The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-19
WHY PANAMAIANS REVOL TED
Some Of the Extortions to Which They We're
Subjected
BY MERRILL A. TEAGUE.
Special Correspondent of the Morning News.

Panama, r. P. Dec. s.-Before pro-
ceeding to a more detailed calculation
of the genesis and nature of the Re-
public of Panama. with which the
United States is destined to have re-
lations of the most intimate character,
it may be we'll to explain in detail the
excuses under which the republic justi-
fies it's creation.
Like all Latin-American republics,
the history of Panama is the history
of strife and turbulence. The people,
while fairly well educated, are DOM
mated by the spirit of manana. They
are at the same time low principled,
obligations of fealty, thinking more of
their personal advertisement, which as
sumes the form of cock and bull fight
ing, gambling, fiestas and sports of
more or less questionable morality,
than they do of their material welfare
or mental advancement. This applies,
of course. to the majority.
In the minority, is the better class.
men of wealth and substance, of sound
ideas and strict integrity, who live well,
regard their homes and are in every
way commendable. 1t is upon this lat
ter class that the brunt of every move
ment must fall. If the government is
assailed and a revolution is to be sup
pressed, they are the ones who are call
ed upon to pay the expenses. If they
themselves. for the sake of their coun-
try's advancement plan revolution
they can only make Roadway in their
project by resort to corruption and
briber, which demand that they make
heavy personal sacrifices for the sake
of that which will benefit all classes.
1t is to this latter class that the Re-
public of Panama owes its existence.
The majority, which pays no taxes,
lives in squalor almost indescribable ana
subsists in the meanest manner lmagln-
able and virtually without labor, cares
not one whit about independence. That
majority has never been made TO reel'
in any way calculated to excite its
resentment, the rigor of Colombian
maladministration and perhdy, and to
It the creation of the republic appeared
more as does a holiday than as any
thing of d serious business and polltl-
cal character.
For FIVE years and up to about one
year ago the isthmus was the scene
of revolutionary strife. There are two
parties on the isthmus, or were until
the republic was formed. These were
the Liberals and the Conservatives, OF
in the political parlance of the states,
the "outs" and the Gin" The Liberals,
prior to the creation of the republic,
had practical monopoly on culture,
refinement, intelligence and wealth.
The Conservatives were in control OF
the sources and agencies of the gov
eminent of this department, and were
sustained by the government at Bo-
gotta, while the Liberals fought inces-
sanity to overthrow the Conservatives
and free themselves from the yoke
of oppression which had been placed
about their necks.
During this revolution, which only
terminated when the United States
consul general, H. o. Gudger, nego-
tiated a treaty of peace about one
year ago, after the naval battle OF
Panama Bay, in which the COLOMBIAN
gunboat Lauterre was sunk and GOV.
Carlos Alban killed, the government
exhausted it singenunity in devlslng
schemes for raising money and volun-
teers. The whole story of that reVo-
luton will never be known, for down
here revolutions are nothing more than
political campaigns, elections being
held according to the law of the bull
let and bayonet, instead of by the
years during which this revolution
ragged the writ of habeas corpus and
all other processes for the legal and
judicial protection of life and property
were suspended, either by DEGREES is
sued by the government at Bogota
or by decree of the Governor of the
Department Of Panama.
How AIban Raised the Money.
The government was almost, IL not
entirely, bankrupt, and, In order to
raise money, levied freely upon the
people. These levies were made through
the departmental administration, for
Bogota was helpless, the only money
known there being a worthless paper
currency, while the only money known
or accepted In this department was. and
stlll il, Colombian silver" The meth
DDS adopted for leyying upon the peo-
ple for money 10 defray the expenses
incident 70 suppressing the revolution
were most helnous IN character and
tyrannical IN operation outside OF
Panama Il Is generally understood that
this money was raised by voluntary
subscription" Here, where All the facts
are known. the term voluntary sub