The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-23
BloodlesS Secession Was Not Pos
sible Without Moral Support of
the United States.
VARILLA'S FINAL WORD
GO Ahead" He Said, america
Will Send Ships at Once to
Either Side of ISthmus."
COL. SHALER'S DIPLOMACY
Colombians Outwitted by a For
mer Resident of Indiana-Gen.
Huertas's Coup.
From the Journals Special Commissioner.

PANAMA, X. p Dec. 12.-President
Roosevelt has assured the American Con-
gress that his administration was not privy
to the scheme TO establish independent
republic the isthmus. There is abso-
htely no evidence discoverable here to con-
trovert that statement in the slightest de-
gree. yet IL is an indisputable fact that the
conspirators for independence at Panama
believed implicitly. before they made sin
gle open move for independence, that ad-
vance assurances Of support had been given
by the government at Washington. This be-
lief Is so fixed that those In the conspiracy
do not hesitcte to say that the first move
would never have been made had 1t not been
that Washington had gwen a promise Of
support. For this leading OF the Panama
ians into striking for independence credit
could be given to NJ Bunau-VariIla. as it
was because of cablegram from him prom
ising most certainly American support that
the revolution was actually effected.
A cable from Bogota was received at Pan
anna early on the 31st of October announcing
the adjournment, sine die. of the special
session of the Colombian Congress and the
definite failure of the Hay-Herran treaty.
This news was no sooner received than the
conspirators. whose names have already
In the parlor of the residence of DIR. Anna
dor. The crux of the situation had been
reached. and II was the consensus of opinion
that IL the blow for a transisthmian canal
under American ownership, and. incidental
ly. for Panamaian Independence, was to be
dealt at all. il should be dealt at once. The
situation having been thoroughly gone over.
all accounts having been cast, and balance
having been struck by the conspirators to
discover their exact status, DR.. AmadOr
penned telegram to M. Bunau-Varilla, and
IL was Immediately dispatched.
In this telegram 1t was stated that all the
plans We're perfected, and that Ii Varilla
could give any assurance of American sup
port there would be no further hesitation.
As he finished writing this cablegram DR..
AmadOr remarked to his fellow-con-
spirators: IF this man referring to
.Varllla) can move an American warship
SO as to place IT at the fsthmus TO help US,
we need hesitate no longer"
XARILL1A'S MESSAGE.-<4-.-..
From that moment the whole plan waited
on the reply from Varilla. 1t was received
on the 1st of November, although dated
the previous day. AS to it's contents there
are two versions, and since DR.. Amador.
who has possession OF the original, is in the
States. the dispute as TO its contents can
not be settled. Enough is known, however,
TO justify the assertion that II was this
icablegram from Varilla which actually pre-
cipitated the revolution, and that because
the message contained an assurance Of
American support One version of the mes
sage given TO me by one OF the original
conspirators, who was present at the meet
ing on Nov. /, when its contents were made
stance, addressing the message TO DR.. ANA
dor: Go ahead There will be an Ameri-
can warship on either side of the isthmus
within forty-eight hours.
he nfh fhnr xFfnt ntx1fa fhar of
the original conspirators stands sponsor, is
that the message was in terms about as
follows Go ahead. America will send
ships at once to either side of the isthmus
TO maintain the freedom and security of
transit"
Whether variIla spoke with anything like
authority. or whether he was merely risk
Ing an assurance upon the known policy OF
the American government in protecting the
transit OF the isthmus, is not discoverable
here; but his message confirmed the con-
spfrators in their determination to attempt
eided % to take ap Z the leap toward % s indeDend- nd
ence on the 4th Of November. The plan
TO o1En o 0uf b tine o IN a Dam
send II marching with bands playing,
les OF the DECLARATION OF Independence.
orators were 10 accompany the soldiers TO
harrangue the crowd which would gather.
and IL was expected that by daylight Pan
when II was planned 10 hold mass meet
ing in the Cathedral Plaza and with the
people thoroughly aroused, proclaim the
independence.
the plans OF the conspirators. Miss Ossa
had completed the flag, I'm regard to the
making OF which there Is separate story
There was no longer any occasion for Sc
crecy about the plans, and the entire 18TH
mus was alive with the rumors of seces-
that the plan was to be attempted, and al
the meeting Of the original band of con-
spirators. held on the evening of Nov. 2. in
IN Panama, IL was agreed that there should
be no drawing back. and that the republic
lowing. Dismay took the place of conf.
dence, however. on the morning OF Nov 3
when the Colombian gunboat cartagens
Colombian soldiers. Back Of the arrival Of
this ship there is story the details OF
which are not clear
COLOMBIA WAITED TOO LONG.
1t is stated that when the talk of seces
sion became open, some four or five days
before the revolution took place. Javiael
Janguito. the Catholic bishop stationed al
Panama, wired information of the conspira.
tors plans to the government at Bogota
This charge is denied by Bishop Janguito
but its accuracy is insisted upon by those
who are in the secret OF the details of tn,
secession. Whether the charge is true O,
false 1t is certain that Bogota had ful
and complete information in advance o
the Panamaian proposition to secede. bu
the spirit OF manana. with which the Who'll.
OF Central and South America is afflicted
proved fatal 10 the interests of the Co
lOmbian government She started to loci
the door after the horse had been stolen
Had the Cartagena arrived on the 2d o
November the revolution would never hav,
taken place As IL was IL very neal
an abOTtiye attempt, for the cOnspIrat tors
all except AmadOr. halted when the arriva
of the Cartagena was telegraphed to th
city.
There was good reason for this indecision
for the garrison at Panama numbered onl,
200 men. and would have been no mattel
for the force delivered by the Cartagena a
Colon. So accurately had Colombia dis
counted the plans OF the conspiratoTs tha
she was prepared 10 balk them AT ever,
turn. and speedy death would have beeI
the penalty for the movers In the enter
prise. On board the Cartagena was Gen
PompClio Gutierrez, who bore a deere
appointing him Governor OF the departmen
OF Panama in place OF Jose Domingo ID
Obaldia. who was unjustly suspected a
Bogota OF being implicated In the plan 70
secession Accompanying Gutierrez wer
forfy-two officials. clerks and Others tn
plan being for the troops on the cartagen.
CONTINUED ON PAGE .. COL 3D.