Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-12-23
THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA.
Two Reasons Why Colombia Can Never Regain
Control Of the lsihmus.

A new nation has been born into
this ever-changing and unstable
world, and the United States has
recognized its right to exist. Hence
forth there will be a Republic of
Panama. The bioodless revolution
resulting in this new American re-
public lasted less than a week. 1t is
claimed that this. is the practical
solution of the isthmian canal diff
Guilty, and, therefore, the event is so
momentous and dramatic that it
provokes both hearty approval and
violent opposition.
A rising of Panama was threat
ened at the time the canal treaty
was defeated at Bogota. 1t seems
that day for the iDsurrection was
actually named, aud the rebellion
began at the appointed time. The
government officials at the isthmus
appear TO have been taken by sur
prise at the rising, for they were
captured without offering any resist
ance. The great German statesman,
Bismarck, used to say quite fire.
quently that the enemy who named
day for his attack was not very
dangerous. But this does not seem
to be true in the affairs of Panama,
and evidently it did not achieve its
independence with it's own hand.
Panama was the most impoverished
State in the Republic of Colombia.
She had no reassuring prospects ex-
cept in the construction of the great
ship canal through her territory. 1t
would mean employment, business, a
much larger volume of circulation in
money, close contact with the outer
world, and infinitely better sanitary
conditions. Her Importance would
grow apace and her population in
crease in like ratio. The mainten-
ance of law and order would be
guaranteed by the strongest power
on the continent. and the traffic of
every great nation would come to
her doors. She was led to expect
these results, and set her heart upon
them. But the government to which
she gave allegiance and from which
she had the right to expect all posi-
ble aid, repudiated the treaty.
With her one great hope imper-
lied, Panama declared for independ-
ence with an intent to realize upon
the expectations held out by her
own country and killed at the very
point of realization.
A canal from ocean to ocean will
make of Panama one of the most
important places of the world. Rear
Admiral j. G. Walker has succeeded
in arranging at once new canal
concession.
The fact that Colombia may not
recognize Panama's independence
will scarcely affect the present con-
dition. Many years passed before
Spain recognized the independence
of Mexico, Peru, Bolivia and the
rest of the countries which broke
away from her in the first quarter of
the nineteenth century. Mexico had
not formally recognized the Repub-
lie of Texas at the time of her an
nexation to the United States, al
though nine years had passed since
San Jacinto. The failure Of Colon
bia to give her endorsement to the
new republic will not have the
slightest effect on the status of that
government. The United States has
given full recognition to it. The
other countries, on the American
continent as well as in Europe, will
follow the example, and some have
already.
For two reasons Colombia can
never regain control of Panama.
Colombia lacks the military and
naval power TO conquer the isthmus,
even if the United States kept its
hands off. Nor has it any means of
mobilizing or of maintaining any
considerable number of troops in the
field, if it had them. There are no
roads over which its men can march
over the long distances which sepa-
rate them from Panama. And they
have no navy to transport them from
ports on the coast. They are simply
powerless to do anything to attack
the impregnable strategic position of
Panama, even if the Panamans we're
left to their own resources The
United States is bound by its treaty
of 1846 to protect the isthmian rail
way from interruption by any party,
and it will perform its duty to the
extent of its power. This would
prevent Colombia from invading
Panama, even if it were strong
enough otherwise to overcome the
physical barriers on the land side or
had navy powerful enough to con-
vey troops and make a landing on
either coast at the isthmus. There
is not the faintest chance that the
old regime will ever be restored in
Panama. Colombian authority is as
dead on the isthmus as Spain's is in
Cuba and Porto Rico The cbanop