The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-04
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a
against the action of the senate.
president MarToquln SUCCEEDED later u
calming the congressman. 1t appears that
he was able to give them satisfactory
reasons for Gov. Obaldia's appointment,
He appears to realize the imminent peru
of the Isthmus of Panama declaring its
independence.
Senior Deroux, representative for a
Panama constituency, recently delivered
sensational speech in the house. Among
other things he said:
In Panama the bishops, governors,
magistrates, military chiefs and their
subordinates have been and are fereiSn
wishes to exclude the isthmus from III
yards international dangers in the istn-
mus, all 1 can say is that If these dangers
national government, which is in the d.
rection of reaction
IF the Colombian government will not
take action with a view to preventing
disaster, the responsibility will rest with
it alone"
In the New York Herald of October
&c it was reported that a revolutionary
expedition of about 20 men had actual
ly landed on the isthmus. In the
Washington Post of October 29 1t was
reported from Panama that in view
of the impending trouble on the 18th
mus the BogOta government had gain
cred troops in sufficient numbers to at
once put down an attempt at secession
In the New York Herald of October ~
it was announced from Panama that
Bogota was hurrying troops to the 18TH
mus to put down the projected revolt
In the New York Herald OF November
it was announced that in Rogota the
congress had Endorsed the energetic
measures taken to meet the situation
on the isthnus and that 5000 men were
about to be sent thither.
Trouble Was Impending.
Quotations like the above could be
TOulfjDiip6 indPE0italV Suffice it to
say that it was notorious that ravolu-
tionary trouble of a serious nature was
impending upon the isthmus But it
was not necessary to rely exclusively
upon such general means of informa-
ton. On October Is Commander Hub
bard of the navy, notified the navy de-
partment that. though things were
quiet on the isthmus a revolution had
broken out in the state of ycauca~ On
October is, at the request of Lieutenant
General Young, saw Capt. c. B. Hum
phrey and Lieut.. Grayson Mallet-Pre-
VOSt Murphy, who had Just returned
from four months tour through the
northern portions of Venezuela and
Colombia. They stopped in Panama on
their return in the latter part of Sep
tember. At the time they were SAINT
down there had been no thought of
their going to Panama. and their visit
to tho isthmus was but an unpremedi-
tated incident of their return journey:
nor had they been spoken to by anyone
at Washington regarding the possibility
of a revolt. Until they landed at Colon
they had no knowledge that a revolu-
ton was impending, save what they
had gained from the newspapers. What
they saw in Panama SO impressed them
that they reported thereon to Lieu
tenant General Young, according to his
memoran md UNI
that while on the isthmus they became
satisfied beyond question that, owing
largely to the dissatisfaction because of
the failure of Colombia to ratify the
I 10y Ec~r. fr~aa n
party was in course of organization hav-
ing for its object the separation of the
| leader being Dr. Richard Arrange. a for
! mer governor of Panama; that when
! they We're on the isthmus arms and am
city of Colon in piano boxes, merehan-
| disc crates, etc. the small arms received
being principally the Gras french rlhe
the Remington, and the Mauser; thai
nearly every citizen in Panama had some
sort of rifle or gun in his possession
with ammunition therefor; that in the
city of Panama there had been organ
| lied A fire brigade which was really in
| ganization that there were representa-
tives of the revolutionary organization
that in Panama, Colon and the other
principal places of the Isthmus police
! forces had been organized which were in
reality revolutionary forces; that the
people on the Isthmus seemed to be unan-
| imous in their sentiment against the
| Bogota government, ana their disgust
over the failure of that government TO
ratify the treaty providing for the con-
luton might be expected Immediately
upOn the adjournment of the Colombian
congress without ratification OF the
treaty.
Lieutenant General Young regarded
| their report as of such importance as
/ to make it advisable that 1 should per-
! Sonally see these officers They told
me what they had already reported to
/ the lieutenant general, adding that on
the isthmus the excitement was seeth-
ing and that the Colombian troops
were reported to be diSaffected. In re-
/ spouse to Question of mine they in
| formed me that it was the general be-
| lief that the revolution might break out
| at any moment. and if it did not hap
I peD before would doubtless take place
! Immediately after the closing of the
| Colon bian congress cat the end of Oc-
tober) if the canal treaty were not rat
! flied. They were certain that the reVO-
! luton would occur and before leavinR
the isthmus had made their own rick
oning as to the time. which they had
set down as being probably from three
! to four weeks after their leaving. The
! reason they set this as the probable in
side limit Of time was that they reck-
oned that it would be at least three or
four weeks-say not until October 20
before a sufficient quantity of arms and
munitions would have been landed.
J In view of all these facts I directed
| the navy department to issue inStruc-
tons such as would insure our having
ships within easy reach of the isthmus
in the event of need arising. Orders
were given on October 10 to the Boston
to proceed to San Juan del Sur. Mica
ragua: to the Dixie to prepare to sail
from League Island; and to the At
| lanta to proceed to Guantanamo On
October 80 the Nashville was ordered
to proceed to Colon. On November 2
when, the Colombian congress having
adjourned it was evident that the out
break was imminent. and when it was
announced that both sides were max
ing ready forces whose meeting would
mean bIOOGshed and disorder. the
! Colombian troops having been en-
tarlzed on vessels. the following in
| struc1ions We're sent to the comm4nd-
ers of the Boston. Nashville and Dixie.
Maintain free and uninterrupted transit.
II interruption IS thfeaeened py armed