Arizona republican., 1903-11-07
PHoEN1x. ARIZONA, NOV. ', 1903
The Developments at Panama.

"A new UG NiOll Has bNN-A JS- AA 'N-ANA NAA republic of Panama has taken its place among the states of the world. One of the first conclusions of Americans will be that events have made evident the wisdom Of President Roosevelt in talk ing his time tc deal with the canal prob lem. Upon the rejection of the canal treaty with Colombia, democratic pa pers and statesmen insisted in chorus that it was the duty of the president to proceed with negotiations with Mica ragua. and close a contract for Nj caraguan canal But by waiting, Mir. Roosevelt will be able to announce to congress shortly that the United States can construct a canal across the isth- mus of Panama, practically upon any terms that the American government may prefer. And the second conclusion in this country will be, probably, that the secession of the state of Panama and it's erection into an independent republic" is merely the forerunner of it's annexation to the United States.
 That Panama is destined to become American territory appears to be set tied by the developments of the past few days. It is impossible to consider it as permanently independent re- public. It has neither the resources. the population, nor the native stability necessary to the maintenance of an in- dependent government. Colombia it. self is a farcical republic, from every standpoint. While it has an area O: half a million square miles, and nearly four millions population, it has not as much credit in the world as Mari ccra county. The public debt is con- stantly increasing. Five years ago the funded debt was scaled down from S17CCO,OOO to $13,OO0,oOO but the gov ernment failed to pay interest as be- fore and last year the arrears of in- terest amounted to $500, 900. Only depre- ciated paper money is in circulation, and enc American dollar will buy sev- eral hundred Colombian dollars. The population is of the Spanish-Indian mongrel type, as a general thing, rev olution is it's chief industry, and official graft the national calling.
 The state of Panama, which has just seeded, has an area of 31,571 square miles, or less than the area of Mo have and Ccconino counties. The pop ulation is estimated at 255,OOO While some of the other states are rich in mineral resources, Panama has but little in that line. Its greatest claim to distinction is that. it has the best site yet found for an interoceanic canal.
 The revolution has been caused, of course, by the refusal of the Colombian government to ratify the Hay-Herran canal treaty The grafters in the Co., lcmbian senate over-reached them selves. The treaty which they reject ed provided for the payment of $1O- OOO.OCO in cash to the Colombian gov crEment, but the liberality of the Uni ted States only whetted their appetites. They thought that by standing out they would compel "el rico Tic Sam" to pay out several millions more. The members from Panama played fast and lccse. They wished to ratify the treaty, and they didn't. They wanted, that is, to get more graft, if possible, but they wished, above everything else, to avoid losing the canal. When therefore, after waiting several weeks, they found that the rejection of the treaty by Colombia was final so far as that treaty was regarded in this country, they seeded and set mp d government of their own. Very short ly, representatives of the new repub- lie will be inviting the United States tc negotiate a canal treaty with them.
 And, of course. if it is found that the rebels of Panama have established a government which they are able to maintain against the parent govern ment, the United States will stand ready to talk canal to the new repub- lie
 II is to expected that our critics in Europe will insist that the revolution is the fruit of Amer i-an interference. The presence of the the gunboat Nash