Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-07


ests of civilization, to see that the peace
full traffic of the world across the Isthmus
of Panama shall not longer be disturbed
by constant succession Of unnecessary
and wasteful civil wars"
Disturbances on Isthmus.
When these events happened, flfty-seven
years had elapsed since the United States
had entered into it's treaty with New Ora
NADIA. During that time the Governments
of New Granada and of its successor, Co
lombia, have been in a constant state or
fiux. The following is a partial list OF the
disturbances on the Isthmus OF Panama
during the period in question as reported
to us by our consuls. 1t is not possible
to give complete list, and some OF the
reports that speak of revolutions must
mean unsuccessful revolutions.
May -, 1SJO--Outbreak; two Americans
killed. War vessel demanded to ouell out
break.
October, 1s5O-Revolutionary plot to bring
about independence of the lsthmus.
July o. 1S51.-Revolutioh in four southern
provinces.
November a. 1S51-Outbreak at Chagres.
Man-of-war requested for Chagres.
June 81 1S53.-Insurrection at Bogota,
and consequent disturbance on 1sthnus.
War vessel demanded.
May %. 1S04-Political disturbances;
war vessel requested.
June 2S 1S54.-Attempted revolution.
october "a, Neutrality-suspicious. OF lsthmus
demanded by provincial legislature.
April, 1S56.-Riot, and massacre of Amert-
cans.
May 4, 1S58.-Riot
May 49, 1S56.-Riot.
June g. 1S56.-Riot
October 2, 1S56.-Conf1ict between two ma
tive parties United States forces landed.
December Is, 1S5S.-Attempted secession
of Panama.
April, 1s59-Riots.
September, 1S6O.-Outbreak
October 4. 1s6O-Landing of United States
forces in consequence.
May %, 1SG1.-Intervention Of the United
States forces required by intendente.
October 2, 1S61.-Insurrection and civil
war.
April 4, 1s62-Measures to prevent rebels
crossing Isthmus.
June Is, 1S62.-Mosquera's troops refused
Abundance to Panama.
March. 1S65.-Revolution, and United
States troops handed.
August, 1s65.-Riots; unsuccessful attempt
to invade Panama
March, 1S66-Cnsuccessful revolution.
April, 1S67.-Attempt to overthrow Gov
eminent.
August, 1s67.-Attempt at revolution
July 5, 1S6s.-Revolution; provisional gov
eminent inaugurated.
August %, 1s6S.-Revolution; provisional
government overthrown.
April. 1s71.-Revolution; followed ap-
parently by counter revolution.
April, 1S13.-Revolution and civil war
which lasted to October, 1875.
August, 1S76.-Civil war which lasted I'M
til April, 1877.
July, 1S7S.-Rebellion
December, 1S78.-Revolt.
April, 1S79.-Revolution,
June, 1S79.-Revolution
March, 1SS3.-Riot
May, 1SS3.-Riot
June, observation-disclosures attempt
December, 1SS4.-Revolutionary attempt
January, 1SS5.-Revolutionary disturb
ances.
March, 1ss5-RevoIution
April. 1SS7.-Disturbance on Panama Pail
road. NAIL
November, 1ss7.-Disturbanc on line of
canal va A1e "a
January 1ss9-Riot.
until April ~ ioS'eu
March. 1S95.-Incendiary attempt.
october, 1S99.-Revolution
FEBRUARY, 1900, to July, 19OO.-Reyolution
January. 19O1.-Revolution.
July, Observation-Disclosures disturbances
September, 1901.-City of Colon taLen BY,
rebels. "a o4oh taken by
March, observation-disclosures disturba mao
July, 19O2-Revolution.
The above is only martial ,,st -. a.,
revolutions, rebellions, insurractions u ti.e
Gnu other outbreaks that have occurrad
curing the period in question. vet ,be,,
nun nun per % for the 81 years. 1t win be noted
Yeas o ne VI them lasted for nearly three
nearly year. In short, the exneriance ~
over nan Century has shown Colombia TO
%. ne utterly incapable Of keeping order IN
90 80 s'iInus only the active interference
VI the United States has enabled her IN
preserve SO much as a semb,anca 81 -.
eleshty. had 1t not been for the eyarc;co
oy the United States of the police nou,ar a.,
Het interest, her connection with the 18TH
In 1856, in 1860, In 1873. in 1Ss, ip 1 1so'
ana again in 1902, sailors and marinas fror,
Cnlted states war ships were forced to
! l IN order to patrol the Isthmus. to nro.
t teo. nte ana property, and to see that the
transit across the Isthmus was kent onan
IN 1851. In 1862, in 1885, and In 1900 the
Golomplan Government asked that tbe
United States Government wonld 1and
troops to protect its interests and maintain
order on the Isthmus. Perhaps the moot
extraordinary request is that which n has
just been received and which rms as Fol.
lows: ~ o' ioi-
Latest Proposition Of Colombia.
Knowing that revolution has already
commenced in Panama Ian eminent Colon
bian] says that If the Government of III.
United States will land troops to preserve
colombian sovereignty. and the transit. il
requested by Colombian charge daffaires.
this Government will declare martial law:
and, by virtue Of vested constitutional an.
thorfty, when public order is disturbed will
approve by decree the ratification of the
canal treaty as signed, or, If the Govern
ment of the United States prefers. will cali
extra session Of the Congress-with new
and friendly members-next May to ap-
prove the treaty. Ian eminent Colombianl
has the perfect confidence Of vice-president.
he says, and If 1t became necessary will go
70 the lsthmus or send REPRESENTATIVE
there to adjust matters along above lines
10 the satisfaction Of the people there"
This dispatch Is noteworthy from two
standpoints. Its offer Of Immediately guar
anteeing the treaty to us is in sharp con-
trast with the positive and contemptuous
refusal OF the Congress which has tust
closed Its sessions to consider fayorably
such treaty; 1t shows that the Govern
ment which made the treaty really had alb
solute control over the situation but did
not choose to exercise this control. The
dispatch further calls on us to restore order
and secure Colombian supremacy in the
1sthmus from which the Colombian Govern
ment has just by it's action decided to bar
us by preventing the construction of the
canal
Control of the Isthmus.
The control. in the interest of the COM
rIerce and traffic of the whole civilized
world. of the means of undsturbed transit
across the 1sthmus of Panama has become
Of transcendent Importance to the United
States. We have repeatedly exercised this