The sun., 1903-11-06
The Revolution.

| The provisional Government which
was organized at Panama as the agent
of independence appears to have the
support Of all political parties, and even
OF the Colombian troops which were re-
Gently despatched to the city. That the
movement will quickly extend to Colon
may be taken for granted, and it would
not be surprising if the States Of Cauca
and Antioquia should take part in the
uprising. The Republic Of Panama,
which the inhabitants Of the Isthmus, op-
pressed and plundered by the Bogota
politicians, have for two generations
striven to create, is at last fact The
independence Of the Isthmus has been
more than once declared, in vain; but
there is reason to believe that this time
Colombia will find herself poweress to
overthrow it.
AS we have previously pointed out, the
Republic of New Granada was scarcely
ten years old when the provinces Of
Panama and Veragua, wrought to des-
peration by the neglect Of their local
interests, declared themselves indepen-
dent under the name of the State of the
Isthmus of Panama. The revolution
was quelled, partly by force and partly
by promises Of better government, which
for q while were kept 1t soon again
became clear, however, that the Isthmus,
which geographically, industrially and
commercially has nothing in common
with those interior provinces Of Colom-
L;o xpl,to1 1>h pnro1l,, hoan
derant at Bogota, could not safely in
trust the protection and advancement Of
its local interests to remote, centralized
government. Accordingly, when Colom-
bia in 1853 was transformed from
unified into federal republic, under
which every province had the right to
declare itself independent, Panama and
Antloquia took advantage Of the per-
mission and succeeded in maintaining
autonomous governments for some years.
Again reunited to Colombia and again
outraged by neglect and spoliation,
Panama for third time revolted during
the Presidency OF SANTOS GUTIERREZ
(1ses-7o), and it was only with extreme
difficulty that the authority Of the CEN
tral government was reesta blished. There
have since been a number Of insurrec-
tionary outbreaks, one OF which was only
recently suppressed; all provoked by the
conviction that it was hopeless to secure
a due regard for 1sthmus interests at
Bogota.
Never before, however has the well
fare of the State of Panama been 80
shamelessly sacrificed as by the Congress
which has just adjourned, after refus-
ing to ratify the canal treaty concluded
by President MARRooUIN with the United
States. To the inhabitants Of the 18TH
mus the completion of the Panama canal
is matter of life and death. If ever
people had the right to sunder old po-
litical ties and proclaim themselves in
dependent, the inhabitants of Panama
they have been subjected at the hands
Of the Bogota politicians is incomparably
more grievous than any that drove our
forefathers in 1910 to declare themselves
independent Of Great Britain. There
is not we'll informed and fair minded
man In the United States, or in France,
or in Great Britain, who will not say
that Panama has done we'll to cut itself
loose from Colombia and to organize an
independent republic.
These revolcs.-nists should have moth
ing to fear They have founded per-
manent republic. 1t can no more be
overthrown by Colombians than could
the Republic Of Texas by the Me1icans.
Before the State of Panama now opens
a brilliant future We hail the new
risen star in the galaxy Of American
Commonwealths