Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28

ment. The northern provinces, bordering
Costa Rica, have been fully as strong as
the Pacific metropolis in their support OF
separation. These have the prospects or
considerable prosperity This is true not
only of the cattle-raising sections but also
OF the fruit-growing belt. The banana
shipping port OF Bocas del Toro on the
Atlantic has been increasing In Importance.
and now there is also a fruit steamer be-
tween Colon and New Orleans which takes
the product Of the central belt along the
railway.
The Californians who had promising coffee
plantations in Chiriqui until the revolutions
and the difficulties with the Colombian
government drove them out can come back
with the certainty OF receiving some re-
turn on their capital. The holders OF the
rubber concessions also are likely to i'm
prove their opportunities. The gold mine
In Darien, which Is owned by an English
company, has been operated steadily. 1t
may be that adventurous Americans will
find encouragement to seek for fresh dis
coveries In that region. while capitalists
may feel justified In attacking the Darien
forests with more sustained efforts than
they have done hitherto. Canal work is
expected to make the isthmus whirr with
prosperity yet with the certainty of
peaceful future there Is reason to look
forward to q normal and permanent de-
velopment of natural resources.
e. A Stable Currency.
Among the elements of stability Is to be
reckoned the currency. This is silver coin
age on a gold basis. Panama never has
had the paper money with which the
greater part of Colombia has been cursed.
AS the isthmus was the worlds highway
and lived of the international traffic, it
was not possible to make paper issues cir
culate. When it's political rights were cur
tailed this sovereign privilege OF coming
money had to be left to it, At one time
when there was scarcity a private nrm
by an arrangement with the Bogota gov
eminent bought bullion and had S5Oo.O0O
coined at the Philadelphia mint. Much of
the smaller coin bears the stamp of the
republic of New Granada, of which Co
lombia and Panama once were part.
Government regulations restricted the ex-
port of silver. and enough remained on the
isthmus for the ordinary purposes OF trade,
but when the recent rise in the white metal
was at its height means were found to
ship out silver dollars. Independence stop
ped the shipments and caused the silver to
be held. AS medium of common exchange
It was threatening to go beyond its bullion
value. A sentimental and artificial move
ment started, and 1t has been difficult to.
cndnSe uVe-OOIidI Soio piSSc "iehooe GA
appreciable loss.
This artificial fuctuation has not yet
fully run it's course, but the basis will be
normal before long. AT present the Amer
fcan gold dollar Is worth 81. 40 Colombian
or Panama silver. For several months 1t
had been nearer $3.50. The customs taxes
which the importers pay are about 70 per
cent ad valorem on silver valuation,
and they were commonly counted at III
per cent gold. 1t Is recognized that with
81, tn Of bo nal UOVernm6nt
Of the United States and the payments
which will be made, American money IN
time will supersede the isthmian currency,
but this will come normally and without
financial arrangement. The Panama re-
public blesses Itself that 1t has no paper
issues, which would either have to be re-
deemed or repudiated.
Official Proclamations and DEGREES.
Having looked into some OF these. SUBJ
1ects / went one day to the headquarters
of the provisional government in Panama
to inform myself of the official acts. These
are chiefly proc1amations and DEGREES. The
official gazette has not been published yet.
but ultimately 1t will appear, with all OF
them in regular order. In the meantime
the public has been Informed by handbilis
and posters and partially by the newspa-
pers However. the local journals are Inn,
tied in their facilities. and as they couio
not always print the latest Information
from the United States and the most re-
cent acts of the provisional government
the latter were omitted. 1t was safe as
sumption that whatever was done locally
would be known soon enough whether or
not 1t was printed. while the common
tongue could not spread the developments
in Washington swiftly or surely enough
This was the overpowering hunger the ap-
petite which had to be satisfied by the print
ing press.
OF the DEGREES and prociamations some
are purely sentimental, such as the one de-
claring DR.. Amador. who has gone to
Washington in the capacity of special COM
missioner. the adopted son of Panama. and
decreeing that his portrait be painted. Dr..
Amador and DIR. Arrange. who Is tho head
OF the provisional government, by all the-'
testimony were the men who had the heav- !
lest responsibility and whose talents for
organization brought independence 80
quickly. Neither Is young. Old heads laid
the plans for the republic of Panama, and
old heads guide its course. There is no
hint of radicalism in its measures.
No Disorder Allowed.
Others Of the proclamations are of thanks
or congratulations. and likewise there Is
provision for a shield or coat of arms for
the republic. But most Of the DEGREES are
tie formal acts of government administra-
ton. They had business tone. One that
drew my attention was from the minister
OF war ana marine II TcCltcu lliett pei SUNS
trying to stir up discomfort, whether for
eigners OF otherwise would be arrested and
sent out of the country by the first vessel.
All the foreigners whom I had met were
more than content. and this reference to
them was puzzling till 1t was explained.
Under the now conditions Colombians who
do not give allegiance to Panama natur-
ally become foreigners just as are Ger
mans, Italians or Peruvians Some of the
former army officers and civil off1ceholders,
and very few of other classes with family
ties in Colombia. were not satisfied, and
they were placed on board a merchant ship
at Colon and sent to Cartagena. The warn
ing was directed to these classes. AS long
as they keep quiet they will be let alone.
The new authorities have had to meet
some unexpected situations and in most
cases have done so with good sense and
moderation. Domingo Obaldia, the govern
or, who was arrested at the outset. now
walks the streets OF Panama as freely as
any man. There is no spirit of intolerance
or resentment. The measures taken against
fomenting discomfort are merely those die
tated by self-protection.
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.
Trusts In Germany.
JYnItad States Consul Muench at Plauen