Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
Steady Progress Of Events on
the Isthmus of Panama.
WORK ON THE CANAL
1T IS HOPED THAT IT WILL NOT
BE DELAYED.
The Currency Stability VIII Be Main
tanned and Concession Rights Will
Be Preserved by Government.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
COLON. REPUBLIC OF PANAMA:

COLON, REPUBLIC OF PANAMA.
November II, 1909.
Progress Is steady during the waiting Pc
Rod OF the new commonwealth. Business
improves. The DEGREES OF the provisional
government are accepted promptly and
obeyed cheerfully. The routine Of admin
istration goes on SO evenly that there Is
time to weigh the news from Washington
and guess what the rumors from Bogota
may mean.
News from the capital of the United
States is read first of all to see how it
bears on the canal. The isthmian idea is
quick work. Complete control of the ter
ritorial strip by the United States is agreed
to better for both parties than the
divided civil jurisdiction which 1t was nee
essary to insert in the old treaty in order
not to wound Colombia's sentiment Of SOW
ereignty In practice that would have
fretted the American authorities.
With the main question determined the
hope is that actual building will meet with
no delay. The dry season is coming on,
and though this dry season Is pretty
moist it is a good time for engineering OPP
erations. The suggestion is that the prep
aration for the permanent sanitation OF
Panama and Colon, which must precede
waterway construction, begin now. Wheth-
er this is feasible I do not know. Here
they think it is. and they want it done.
Rumors From Bogota.
With regard to the rumors from Bogota,
since these have begun to be supplemented
by real intelligence, the outcome Is dis
cussed with an understanding of the CO.
lombiau national character which Is better
than can be had by a native of the north.
The ultimate solution for Colombia, have
been told will be to merge Its identity and
incorporate itself in the republic OF Pan
anna But this is ultimate, not present
and hardly prospective.
The immediate prospect Is days
pr ophecy. No one can guess more IMAM
twenty-four hours ahead what may hap
pen in the neighboring country. If 1t were
possible for troops to come overland from
Bcgota through the swamps OF Darien' the
isthmus could meet them. The provisional
army numbers four thousand. But since
land movement Is not practicable, the only
point Is whether the Colombians would try
to break the line of United States warships
on either the Atlantic or Pacific side. Their
late fellow citizens think that IN frenzy
OF blind national pride they are capable OF
attempting 1t, knowing that the sacrifice
would be hopeless The safeguard against
such frenzied patriotism Is the thorough
ness of the naval preparations, and the
certainty that the commanders are acting
both with vigilance and with judgment
During the week have had the chance
to see more of what might have been If the
Independence movement had not been so
in mediately successful, or what yet might
be If restraining power were not ready to
be put forth. It strengthens the convtc-
ton that the course of the United States
is not only just to Itself and to the world,
but merciful to Colombia as we'll.
Forming a Permanent Government.
These prospects of Colombian folly may
blow away in a day, and the next develop
nent may be the good offices Of the United,
States In adjusting the relations Of Panama
and Colombia. Or the danger may become
more imminent. Whichever 1t prove to be.
the process of evolving permanent gov
eminent here will not be altered. After a
while there will be a constituent assembly
or convention. and a constitution will be
adopted which will have no clause in it
against the alienation Of territory. The
Cuban constitution Is the working model.
Though the conditions are not exactly
able the Cuban charter to furnish useful
suggestions This is especially true in the
adaptation of Spanish or Latin institutions
to American ideas.
Assurances from members of the pro-
vsional government are serving good
purpose in calming those who held con-
cessons or privileges, and who did not un-
derstand that their vested rights were not
Of m
another The old Spanish system obtained
In the isthmus. and many kinds of business
were either maintained by the government
as its own prerogative or farmed out. In
this manner it kept It's control of the pearl
fisheries and the salt fields.
The holders of the various concessions
were nervous at first II disposition
should be shown to repudiate these obliga-
tons they did not know what their remedy
would be- No such disposition is shown.
When some of the concessions expire pub
lie sentiment and grounds Of policy may
prevent their renewal. but they will not be
abrogated by arbitrary action in the mean
time. The tobacco privilege. the beef
slaughter concession and the like will be
recognized as In the past and will furnish
means of revenue. Since the bishop has
given his adhesion to the new order. per-
functory though it may be. no objection
will be made to the church continuing TO
receive state aid and that prospective cause
Of irritation will be removed. The church
has much property. 1t cannot AFFORD to
encourage sedition.
How Colombia Governed the Isthmus.
In modelling the new institutions changes
from the present system will be made SO as
to insure the government being representa-
tive and genuinely republican. Bogota gov
erned Panama as despotically as Spain once
ruled her colonies. While the department
elected members of Congress. the real ruler
was the governor. At one period this off,
cial was elected, but as the result Of the
unsuccessful revolutions the power of cleo
ton was taken away and the governor was
appointed by the authorities at Bogota
Sometimes he was native of Panama but
not always. When Colombia thought that
military repression was the only means of
sitting discomfort the governor was sent
from another section. When Cancellation
and promises were the scheme, he was q
native OF Panama. Gov Obaldia, the last
of the governors. was a resident of the
isthmus. His home Is In the northern part,