The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-17
money THE MOTIVE0F
PANAMA REVOLUTION
Continued from First Page.)

i quires; but OF statesmen. diplomats and
other real leaders, there arc practically
none at all Tho very men who brought
the republic into existence-and We are
speaking now OF the native or quasi
native element among thcm-aro novices
in everything pertaining TO- the, science Of
The government. These men arc now IN
charge OF the government and while there
Is no suspicion Of thir Integrity or of the
sincerity OF their purpose, they are wofully
lacking In ability to do the work they
have undertaken In the way 1t should
be done according to the situation which
confronts them. The result Is that upon
every hand tho inquiring visitor encoun-
tiers ignorance. doubt and uncertainty,
where there should be, II the independent
movement Is to DO carried to Its full
frultion, intelligence. determination am!
fixed ability.
Careful investigation shows that there
Is moro or less reason for this condi-
tion which stands first In the pity ex.
citing catalogue. This new republic came
into being without any definite political
purpose, 1t was conceived solely OF a
determination to have the canal connect
across the Isthmus. and at no other place.
Had Colombia ratified the Hay Herran
treaty the revolution of the Sd of Novem-
Der would never have taken place. That
Is freely admitted by everybody In any
way concerned In bringing about the In
dependence Of Panamu. Tho Inevitable
confusion Is that the Panamaians werc
Z not sufficiently dspleased with Colombian
sovereignty and administration to have
revolted because Of any desire for real
independence, That. too. is conceded b,
tho leaders In the revolutionary move-
ment. It Is true that strong Indictment
Is drawn by these mon against Colombia
for her sins of omission and commits
sion; hut that indictment is mcse of an
after-t thought, framed for purposes OF 20.
litical Justification, than 1t Is q stale
ia ent Of independence provoking grloy
ances.
MONEY WAS THEIR MOTIVE.
The motive underlying tho creation OF
the republic was consequently, more self
lsh than PATRIOTIC; more s0rdld than sem
timentnl. The people of Panama, know
ing better than do any other people the
enormous value to then, OF ship canal
across the Isthmus played for that ad-
vantage, instead Of for any real improve.
1nent In the condition of their govern
ment. The riches they will realize from the
construction and operation OF the canal
were more welghty considerations Will,
them than was thought Of political lib.
erty; and for tunately for their purpose
they found tho United States ready ia
Join hands with them. The effect OF bring.
Ing a republic into existence under suct,
circumstances Is daily becoming more
and more apparent, The nstiga
tors OF tho movement for int
dependence. having no such thing
RS Panamaan patriotism to appeal
TO, were forced. In order to carry ont
their project to WELD an influence as sor-
did as were their own motives, These
men, who figure now as the responsible
heads of the Republican government, will
very frankly admit that they proceeded
with the scheme for Independence not by
addressing themselves to the desire Of
the Isthmians to be free from Colombia
hut by secretly corrupting those who were
In position to hinder, execution of THEN
II purpose.
So freely are admissions of this nature
made that last evening one of the nem-
hers of the governing junta, frankly and
without hesitation, and In return for the
simple asking, gave to your correspondent
mort the revolutionary movement and the
amount paid to each one. These brides
are termed bonuses here and the pay.
nlent of them is freely talked about In
the, streets and hotels; nor does any Pam
aHanian seem to think that the men who
sold their Influence ior stated sums IN
Colombian currency have In any manner
compromised themselves. To such ar
extent was the plan Of Whining by COR