New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-28
PANAMA REVOLUTION.
Effected by a Municipal Council
People Took No Part.
rnox -. SPECIAL, CORRESPONDENT OF TEE TRIBUNE.


extending in a generally easteriy and westerly al
rection II is about hundred and sevcnty-nve
miles long, measured In straight line. and varies
in width from about forty-seven miles. between
Colon and Panama 10 something more than a
hundred miles at its eastern extremity and along
the eigFty-frst parallel OF longitude. On the west
II Is bounded by Costa Rica, with which nation
there is long standing boundary dispute. while
on the east the Gulf OF Dsrien and the Atrato
River mark its separation from the South Ameri-
mainland and the great body OF the Colombian
Republic. The coast line. considerably more than
one thousand miles IN length is rough and broken
The surface OF the country is generally mountain
oUs. although immense swamps and stretches of
treeless upland frequent. Except along the
coast. the country is almost entirely uninhabited
al OF the towns and cities OF any consequence be-
ing located next the very near to It In the
interior are bands OF Indians. two three OF the
more important tribes OF which have rarely been
communicated with. Vast areas n the extreme
eastern ana western portion OF the country remain
wholly unexplored. and the knowledge OF what the
interior holds is most limited In this territory
there are supposed TO live including Indians about
three hundred thousand persons No attempt has
ever been made 10 take a census OF the population
so the figure named only be taken as a more
O. Jess accurate estimate.
This territory while II stood in the Colombian
federation as the Department OF Panama. and at
the time OF the secession was divided into seven
provinces ChiriquL Los Santos. Varaguas Pan
ana, Colon, Bocas del Toro and Cocls- Each of
these provinces was governed by a governor, sub
ordinate 70 the departmental governor. Each had
council. and zach entitled 10 representation
by Senators ana Representatives. the
branches q the Colombian Congress. which sat at
BOgota II viii be from this explanation that
no matter how corrupt. inefficient and oppressive
the old order OF things may have been. the fabric
OF the state complete in all OF itS details. the
governmental structure having been carried down
as perfectly IN theory as Il Is in our own Union.
Il follows from this a natural presumption,
that IN the secessionist movement all OF these
provinces should have had voice It happens,
however. tna- natural as that presumption may be,
!, is wholly groundless in this instance The natu-
-al corolary OF the last statement is that the
public IL stands docs represent people OF
Pansma-speaking now OF the entire department
and such is actually the case Il may represent
them in the sense that the sentiment of all the
people concurs IN what has been done; but It is
al indsputsble fact that outside of the City OF
Panama the people OF the republic had
voice whatever in the establishment OF the re-
public
PEOPLE NOT IN THE SECRET.
The secessionist movement began with three men,
and was executed under the supervision OF those
three and four others. the seven working under
the advice and counsel OF four Americans. Before
the coup o'etat others were, perforce. taken into
the secret; but so closely were the plans guarded
that those who were really in the secret and knew
definitely the details might be counted the
fingers OF the two hands. This brings US TO the
revolution itself and introduces the strangest OF
all the contradictions discoverable IN connection
with the birth OF this national infant The uprs-
ing took place the third day OF November, being
initiated by the arrest of Generals Tovar and
Amaya and Governor Obaldla, which took place in
the City OF Panama That city knew, of course,
what had occurred the moment the arrests were
effected: but Colon was kept in ignorance OF the
cesson until the following day. 1t was on the
9Th OF the month that the public meeting was held
IN the Cathedral Plaza, Panama, the Independence
OF the republic proclaimed. and the declaration of
independence-or manifestation. as they call It
here-was signed
Bearing in mind the fact that seven men. aided
10y the soldiers and others whose support for the
movement had been purchased with dollars
alone responsible for the sudden revolution IN the
political status OF Panama. one may wander away
down stretch OF not uninteresting inquiries Were
the people of the other provinces consulted TO
MAJ y vas PROCESS Py me hecesslonists 10 90.
eral terms. OF the provinces Of Colon and Panama
by general rumor. that revolution the
taps; but they had not been consulted nor their
advice asked as TO the wisdom or unwisdom Of
what contemplated Was a provisional
gress. composed OF delegates from the several prov
and framing bill Of separation? Nothing OF the
a1air carried through? In this simple and unique
The little band OF secessionists let the members
q the city Council Of Panama into tneir secret lste
would have 10 be struck very soon or forever with
were willing 10 further the project that when
the public meeting was held in the Cathedral Plaza
tendance. They, too. were the hrst TO sign the
declaration Of independence and Immediately a1ter
that formality they adjourned across the street to
The municipal building. and went into session be
The declaration which had already been ensrcssed
book Of record aS to 6s The ee ey Ra cond
appointed the three members OF the provisional
goVerning junta authorizing them 20 take charge OF
bIed al once and named the members OF the pro-
visoral cabinet. and the new republic became
charge Of affairs at Colon provisional governor
appointed by the junta; but OUTSIDE OF the eltes
Panama Railroad. the people OF the new republic
were entire ignorance OF the fact that they were
no longer subjects Of Colombia.
DONE By A MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
II seems almost incredible that the municipal
council % city OF fewer than $500 people should
take unto themselves the right 10 create republic
out Of a territory equal in area TO the State OF
Indiana; but that was what was actually done in
this Instead OF provincial congress, the
City Council OF Panama passed the act OF indie
pendence. Every legislative Formally incident TO
the creation OF this republic performed by
these city councIlmen. portion OF the new
public except the city OF Panama having voice.
by representation IN what was done Nor has any
10 this day. No had been called 10 ratify
the secession, nor has any one Of the seven PROV
tnces been requested TO assemble, IN council or by
mass meeting 10 pass an act OF ratincatlon There
might be parallel Tor this procedure II the munci-
uaI council Of OF clues-InoianapONs,
.or NJ ~ Panams-shoud pass an ordnance
Ros oI,t "a summon sich a spectacle as THAI
done here when the municipal council or Panama
I5selstes fcr the 900 600 inhab of this
iroTV l severtng al their obligations OF feaIty 10
Colombia making them free ano lIoepehoent. aho
doing these things without consulting any Of those
~ al snhsbftants save Insignificant minority;
restricted IN numbers practically to the original
n Is rot iSfended by the foregoing 10 impeach
10 COMPROMISE the existence Of the new republic n
Such an attempt would be fatuous. for the new re-
UIbfc Is actual The purpose is merely 70 snow the