The National tribune., 1903-11-26
GEN. REYES. MISSION.

Gen. Reyes, ex-President of the United
States of Colombia, has had a hard time
on his mission of peace and Cancellation.
Woo he never so earnestly, the Panama
ians turn deaf ear to him. The poor fell
low had really nothing worth while to offer
them. On the one side the Panamaians
lad definite alliance with the strongest
and richest Nation in the world, We're
sure Of our protection, and could see num-
berless direct advantages flowing from
commercial and political union with us.
Besides, they would have the whole of the
Si0,G00,0G9 which we proposed to pay Co
iombia all to themselves, with the annuity
TO be paid in the future. Nothing in Gen.
Reyess repertoire could begin to compare
with these substantial advantages. To 60
back to Colombia meant resumption of the
entirely unsatisfactory relations which had
subsisted with that Government for the
last century, and with which the Panama
ians are thoroughly disgusted.
Failing utterly on the Isthmus, Gen.
Reyes is coming on to Washington, to see
what can be done here. He is foredoomed
e.
Very unadEisably, he starts on his journe.
with threatenings. He says that We shal
have to fight the United States of Colon
bia, and will fight it as expensively a.
England cid the Boer war; and that Co.
lombia will send an army across the coun
try to invade Panama. Both these ar,
sngulariy absurd. In the first place. a.
to the Boer war, we shall not invade Co
i0mbia. and consequently Il she wants ~
do her fighting she will have to do it IA.
by her lonesome over there among heI
own mountains. We have no citizens there
nor interests to protect, SO there's no g6o;.
reason why single American soidie.
should set foot inside the present bou:i-
daries of Colombia. Her fighting vii!
probably be about as effective as the old
simiie of the man trying to wink at pretty
girl through green goggles. The invasion
Of Panama by land is no less presposter.
Ous. Colombia has no army, and. sfiil
worse, has no money TO pay for an arm.
or supplies. The Government has beel
bankrupt for many years, 9nd the paper
money which it has tried to force into cir
culation WAS, months ago, before these
troubles occurred, bringing only about tw,
cents on the dollar. Tine physical diff
culties of passing an armS along the back
bone of the Isfhmus, through impenetra
bile forests, are such as even an American
army would recoil before, let alone that o.
another country. Certainly no white mai
has ever made his way along that back
bone. through the jungle of giant tree.
and interlacing vines, with thorny under
brush. 1t is unlikely that even an Indian
has ever made that journey. That the i'll
paid, undisciplned, ;.::nted little creature,
which the Colombians usually shirk up fo
soldiers could perform this gigantic task
is as incredible as a voyage to the moon
Gen. Reyes's last card is a proposition
10 remove the Capital Of Colombia t,
Panama. Even this will be little of q
temptation. 1t is doubtful if the Colon
Dians would consent 10 it, because rht
dominant class is very proud of Bogot
and the country around it, which the,
term the Italy of America" and tall
glibly about Bogota being the Sonth Amer
lean Athens. Giving up Bogota as Ghe
Capital. therefore, would seem like sur
rendering all of their Nationality worth
having, nor would it put the Panamaianr
in any better position, because they would
still be dominated by the politicians from
the interior of the country.
Gen. Reyes must prepare himself foT
a return home with sorrowful sense OF
abject failure.