The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-31
PANAMA READY FOR REVOLT.
DETECTION or CANAL TREATY
JNFLAWES the TSTHMVS.
vigorous Action by the Government Needed
TO Prevent an Outbreak-An Ande-
pendent Isthmlan Government OF AM
nexatlon to the unised states wanted.
spectaL cabh pespa.cA 20 THE SUN

Special CdOR DeJpHtCh 10 IHE SUN.
PANAMA via Kingston, Jamaica, Aug
R-The spirit of revolution Is rife and
gaining force in the Isthmus as the result
Of the rejection Of the canal treaty by the
Colombian Congress at Bogota Only
vigorous actor on the part of the govern
nent can prevent an outbreak, and it 10
doubtful whether such action is possible
Gen Vasquez Cobos, Secretary of War,
who resigned his post under recent crit-
cism and who was stationed at this point
mainly because of the fact that this is the
Colombian naval rendezvous, is practically
sIking in his tent, and although report
has i, that the Government has refused
to accept his resignation. it ia doubtful if
he can be induced in this present mood
todo aught to stem the time Of revolutionary
feeling that pervades all classes
zen Huertes, Commandant al Fort
Cb1riqui and virtually commander of all
the Government forces in and around
Panama ono of the bravest and hest sol
diers in the Colombian Army, is at this time
the only officer to whom the Government
may look with any hope OF checking the
evolutionary spirit, and even Huertes
has no heart in the Government = posit ion,
hong ? warm sympathizer of the canal
project.
II IL regarded as extremely unlikely
that he will turn the guns of Chuiridui
on the people of the city, who are almost
unit for declaration OF independence
that would separate the I-thmus from the
mainland and make easy treaty with
the United States that would insure the
L., Al
ment Of commercial and agricultural pros
peritv in this province.
As for tho naval feet, it is practically
controlled by Americans or pro-American
Fnglishmen. They form the cunning,
navigating and engineering forces of the
feet and It haslong been known that they
would be only too glad Of the opportunity
to slip the yoke of the Colombian Govern
ment and espouse any cause that would
afford the Isthmus n free and indepen-
dent government
The batteries Of the Bogota, Chiuuita
Padilla and the Panama are practically
under the control OF Col. Fred Lawson ard
Capt. George Cross. who have repeatedly
asserted favor Cor a revolutionary move
ment and more freely because even the
a
for such departure.
Their attitude has been regarded as
significant, because of the friendship that
exists between them and Gen. Huertes,
with whom they were closely identified
during the late revolution, when Gen.
Huertes had command of the ChiqlIita
The engineering forces Of the navy are
practically at the mercy of Joseph p
Furtado OF Providence, r. l., who has also
Expressed the wish that the Isthmus would
pass into the control Of the United States.
All the foreign residents ashore are
secretly, II not openly, friends of the revo-
lutionary party. Bankers and merc' ants
have for years looked forward to the COM
pletion Of the canal by the United States
as the salvation Of the country in relinv-
ing the depression that came IA the res Ii
Of three years of civil war, and it ia openly
stated that they will contribute literally
to any movement tending to free the 18TH
mus from the rule of the authorities at
Bogota.
The leading banker of Panama recently
said to the correspondent that he would
give $4,000 to any revolutionary party
that would under take the annexation of
the Tsthmus to the United States and the
banker is not an American, either.
out along the line of the Panama Canal
ere nun erous foreign settlers, including
Americans, Germans and Englishmen, who
have invested large sums Of money in plan
taions in rece It years in anticipation
Of the completion of the canal. They con-
troll large bodies of natives and Of Jamaic-
ans who We're engaged in the recent revo-
luton mainly, on the revolutionary side.
All these men have is at stake on the
completion of the canal. They would not
only give of their money to the revou-
tlonsts, but can add thousands to the
armed forces.
In Panama are many veterans Of the
late revolution who are avowedy hostile
10 the Bogota Government. Gen. Jeffries,
the American. who, with Gov. Alban in the
ate civil war, repealed the rebel attack on
Colon Gen. Estabon A. Morales. Secretary
of Finance Of the late revolutionary Govern
ment and "A score of men noted for their
hghting qualities, are ready to take up
arms the moment the signal il given.
In the interior the spirit of revolu-
llon, never quite suppressed, is burning
with greater intensity than it is in the sea-
port towns Of Panama and Colon. Indians
are massing in numbers at Chorerra and
San Carlos, At the latter point and at |
bojouka are several hundred of the fol- !
lowers Of Gen. Victoriano Lorenzo, the |
chief Of the braves who followed the for |
tunes Of Gen. Herrera in the late revolution. |
The Boujouka forces await the arrival Of |
Col, Lewis, New York newspaper man,
who should be with them in the course Of
the coming week. Col. Lewis was in the
Colombian secret service during the late
revolution. He was captured at Chorerra
by some OF Lorenzo's men and escaped |
from the Government house while the court
martial, convened to try him as spy, was
In session
When he returned TO Panama with full
information as TO the disposition Of the
rebel forces along the line Of the Panama
Railroad, Gov. Salazar, under some pre-
tence, refused to pay him the sum agreed
upon for the successful accomplishment
OF his mission Lewis vowed vengeance.
As matters stand now, he is in fair way
TO get it. He left San Francisco for Punta
Arenas, Costa RIGA, over two weeks ago
thence he will make his way to Aqua Dulce,
and from there to Boujouka by schooner.
The revolutionary feeling here is not
OF late growth, 1t has been fermenting
since some time before the Colombian Con-
EreSs was convened at Bogota. !