The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-11-12
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA.

Republics are are sometimes made
out of pretty small timber. The
province of Panama, but just now one
of the United States of Colombia,
comprises the narrow neck of land
known as the isthmus of Panama, ex-
tending eastward from Costa Rica,
the southwestern state of Central
America, to the confines of the South
continent. In square miles 1t is about
three times the size of the State of
Vermont is about half settled, having
about the same number of inhabitants
as this State Their occupation -
when not engaged in revolution-is
chiefly grazing. Agriculture is in
backward condition, gold is mined in
small quantities, there is some coal
and other minerals. 1t was the first
continental region settled in America,
the town of Panama being the earliest
mainland settled by Europeans. This
is not the first essay of the people at
independence. They maintained n
separate political existence from 1857
to 1860, when they became a part Of
the aggregation from which they have
just seeded.
By certain moral or political mall
contents, or the partisans of certain
interests this revolution coming swift
on the announcement of the rejection
of the canal treaty at Bogota, will be
charged to American influences favor
able to the Panama canal route, and
the air is already full of accusation
and denunciation by papers and in
dividuals whose occupation it is to
accuse and denounce, and chiefly by
the advocates of the Nicaragua route
of canal construction. 1t is easy to i'm
pute false motives; the fact of the
existence of wrong springs of action
or the evidence of the presence of in
furious or wicked intentions in any
line of conduct, is quite anoth er
thing They who are fiercely charg-
ing American iustigation and com
plicity in the Panama revolution
should first clear their own skirts of
suspicion as to their entire disinter-
estedness.
Panama's justification lies in the
disregard of its interests by the Co
lombian government, and in the be-
lief that the governments action il
rejecting the canal treaty was the
consequence of corruption at Bogota.
Panama's Interests are deeply in
volved in the canal project. Very
liberal terms and perfectly lust CON
ditions had been agreed upon be-
tween the representatives. Of the con
tractina governments, and these haC
been formulated and embodied, in I
treaty which the United States haC
ratified Colombia rejected the
treaty and proposed other terms
which she had a right to do-bu
which it was clear that the UNITED
States, nor any other self-Iespectini
government, could accept. The sacri
fee of its interests at Bogota, withou
reason or Justice, the belief that tn
Colombian government would contin
ually employ the dog D-the mango
policy in respect of the constructio
of the canal, melted Panama to tax
her affairs into her own hands. He
conduct is not irrational and is e2
plainable III view of her apparer
ability to make her revolution success
futile supreme condition in any pr
litical breakup.
Nevertheless, it is clear that tn
situation, in respect OF recognition {
the republic by the United States is
delicate one. This government has
mighty commercial interest in ii
new situation, forced by the greed
unwisdom-or combination of boz
of the government OF Colombo
from which it is possible-and it
charged that American interest
antagonistic to the canal are not e
tirely absent. Some who doubt Il
wisdom of embarking in the constro
tion of an isthmian canal, at all,
any route, will see III existing co
ditions cause for keeping the who
matter of canal construction st
longer iii allegiance; and in the pu
suit of that policy the path of natio
al peace and honor may lie.