniy destroyed; and. worst Of all,
the national currency has deprecated in
value to 4 degree that has never before
been known in the financial history Of a
long established government. Today, in
the coast cities of Colombia an American
dollar is worth one hundred and fifty
dollars of Colombian money; in Bogota
and all through the interior. the same
dollar is worth TWO hundred Colombian
5ollars.
And that IS the inner cause of all the
.arrible calamities that are besetting us
soday," say some of the more astute Of
he Colombian politicians I'VE virtually
have no money. We are laJ6ring under a
financial policy tnat has Slapped the
strength of the republic, ever since it
was inausurated, eighteen years go. by
"a s:dent Nunez This internal weakness
4as made possible the continuous revOlu-
lions that have menacel our existence as
l nation. and that coutemplatcs our ter
.itorial Acknowledgement today. 1t is be-
cause We practically have no money That
the republic OF Panama IS becoming an
accomplished fact-that our appeals to
the United States in this great crisis are
futile and inefective.'
This is the vicw Of the average Colon
bian as regards the causes OF the pres
-at downfall of the republic But, not
seithstandne the pessimism and despond-
eacy which mark this expression OF opin-
ion II is singular 70 note the patriotic
-athusiasm the abandonment OF party
strife the manimity OF public senti-
fAent tEaL has been created throughout
Colombia by the secession movement on
he isthnus Liberals. conservatives.
foreigners even Americans doing bust
less in this country, have expressed
themselves 10 M in a way thai Is IN
singular contrast with what ] found TO he
the culreu, opinion on the same SUBJECT
throughout The West Indies.
Indignation of an American.
As an example of the prevailing senti-
mont among Am ricans, the following
statement has Been made to me by +. T.
Pailet. a citizen OF the United States,
who has served Tor twenty-four years as
American consul ia this city, where until
Two years ago he has published a weekly
paper in English, The Shipping List
devoted 70 American Interests in the re-
public Of Colombia. Although Mr.. Pellet
resigned from the consular service Two
years ago. his Americanism is as lervcnt
1 as ever. and he is generally regarded as
Inc dozen OF the American colony IN
Colombo by his feiow-cidzens resident In
this country. Ia regard 10 the Secession
OF Panama. Mr. Pelier says:
When news was received that the de
partment Ct Panama had issued a pro
uunciamient0 declaring ttseli free from
Colombia, as the 'krpublica de Panama.
his act was SAID TO have been accoIn-
plished with the coanivance OF the gov
eminent or the United States Al the
time I tried to retute the latter part o.
shis statement, declaring that it was I'M
possible that the American nation should
play the part OF = hHbustercr ana intrigue
with ths isthmus In AID Of q separation.
] felt uneasy, buI could not bring myself
10 5G.aA That our government would so
aiss.a-e itself by such an act. But my
ouuest hopes were disspated on reading
letter by the agent OF the Harrison
Inc Of steamers 10 the agents OF the
same line In this city. 10 quote from
memory. he said: I have been advised
ey the general superintendent OF the rail-
-5ad thar no troops viii be allowed to
and in Colon. The steamship Nashville
omman3s The situation. There could be
no misunderstanding this. A United
States shin CT war prevents a recognized
government. j fliendiy power. from send
ae ala In preserving thc integrity of its
sVu territory. What would have been
.9usht when Sumter was fired on. and
tla United States government sent the