The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-29
500 East Broad Street.

Of Panama having a voice, by represen-
tatlon. in what was done. Nor has any
other portion of the new republic had
such a voice to this day. No congress
had been called to rat1fy the secession,
nor has any one Of the seven provinces
been requested to assemble. in council or
bS mass meeting. to pass an act of
ratification. There might be parallel
Tor this procedure II the municipal coun-
GIL OF one OF our own cities-Indianapolis
Tor instance since the area Of Indiana
{ IS about the same as that OF Panama
should pass an ordinance declaring the
I, state OF Indiana a free and independent
nation; but the average American iuagl-
natton Is impotent to summon such
spectacle as that into being. But It was
that very thing which was done here,
when the municipal council Of Panama
legtslated for the 800 900 ainha bitants OF
this territory In severing all their obllga-
tons OF fealty to Colon bia, making them
FREQ and independent: and doing these
things without consulting any OF those
100000 Inhabitants save an insignificant
minority, restricted In numbers practi-
ctlly to the original band Of secessionists
HOW 1T WAS PROCLAIMED
It Is not intended by the foregoing to
inlpcach or compromise the existence Of
tho new republic. Such an attempt would
be fatuous, for the new republic is actual
The purpose is merely to show the incon-,
gruity Of the procedure, although no
Panamafan can Be brought to see that
there is anything national ncongruous or
contradictory in the fact that republic
has been created BY an ordinance passed
by a city council. This inability OF the
Panamaians to roalize what impresses
Americans as little short Of udicrous is
doubtless due to the fact that mea sures
have been taken, though not by leglsla-
tive steps. to bring the whole territory to!
accept the new form OF government. I'M
mediately after the creation Of the rapub-
Ito and the appointment Of tho junta by
the city council OF Panama, the junta
took steps to this end: Emlssaries were
sent into this different provinces to pro.
claim the establishment Of the republic
These emsssarles We're effective orators
as are nearW all the people Of these
Southern countries They toured along
both coasts. east and west, stopping at
+ the principal cities. Their coming was
unannounced In these cities. which. until
the arrival OF the ernissaries, We're with
out knowledge OF the fact that Panama
had seeded from Colombia. David chirl-
quf, Santiago and other cities and towns
along and adjacent to the Pacific coast;
Bocas del Toro, Nombre dc Dios Porto
Bello, etc, on tho Caribbean shores
We're visited in this way and reports
have been received from all Of the ennis
saries, although some Of them havs not
yet returned to Panama.
In each Of these cities The cmissary
would, upon his arrival. employ the local
band Of musicians Taking stand In
the principal plaza, no would draw. his
crowd BY the bands efforts, and When Ia a
number sufficient for hin purpose had
assembled he would read the declaration
Of independen Following tho. reading
would come his harangue. tho burden Of
which was that the establishment OF, the
republic meant the construction OF the
ship canal by the United States across
the Isthmus, and that tho construction
Of this canal meant that the United States
would pay to the republic q sum Of money
sufficient to make all Of the people rich
and prosperous. This was donesin every
Instance and the orators argument, be-
ing addressed to people among whom
never failed to elicit enthusia tic respo ses
in approval Of what had been DONE The
business Of the emissary wa s then to re-,
port to the Junta that the people Of that
town accepted the republic md gloried In
it's creation. This procedure has been
followed In treating wtthall OF the reo-
manner, some OF the provnces have COM
muncated with the Jpnta through their
Governors. support has been rendered in
this way OF men and arms to support tho
republics Independence, and while It is
not pretended that anything like oil OF
the people OF The republic have been COM
inundated with. the assurances. through
the cmIssaYIes and the Governors. have
been sufficient In number to carry the
conviction that tho people Of Panama
generally approve, the severance of their
relations With Colombia, II they lack pa
triotism ottheir own, they certainly have
escape her domination, tlloir willingness
extending to ready acceptance. after the
event, OF all that was done by the City
Council 81 Panama. which enjoys the
unique distinction Of having by simple
ordinance created q republic, $50 far as
the forma9 structure q this republic Is
and such Is the indlsputable faet--that
tho 1Renublic Of Panama. txistS to ID ay4 inL