Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-10-30

region TO be pierced by an Atlantic
Pacific canal. The question which now
is uppermost In the minds II Panama
residents Is how Co slough OF from Co
lombia aud set NJ NJ a little republic
ON its own account
Geographically IL il comparatively
Isolated from the greater portion OF the
republic TO which II is Joined. and II II
were 10 secede would not greatly EN-
harrass Colombia, which would still
have ports on the Caribbean sea as
well as on the Pacific ocean. IL Is more
a matter OF pride and sentiment than
convenience with the Colombians, who
also recognize the very desirable ac'
quIsition they have in Panama Win
Its potential millions in the matter OF
the canal rights alone.
But Panama has, as II thinks, almost
a "casus belli." or at least good cause
for a grievance. in the fact that II Is
not treated by Colombia with the re-
spect due q state of its commanding
situation and international Importance.
IL Il decisively separates 1t will prob
ably base its contention, first of all,
upon the statement that there has been
no really republican government In CO.
| lombia for nearly seventeen years,
when the sovereignty of its constituent
states was practically abolished and
they were converted into provinces
The departments of Panama, Cauca
and Bolivar Joined in declaration
some time ago that inasmuch as the
so called constitution had not been sub
mitted to the people II was not legal
and therefore was not binding ON the
several protesting states, and this atti'
tude has been consistently maintained
IL the isthmian republic were to be
set up 1t would probably be composed
of the three states of Panama, Cauca
and Bolivar, with an area of about 81,
900 square miles and population OF
perhaps 100000. 1t would be rich IL
native resources, such as gold, iron
coal, copper, pearls, precious woods
rubber, coffee and all tropical products
and vast trade could be greatly
developed. The continent of Contra
America has been likened to a cornu
. copia, and though Panama CONSTITUTES
!. the small tip of this horn Of plenty |
, will not necessarily come out at tn
little end of the horn" With its worl'
famous canal site and the short bu
; important transcontinental railwa.
crossing the isthmus 1t will always b
, an object of Importance to the worl'
at large.
l Historically 1t is one Of the famou
regions of the world, having been cor
: spicuous ever since Balboa, from Da
! rien, Just south, discovered the Pacifl
In 1913. 1t holds within its contine
the site of one of the oldest cities |
:, America, old Panama, founded in 1o1S
In view of what has recently tral
spired in Colombia and Of the manne
e in which Panama has been treated
e that republic In the recent past the s,
s cessionists claim that not only the
own interests, but those of the civilize
world In general. would be served b
the establishment Of an independeI
q republic at the isthmus. AS to IL
!. complications that might arise, wit
= the United States pledged to maintai
e open transit across the isthmus and ;
h the same time have an eye to the II
e. tegrity of Columbia, neither the sece
u sionists nor the diplomats have publ
ly announced their conclusions.