New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-24

- disastrous to the good name of Panama
-. 'he approaching first anniversary of the
-, riie' on November g. marred with revolu-
marking the lapse of the young republic
me evil conditions from which it had freed
- ana from which the world hoped 1t would
o'i Tree President Amador thereupon bent
Hi' energies toward keeping the peace until the
- FESTIVAL should have been celebrated
anu Two days later two Of the foremost Liberal
ieauers called upon Mr.. Lee with the assurance
.ii'' 'here would be no disturbance or untoward
demonstration during the celebrations of No
'oiii"VI D. adding, howey er, that President Am
"uOi would be expected TO accept the resigna-
''0''' Vi the two Ministers as soon as the ami
soy Was past. Tie American Charge DAT
I"'.eS received this information discreety, but
look occasion in the course of the ensuing con-
NerSduoh to point out very clearly the bearing
ol NlIlCle 1856 of the Panaman Constitution upon
me matter. That article provides that the
government of the United States of America
"a" intervene in any part of the Republic of
Parlama for the purpose of establishing the pub
iic peace and constitutional order i'm of the
same having been disturbed" This reminder
produced a profound impression upon the Pan
ailan Liberal leaders and doubtless had much
10 40 toward determining the subsequent prog
ress of affairs
Ihat was on October 81. The next day Senior
0dhtlago de la Guardia named as the sue
eossor OF Senior Arias as Foreign Minister Senor
Guardia was at that time in Costa Rica where
ne was Panaman Minister. Although native of
Panama, he had spent most of his life in Costa
flca and had at one time been a member of
the Cabinet Of that country In Panaman poll
Ties ne is a Conservative and his high character
great ability and wide experience have added
materially to the strength Of the Panaman gov
eminent Two lot
man independence began, and lasted four days
The whole city was given IN to reioicines and
merrymaking. and the utmost good feeling
seemed 10 prevail on all hands On November 3
there was solemn TIE Deum in the great ca
thedral attended by President Amador and his
CABINET the diplomatic and consular corps, the
governor or the canal and the commander
in chief of the army. General Huertas and his
stan. On that day also General Huertas issued
10 the army a somewhat fiamboyant proclama-
ton, in which he recalled the fact that he him
self. "a weak bit of chaff in the desert of lfe
possessed at the moment of our emancipation
the efficiency indispensable to the solution of
the great problem so necessary to the isthman
family" But IT," he continued neither nv
right for my illustriOusness are enough to ex-
plain TO me the portentous result achieved by
me and the army, with the decisive consent of
The isthmian people; however I succeeded in
comprehending the high moral and material
responsibility which has fallen to my lot so as
to know how to preserve that which the Maker
has given to US, and to that end were directed all
my forces. in the hope that those who collab-
GRATED in the beginning would know how to sac
rfce themselves upon the affairs of the most
exalted patriotism. in order that our beloved
country should never run the risk of being in
voved in the indignty of bastard ambitions or
vile al ruiuous nd a he N
OF republic owes itself the concord and
amity between the people and the army, for
getting misunderstanding and resentments.
which seem to-day to have disappeared. l exhOrt
all on .he solemn day of our first anniversary
Of our republican existence that everything may
be in harmony with this great day. and let
all rejoice together in the celebration of this
glorious event"
Such expressions might more easily be par
doned the ground of temperament, were ii
not that they indicated n exaggerated estimate
of the importance of the military power and an
inclination TO make it paramount to the civil
authority. Precisely that mistake made
few years ago in France in connection with the
Dreyfus case, when army officers Of undoubted
patriotism We're inclined TO exalt the army above
the state Such a misconceptiOn would, of
course, have been ali the more dangerous in
Panama. because of the inclination Of South and
Central American States toward military despo-
tisms. Granted. for sake of argument that
change of Ministry was desirable. it would have
been deplorable to have it effected by means
of military pressure. Happily. thanks to Presi-
dent Amadors tactful disposition and to Mr.
Lees judcious warming that a revolution would
not be countenanced by the United States.
trouble averted at that time. Nearly all
the army remained within the barracks during
the four days fiesta, and the peace of Panama
remained unbroken. A few days later came
the news OF President Roosevelts reelection,
which caused general rejoicing In Panama and
which also strengthened the hands of the 18TH
milan government by assuring it OF a contin-
uance of the policy which Mr.. Lee had indicated
through his reasona BILE Interpretation of the
Panaman Constitution and the canal treaty
The announcement that Secretary Taft was
about to visit the isthmus also had salutary
effect.
But the reused spirit of military revolution
would not down. The fiesta closed on Novem-
Der with the promise of peace unbroken Just
week later however, General Huertas adj
dressed another letter to President Amador.
more amazing in terms than that which I have
already quoted. He was not satisfied with the
appointment of Senior Guardia a Conservative
to succeed Senior Aras. Still more was he dis
pleased that Senior Victorias resignation had
not been accepted. In this second letter lie lit
orally rallied against Senior Victoria whom he
denounced "a stranger to all dignity and
honor; a stranger to gratefulness and de-
cency. . Senior Victoria is a fraud Hy-
pocrisy and perfdy be clearly seen in his
taundiced features" Astounding language.
surely, to be addressed by the comma nding
general of the army to the President of the
public concerning a member of the latters Cab
met! We need not wonder that a few hours
after it's utterance there was disclosed plot,