The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-30

new republic Don Agustin works now in as
close harmony with the railroad corpora
ton as he did in those days when he was
serving 1t openly and in return for regu-
lar salary. The natural deduction is that
the railroad corporation is at present the
administrators of this new government, and
such is the fact, although the railroad COM
pany manages to keep itself well in the
background, its direction of affairs being
accomplished through Arrange, who con-
unueS in closest touch with the railroad
officials. What part he will play when the
structure OF republican government shall
have been formally reared does not now
appear. He is an enthusiastic advocate of
the election of DR.. Amador to the presi-
dency, discOuraging all use of his own
name for that office; but his part in the
drama has been so important that it is
conceded that when the curtain of full &C
complishment shall have been finally rung
down on this blOodless revolution Arrange
Will nave been berthed most comfortably.
The only gossip as to the exact location
IN IN which he is likely to find himself has
II that Bunau-Varilla will. after the ratifi-
cation OF the canal treaty by the United
states Senate be transferred to Paris as
minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraor-
binary TO France, while Senior Agus-
tin arrange will enter the diplomatic corps
at Washington as Panama's representa-
tive
OTHERS WHO TOOK A HAND.
Following AmadOr and Arrange comes a
long list Of men, none of whom gives an
impression of any great amount of strength.
Thomas Arias is by no means a brilliant
man, although he was one of the original
trio of secessiOnists and sits now as a men,
Der of the governing junta. He is we'll con-
nected in Panama, is a man of considerable
wealth, but ii seems evident that he owes
his participancy in the conspiracy which
eliminated one month ago to the fact that
he has, in a dignified way been a profess
El0nal Offl0QhnlHaF folo hi ar1c
eminent He has served in many and diff
ferent official positions, and his knowledge
OF the government scheme and the proper
way OF doing things eXcels that of any other
man on the fsthmus. This knowledge was
needed by those who proposed to make PAN
anna an independent republic, hence the rea-
son Tor the prominence acquired by AriaS.
As leader he would never be considered
for a moment; he is much too voluble and
too ready to divulge secrets to be a safe
counselor; but in the early days ii was rec
ogniZed that he knew the regular and order
~ methods of directing government, and
because IL was desired to avoid mistakes
that might lead to controversy and embar-
rassment he was invited to join in the con-
spiracy, and has proved an invaluable aid to
the real leaders.
Fredrica Boyd, a member of the iunta
for whom Emanuel Espinoza has been SUBJ
stituted; c. A. Mendoza, minister of justice
+. V. de la Espriella, minister of foreign
relations; n. A de Obarria, minister of war
and marine; Julio j. Fabrega, minister of
public instruction, and NJ. h. AmadOr, a son
of DIR. Amador and minister of finance, are
not men of strength. Amador possesses for
his office, which corresponds TO that of the
secretary of treasury in our government the
qualification of having been treasurer of
the Department of Panama under the Col
ombian regime, and being therefore, ia
miliar with the finances of the new repub-
lie. The others are successful business and
professional men; but not one of the lot has
ever had experience in the handling of the
reinS of government. +. A Morales, minister
OF domestic affairs, is a. man of brilliant
intellect, chosen evidently because ne was
believed to be mentally equipped for the
task of organizing the new republic for
governmental purposes; but the others
seem to have been chosen in A haphazard
fashion, more because men were needed
for the particular places they are now fill
ing than because the ones chosen were
deemed fitted, by education, training or
experience, for posts like those to which
they have been called.
LITTLE BETTER THAN A MAKESHIFT.
The bringing together of these men as
the active and responsible managers of a
government presents in itself complexity
as strange as any discoverable in this land
of complex human mixtures and strange
characters. Under it the government as it
is to-day stands as a hodge-podge, little
| better than makeshift. Never was this
| better demonstrated than on the day when
the treaty for the canal was ratified The
men behind this gOvernment-Americans
| Identified with the Panama Railroad-never
| better evidenced their apprehension as to
| the future. They know that those holding
/ official positions are not the sort of men
/ in whom reliance can be placed for ac-
| curate direction. and so eager have they
! been TO establish contractural relations
! with the United States by means of the
/ canal treaty that il was at first planned
] TO land the treaty from the steamer City
I of Washington at Colon at O'Clock yes
! terday morning, rush il by special train 10
! Panama, have IL ratified by the iunta and
| the Cabinet, rush IL back TO Colon by spe-
| cial train and send Ii back to Washington
| by the steamer Yucatan, which sailed al
noon yesterday for New York This was
the railroads own proposition, conceived
| in its eagerness to bring about a condition
under which the United States rather than
| the Panamaians in power would become
/ responsible for the peace and security OF
/ the new republic 1t was stopped only by
| Rear Admiral Walker. who insisted that
/ for decency's sake at least the treaty be
| considered for twentyfour hours before il
/ was ratified. 1t was considered for twenty
| four hours and this morning il was rat
| ified, without so much as the crossing of a
| IT or the dotting of an Il" the leaders
| in this republic refusing to take any further
| chances with a makeshift government com
| posed almost entirely of inexperienced and
| nonqualified officials.
MERRILL A. TEAGUE.
! AFRO-AMEPTC4N TE4GTTE