The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-21
NEW PANAMA REPUBLIC
IS THE CHILD OF GREED,
BORN OF NEED OF CANAL
Story OF Its Conception and Birth
Almost as Interesting as a
Fairy Tale.
DREAM OF MANY YEARS
That Was Finally Fulfilled with
the Assistance of Panama Rail-
way Officials.
DETAILS OF THE PLOT
Work of DR.. Amador, Who Has
Been Called the Father of
independence"
DETAILS OF THE PLOT

From the Journals Special Commissioner.
PANAMA. r. p, Dec. 19.-As has already
been stated in this correspondence. the Re-
public Of Panama owes its existence TO
nothing which bears any resemblance TO
Panamaian patriotism. The new nation Is
the child of greed conceived of the project
for a ship cana! connecting the Atlantic
and Pacific The story of the republics
conception and birth reads like fairy
tale. Panama-that is. the better class Of
Panamaians-has for years dreamed of in
dependence of Colombia and Immunity
from Colombian OPPRESSION; but they lacked
the power OF initiative. preferring to put off
until ''manana" the attempt another people
would have made to-day. The canal prof.
ect forced the issue. however, and the
leaders among the Panamaians met 1t in
a manner which must in time. win the ad-
miration of the world. for as a political
trick they did that which is without an
equal. overturning a government and set
ting up their own independence without
firing a shot or spilling drop Of blood.
That success was made possible because
Of the certainty of support by the United
States does not lessen the magnitude or
the Panamaian achievement.
Early in the current year Nuts Durand
was Governor of the Department Of Pan
anna. He had been sent to preside over the
department. from one of the other depart
ments in the Colombian federation, and was
essentially an anti-Panamaian. Ii hap
pened. therefore. that when the Hay-Her-
ran treaty had been ratified at Washing
was about wnsn to come before the coiombian
Congress that he who had the power or ap-
pointment Of the representatives from Pan
anna. to II that there should go to Bo-
gotta a delegation which would not oppose
any scheme Colombia might evolve. Pana-
ma, enthusiastic for the canal, recognized
at once that Duran had named men who
were inimical to the paramount interest OF
the department. and at that moment the
scheme for Panamaian independence began
TO assume shape
A RAILROADS. HAND IN 1T.
This was in May last. Common report
and formal statements made by those who
were in the movement at the time of It's
inception gave TO Dr. Manuel Amador
= Guerrero. who is now I'm the states In COM
pany with Frederica Boyd and Constantine
Arosemena, as a member Of the commits
sion appointed to negotiate a canal treaty,
credit for having launched the independent
movement. But while DIR. Amador Is
deemed the father of Panamaian independ-
ence. il is doubtful If SO much credit actu-
ally belongs TO him. Rather is Ii logical to
assume that the officials of the Panama
Railroad. nearly every one of whom is an
american. are the more responsible parties.
The railroad corporation, which owns a
splendid piece of property, and which is
doing thriving business in transisthmian
traffic. has for about fourteen years. been
devoting the whole of its net earnings to
defraying the expenses of the work neces-
sary TO keep the canal concession held by
sfecthosdars haus resiized noshing from
their investment In that period, and the
United States has agreed to purchase the
with the railroad, as stockholders and
managers. have been feverishly anxious
for actual consummation OF the canal
project. Upon that cOnsummation depends
their ability to unload their holdings on the
United States government, and those who
are really in the secret OF Panamaian inde-
pendence give TO the influence welded by
this road the actual credit for what has
been accomplished.
Every Liberal in Panama knew when Du-
rand appointed Soto and Teran senator's
from Panama To the special session of the
Colombian Congress, convened on July 20.
last. TO consider the Hay-Herran treaty.
that the canal project was In jeopardy.
These two men did not represent the senti-
ment on the fsthmus, fact proved by their
open fight against ratification of the treaty,
as well as by the fact that they have not
returned to Panama since the adjournment
of the Congress At the time these two men
were named as Panamaian senator's. Jos
Agustin Arrange was a senator of the Co.
lombian Congress. representing Panama.
No sooner did Durand announce his APP
pointments than Arando announced that he
would not &C TO Bogota to be outnumbered
IN the delegation by anti-Panamaians.
Now. II happened that Senor Arrange was
then, and is now. the special agent Of
the Panama Railroad: in other words the
companys confidential agent and lobbyist.
In this capacity Senior Arrange has twice
project, 10 keep the concessions and pro-
mote ratification with the United States
government The evidence seems conclu-
sive that when he refused TO 20 TO Bogota
- az ho
same time advanced the idea OF independ-
ence for the department in case the treaty
should fall.
DIR. AMADOR TO THE FRONT.
Arrange was not, however, the man "a
openly. or even secretly. foster the scheme.
That duty devolved upon DR.. Amador, who
Is deemed the wealthiest man in the depart
ment. and. therefore. who has more to gain
from American occupation and the compile
tion of the canal than has any other indi-
vidual. That Arangc acted as the agent OF
the Panama Railroad in proposing to Anna
dor the idea of Panamaian independence is
proved by subsequent developments Anna
dor was readily disposed TO advance the
project even though IL may not have orig
mated with him. and the fact stands that he
took the formal initiatives as long ago as
May last: At that time a meeting was held
at DR.. Amadors residence fronting the
Cathedral in this city. There were present
DR.. Amador, Senor Arrange and Senior
down. without danger of contradiction as
the original instigatOrs OF the revolution OF
the 81 of November. At that meeting-and
my informant is one who was in the scheme
from the beginning. and whose statements
have been fully corroborated-it was decided
by Amador. Arango and Arias that II the
Hay-Herran treaty should fail OF ratifica-
tion at Bogota a blow should be struck for
Panamaian independence.
This decision reached, the plan progressed
rapidly. Needing assistance in working ou,
their plan. the original trio of conspirators
carefully selected four other gentlemen W ho
might be taken into their confidence. These
four Constantine AroseTnena a civil
engineer; Ricardo Artas, brother OF Tomas
ArIas, Frederlca Boyd and N. A. De Obar.
rio. the last three named being merchants
In this city and men OF wealth and sub
stance The circle OF consprators included
these seven men as long ago as the lst OF
July. They met frequently. but In secret
holding their meetings In the private res.
idence of one or the other OF their number
with an occasional gathering in the office OF
the electric light company, which is prin-
cipaliy owned by Tomas Arias. All OF tbs
plans of these conspirat0rs were predicated
upon the rejection OF the canal treaty ar
hypothesis which had resolved itself intc
. certainty before the middle OF August
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5. COL. H.