The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-20

The statement showed that for many years
past Colombia had done nothing but ex-
act tribute from Panama without render
ing any equivalent or comforting any bene-
fits whatever. The refusal of the Colem-
bian Congress to ratify the canal treaty
was the straw that broke the camers
back.
Americans will be glad to learn something
about Mr.. BunaL-Varilla, present minister
TO the United States from Panama, whose
name has been connected with treaty
which will be historic. Mr.. Bigelow has
known him many years. and his knowledge
OF men and affairs gives weight to his
opinions. He says:
Ny acquaintance with Mr.. Bunau-Varilla
commenced al the time when his yOuthfuI
and master hand was holding the reins of
what it Will scarcely be regarded as an ex-
aggeration TO describe as the most impor-
tant industrial enterprise OF the last CEN
fury. The acknowledged superiority of his
technical genius as an engineer and of his
marvellous talent for directing men had
put them into his hands. NJ. Rousseau, then
delegate OF the French government, whom
L met on the isthmuS at this time, and
who since died Governor General of Indo-
CHINA, wrote and has publicly declared
honored France. More recently, in this
country, the eminent and regretted en-
gineer, George Morrison, q member of the
lSthmian Canal Commission. proposed to
the Geographical Society to give the name
or Bunau-Narilla TO the island that VIII
be formed in the middle of Lake Bohio in
Panana, to commemorate, as he SAID,
the brilliant Frenchman who consecrated
his life to the Panama canal and to whom
We owe much"
Mr.. Philippe Bunau-Varilla, whose life 1
knn a IL m
OF the loftiest ideals He has contributed
more, perhaps, than any other person to
render canal at Panama possible. He
fought with nature the terrible battle of
the Culebra, which was deemed, until he
personally took it in hand, an impossible
barrier. He it VAS who solved the Chagres
problem, and his solution is the one
adopted in its essential features by our
government And, what Is of even greater
Importance to our country, he rescued us
from the delusiCns under which our gov
eminent, until recently, was laboring, IN
favor of uniting the waters of the Atlantic
and Pacific through the Republic of Mica
ragua.
The enterprise to which Mr.. Bigelow al
ludes was the French Panama canal, which
was begun more than twenty years ago, and
which failed through bad financing. The
provisional government OF Panama showed
its confidence in Mr.. Bunau-Varilla by
sending him as its first minister to the
United States, and Mr.. Bigelow's state
ment is an assurance that he is a man of
high character The American people will
be glad to know that the Washington au-
thorities have not been dealing with an
adventurer.
The statement in the New York Post
which called out Mr. Bigelow's letter was
an implied reflection on the President and
secretary of state. If. as it stated, Mr..
Bunau-Varilla was in New York city sew
eral months plotting the Panama revolu-
ton, with whom was he plotting? The in
situation is that he was plotting with the
Washington authorities to secure prompt
recognition for the new government Such
an insinuation is even more damaging 10
the President and secretary of state than
il is to Mr. Bunau-Varilla. The latter has
found a prompt defender in Mr.. Bigelow,
but the President and secretary of state
have to bear the insinuation in silence. No
fair-minded person will believe it for a
moment, and it is descreditable to an Amer
lean newspaper to have made il. Insinua-
tons involving the honor of our highest
government officials should be left to for
eign newspapers of the baser sort.