The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20
CAUSES THAT LED TO SECESSION OF PANAMA

tial account of how he had drained the Lib
erals until they could no longer assist the
government, he led up TO an adroit way
TO the climax, which was reached when he
drew paper from his pocket and re-
marked:
Nov. senores. I must have this money.
and am compelled, much TO my regret 20
ask you to assist me In raising ii. have
here a subscription list, which recites that
names are given voiuntariIy. TO show that
i have no desire TO act unfairly, L have
headed this list with my own subscription
for $4,000. and L trust that YOU will not let
me Guido you In rendering the government
generous support. Incidentally, L may say
that you are all under arrest. The house is
surrounded by soldiers; none OF you can es-
cape
''And smiling suavely and bowling grace
fully, the Governor moved toward the exit,
saying as he withdrew:
" With your permission i Will retire for
one hour. At the end of that time i shall
return, and during my absence trust that
among yourselves with spirit OF such gen.
crosby that my imperative demands can all
be satisfied without annoyance
AN ARMY MADE BY FORCE.
The sequel to the story is involved In no
mystery. The company of Conservatives
was helpless They ragged and fumed: but
Alban was not a man to be trified with, and
when at the end of the hour he returned the
voluntary subscription" had been consum-
mated. The only parallel for this system OF
raising money to defray the expenses OF the
revolution is found in the schemes resorted
to for procuring soldiers to fight with the
government forces. These soldiers were
never known by any other name than vol
unteers." but they were the most remark
able volunteers" the world has ever
known. All schemes or CONSUMPTION were
discounted by Adams methods for increas-
ing the strength of his army. His recruiting
parties would go into the bush, away from
| the Liberal forces, and without compassion
draft the services of every able-bodied male
| above ten years OF age with whom they
came In contact.
These men, whether negroes or Colom-
bians, whether Liberals or Conservatives.
whether they knew what the revolution was
about or not, would be taken into custody
by the recruiting parties, which were al
ways trusted and well-paid supporters OF
the government No excuses awaited 10 Sc
cure their release. They were either shack
eled, or had their hands bound behind their
backs, and then shackeled with ropes about
their ankles. and were driven like cattle
into the government camps. These men
were the volunteers of the Colombian
army on the isthmus, and IL Is automatic
here that no man ever volunteered from
the isthmus for service in the army under
Alban except he appeared In camp with his
arms tied behind his back and rope about
his ankles. There are in existence to this
day notes written by recruiting officers to
camp commanders which run like this:
II am sending you squad OF fresh volun-
teers. Please return the ropes at once, as
l may be able 10 send you another. squad or
volunteers tomorrow or the day after
Such outrages as these voluntary sub
scriptions' and the procuring OF .volun-
teers'' for the army were not isolated. They
were common occurrences OF the times.
The men of wealth who were drained OF
demonstrated. but Were helpless Those who
were drafted into the army by the roped
volunteer process were IN the same
| plight. / asked one of those who stands
1 the records having
during the revolution why he did not desert.
His answer told the whole story OF the
| isthmus: Where would L have deserted
tor" Here he was and here he had TO re-
main, and when he was drafted into the
army as a volunteer" there was nothing
for him to do except accept the inevitable,
| for Panama, save for a few miles either
side of the railroad. impenetrable
wilderness, and the deserter from the army
| has not haven OF refuge.
MONOPOL1ES. OF MANY KINDS.
| Besides these two processes for filling the
treasury and strengthening the army. CO.
lombia was prolific Of schemes for raising
revenue. BY a decree issued at Bogota
the sale of salt was created into a govern
ment monopoly. Every merchant in the
entire domain was forbidden by law TO
deal in this commodity. which was vended
by agents of the government and exchanged
for exorbitant prices. The Department OF
nues from the ordinary uses and turn them
| over To the fedora, government. by which
they were used TO pay the soldiers The
government monopolized the sale Of
matches just it did salt, and in land
where the smoking OF cigarettes is univer-
sal among those Of either sex and OF all
ages, the revenues derived from this source
were not inconsiderable. In smaller man
ner a monopoly was created on the sale Of
| cigars, cigarettes and tobacco. one firm In
this city having been granted the exclusive
| right for the entire department TO deal In
| these articles Ia return for the payment Of
100000 silver annually into the treasury at
Bogota. Ice, too. was a monopoly, the
| right TO manufacture and sell that luxury
of the tropics being let at a handsome figure
TO "A coacessonaire. who used his oppor-
tunity TO such good advantage that. prior
| 10 the establishment of the republic. tho
normal price paid in Panama for ice was
121z cents Colombian silver pound. equiva-
| lent 10 81 cents American currency. One OF
| the worst outrages, however, was that per-
| petrated in regard TO the Strengthening OF
| beef Under a decree issued at Bogota q
monopoly for the slaughtering OF beef was
created and let out TO a cOncesSlonalre.
BY the terms of this decree II was unlawful
even for the owner OF steer TO kill the
animal and dress IL for private consump-
| ton. He had 20 send word 10 tie cOnces-
intend the killing. collect fee and take
possession OF the hide. Every hide became,
at the moment of killing. the property If
the Colombian government. and they were
| carefully collected. shipped 10 New York
and sold for the account OF the federal
treasury The government II Bogota real
ICED, also. $500 Colombian silver annually
In return for the gambling concession.
which openly sold TO firm known as
Pratt * Seymour by this concession the
| firm named is given the exclusive right
for the entire department TO maintain and
operate gambling devices In return for
| this concession the firm has been paying
Bogota $1,000 annually for the Pacific sldo
of the isthmus and $4,000 annually for thu
Caribbean side. where its operations ara
| Oh ~ ha city ~ ffa1nn m affifinr,
To the various forms OF gambling conducted
by this firm, IL leases 10 saloon aud other
proprietors Of establishments the right 10
maintain poker games. roulette wheels,
crap tables, etc.
OTHER FORMS OF EXTORTfON.
The assertion Is made upon authority