The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-17
THE PEOPLE OF PANAMA.

The first Of a series Of letters from the
Journals special correspondent in the Re-
public of Panama Is published In this issue
OF the paper. This letter, which is neces-
sarily Introductory to a consideration Of de-
tails. is largely an estimate of the character
of the Panamaians, of the motives which
le1 to the recent revolution, of their unfit
ness for self-government and of their i'm
plicit confidence that the United States will
do whatever is necessary to be done for
them, and especially that it will build a
canal across the isthmus, thereby bringing
the country unbounded prosperity.
The correspondent paints the Panamaians.
even the leading men among them and the
engineers of the recent revolution, as
novices in everything pertaining to the
science of self-government and as utterly
lacking In abilities Of the kind required to
lead a people successfully in the accom-
%plishment Of a great purpose. He thinks
that in bringing the new republic into ex-
istence they had nc definite political pur-
pose and that they are as devoid of ability
TO organize and administer free government
as they are of anything like genuine pa
triotism or appreciation of freedom and in
dependence. All they wanted. he says. was
the canal. and to secure this they were will
ing to put up any kin of a bluff and to
sign in blank any treaty or agreement the
United States might offer, even to the ces-
sion or annexation of the entire country, If
necessary. His portrayal of the weaknesses,
motives and characteristics of the people
and his first impression of the situation
seems to indicate that whatever may be
done down there on useful or beneficial
lines will have to be done by the United
States.
This view of Central and South American
peoples is much the same that has been
held by North Americans for many years,
and yet It must be admitted that they have
made some progress towards free and
stable government. Some of the South
American states have been free from revo-
lutions for many years past and are devel-
oping fairly good forms OF constitutional
government. The author Of a recently pub
Iished work entitled South American Re-
publics'' says:
Constitutional traditions. Inherited from
Spain and Portugal. implanted a tendency
towards disintegration; Spanish and Portu-
guese tyranny bred In the people a distrust
of all rulers and governments; the war OF
independence brought to the front military
adventurers; civil discords were inevitable,
and the search for forms OF government
that should be final and stable has beer
very painful. On the other hand. the gener-
Gus impulse that prompted the movement
toward independence has grown into ar
earnest desire for ordered liberty, which Is
steadily spreading among all classes. Civic
capacity is increasing among the body OF
South Americans and immigration is rails
ing the industrial level. They are slowly
evolving among themselves the best form
OF government for their special needs and
conditions. and a citizen of the United
States must rejoice to see that that form Is
and will surely remain republican.
The Panamaians may be. as the Journals
correspondent thinks. very unfit for self.
government. but as a state OF Colombia
they were in a very poor school to learn
They cannot possibly be worse of as an in,
dependent republic than they were as q
neglected Colombian state. and they viii
have the benefit OF the friendship and men.
torship of the mother OF republics and foun
der of free governments. Perhaps undel
the tutelage and protection of the Unite,
States the Panamaians may reach a poin
where they can maintain a free government
OF their own. Already they show a disposi
ton TO assume responsibility and take som
steps in that direction. They have set tn
date for an election of members OF a con
stitutionai convention and for the meeting
! Of the convention Itself. and . dispatch Il