The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-05
The Panama Revolution.

A revolution in Central or South Amer
lea Is nothing new under the sun, ana
we never are surprised to hear OF a
fresh one. We are especially well pre-
pared for the news from Panama be-
cause the people of that little state nave
been murmuring much against Coion1 ola'
fearing that, by.,its avarice and stupid
ity. Colombia might defeat the canal
scheme in which Panama is so deeply IN
terested.
Colombia consists of nine departments
or States-Antioquia. Bolivar, l3osaca'
Cauca. Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Fan
ANA. Satander and Tolima-and mas a
population of about 100000. of whom
about one-half are whites and half castles
The department Of Panama has a pop
nlntion Of about 5000. The prosperity
OF the State depends upon It's faVorap1e
geographical position, which faciiltaecs
transit from the Atlantic to the Pacltlc.
The distance from Limon Bay to Pana-
ma, on the latter, is only thlrtv-iise
miles. and the highest elevation on t''e
~, +Arshed does not exceed 27S feet a
railway forty-seven and q half miles IN
length connects the ports OF Panaalla aiiu
Colon. In 1879 Ferdinand de Lesseps com
uenced work on a canal to connect the
two oceans, but in March. 1853. work was
s,spended. though it was resumed IN
1894 and continued until a short "nlie
ago. when the French company soio' ou.
TO the United States Government suo-
,ect to certain treaty which TINS coun-
try proposed to Colombia.
The Republic of Colombia, a Few moh'l's
ago rejected the treaty proposed by TINS
country. It demanded a greater ponus
than we offered 1t, and 1t oooecteo 10
ceding to us as full and complete Juris-
dction as We want over the strlp OIL
country through which the canal passes.
That action Of the Colombian Government
aroused great indignation on the ism
mus where the canal project Is hgnly
popular. Time and again wen A"o" =
spokcsmen of Panama have SAID mat -
Colombia would not grant the on'eeu
States the privileges 1t wishes. PANAMA
would secede, set up government Aot
,tse,r and vote this country the required
franchises.
such we believe, is the basis OF the
revolution on the Isthmus. which alreaos
has assumed such proportions that fres'
,dcnt Roosevelt has been compelled &c
order thither several ships OF war IN
order to protect American interests
No doubt this country will suffer from
some suspicion of having fomented this
revolt. but we trust our national skirts
are clear. We have never doubted thas
tha United States could bring Colombia
to terms without using force. And. then
too. II we could not get terms from Co
| lombia, Nicaragua and Costa Rica are
known to be willing to treat with US
and many people think tho Nicaragua
route is better than the Panama route
with characteristic impudence. the rev
olutionists have called upon President
Roosevelt to recognize the new govern
ment But there Is nothing yet to rec
revolutionists are anxious to open up ne
| gotiations at the earliest possible mo
ment. But theer is nothing yet to "reo
ognize" and tor the present our concern
is for the safety OF Americans and Amer
lean interests in that quarter These will
be protected at all hazard, and before !
is all over the revolutionists may ge
Recognition" from Uncle Sam OF char
acter not to he relished.