New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-24
INTERNATIONAL EPISODE.
With Some Important Bearings
Upon Isthmian affairs.

recent incident in Panama international
episode The phrase well describes il. Not fully.
IL must be confessed; for the episode was also
national and domestic. But ii describes pre-
cisely those phases of it with which 1 propose
to deal. and which are indeed the only phases
az it with which it is entirely fitting at this
time and in this place to deal With the do
nestle affairs of Panama-to paraphrase the
Monroe Doctrine-we shall not interfere. II is
no particular business OF whether Con-
servatives Liberals n coalition be in
power. long that power is gained and
held in an orderly and constitutional fashion.
Nor is it fitting to inquire too curiousiy into
the motives of political leaders. Our Panaman
friends themselves may do that and may dis
cuss the subject freely as they please. 1t is
all in the family" But controversies within
the family are not for the neighbors to discuss
in town meeting. unless the family break the
peace of the community. and that, in this case,
has not been done and. / think, will not be
done. I have heard much, in frank confidence,
from representative leaders OF all parties here.
so that ! know what they think about it. and
have ventured in my mind to conclude upon
what ! think TO be the truth of the matter
But should in the United States enjoy
hearing Panamans any else hurting out
70 the world some of the inside political facts
which discuss among ourselves? Assuredly
not Since. then according TO Secretary Hay,
the Golden Rule is to figure so largely in Ameri-
can diplomacy, let us give to Panaman politics
that grace Of forbearance which should wish
Panamaus TO exercise toward own
80 far as the incident in question affects the
international relations of Panama, however. it
IS 4 fair topic for discussion; and there can be
,o ouestion that It did affect them to a
.erial degree ] do rot mean that international
afairs-or. to put it more directly, the rea-
lions between Panama and the United States
we're al issue between the two parties, or formed
tho revocation preteXt of the recent at
ter,,,,t At revolution. They did not. So far as l
have been able TO ascertain. from ample and
authentic sources. both parties are well dis
posed toward the United States and toward a
faithful maintenance of present relations. Yet
the United States was practically made the ar
bitter between them. That was indeed well. since
neither side was inclined TO question our i'm
partiality. Nor is the episode only a fair topic
for discussion. Il is necessary that it should be
Calculated. in order that we may properly APP
preciate some Of those features of Secretary
Taft's mission to which have already referred
70 Wit the repeated emphasis which he laid
upon the necessity of constitutional order III
the new republic and OF practically regarding
revolutions out Of date
The episode in question was really determi-
nation of the fundamental question whether
Panama should have stable and constitutional
civil government or should, after the fashion
of some neighborng states. be subject TO mill
tsrv revolutions. At the beginning OF the re-
uuhlic's life the former choice was made. IN
etead Of forming d military government gov
eminent Of civilians organized For Presi-
dent VAS chosen not q general OF the army but
The leading physician Of Panama; for Vice
President the foremost lawyer and jurist; and
SO GA all through the Cabinet. It was, and is
ali.;o
ing men Of all parties. But in time party antag-
onisrre we're developed, both in and out of the
c..x.--lmcnt The Liberals believed themselves
10 5e in the majority in the country at large,
hut in the minority in the government
: citation therefore arose. in public prints and
speeches and in a ldresses to the President. for
reorganization of the government, and es-
pecially for the removal from the Cabinet OF
senior Tomas Arias the Minister OF Foreign
Affairs and of Senior Nicolas Victoria, the Min
lstcr OF Public Instruction and Justice At last.
failing to effect their end by other means the
opposition leaders sought and secured the Co
operation of General Esteban Huertas. the COM
mander in chief OF the army. Now, General
Huertas was the idol of the army He
highly esteemed by the general public for his
very important services in the revolution Of
November 3. 1903 He is, moreover, a man of
decided ability, and Of peculiarly attractive and
however. in saying that he was too much fat
tered by not altogether disinterested friends
Il Is not good TO tell d man, and especially a
young man, that henceforth Washington and
Napoleon must be ranked second to him.
Matters approached a crisis on October %, when
General Huertas sent to President Amador
extraordinary letter, in which he made fervent
professions Of personal friendship for the Presi-
dent ana Of devotion 10 the republic. the sin
certify Of which is not 10 be questioned, and also
equally sincere protestatons of the purity of mis-
own motives. 4 am resolved" he wrote. that
when history analyses my deeds II will be said
without circumlocution illusion that, not
~ithstanding my immense sum Of power, I
= good man. and that worked tenacously to
gain such name. In the name, then, of these
sentiments. springing from the bottom OF my
heart beg you. my friend, 10 be good, as in
tend TO be" This naive pronouncement fol-
lowed in the same letter with a scathing attack
upon Seniors Arias and Victoria The future Of
country is involved and / cannot with
Indifference its ruin without raising prevent
ing hand. Therefore" continued General
Huertas. Il recommend and / demand the
1noval Of Don Tomas Arias and Don Nicolas
Victoria J." The significance Of this demand
made clear by the additional intimaton that II
the President did not comply with it General
Iguertas would undertake the enforcement of it
with his army.
President Anlador made known the contents Of
this letter 20 his colleagues, whereupon the two
Ministers named. desiring to free him from all
embarrassment, offered their designations. In
addition. the President conferred promptly with
Mr.. Lee, the Secretary Of the American Lega-
ton and Charge d'Anaires in the absence of the
d,y,;Yc 10