New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-03
ADMIRAL YAArAMOTO.
japanese Minister Of Marine.

after having IN Washington negotiated the canal
treaty.
The government centres in him absolutely. and it
ls stated upon authority that to him, and to him
alone, is attributable the steps are being
taken TO construct real government. founded
upon the consent OF the people. Warned that the
United States demands q government made by the
people OF the republic. tina Junta and the cabinet
and all others connected with the order OF
things the isthmus are bestirring themselves
They now declare that within forty days the de-
tal!s OF organization will have been disposed Of
and everything will be in readiness for the in
auguration OF the first president and the assembling
OF the first representative Congress.
This is the determination Of the men who control
but II must be difficult for American at homo 10
understand exactly how they propose to realize
upon II. ono thing they have done which will aid
them in their purpose Is the decision TO have the
delegates 10 the constitutional convention chosen
by the various municipal councils IN the several
provinces. instead Of by popular election. This
decision is certain to be misunderstood in the
States. TO the the isthmus, however, the
situation IS plain and It may be taken as fact
that the directors Of the republic have done the
best and only thing possible for them 10 do under
the circumstances.
The explanation for this seemingly anomalous
procedure IN what pretends 10 be 4 republic lies in
the fact that the masses Of the Panaman popuace
wholly untitled 10 WELD the ballot. Panama
is peopled by Indians. native Colomb!ars negroes,
Chinese and other foreigners Of all and classes
The population. save among the very limited
number OF upper class people," Is essentially
characterization aEgregaticn-a 'uo-name'' people.
traceable promiscuous and long continued inter
marriage Of tho 1t is no uncommon thing
10 see six or seven shades OF color IN one family,
while brothers and sisters play together ool!vious
OF the incougruity offered by the presence OF one
child with slant eyes. another black hued but
with pigtaIs and still another Of yellow skin
and kiuky hair grated on one family tree.
BALLOT AND SEMI REPRESENTATION.
To ask this population to vote on so important
a question as choosing delegates to frame consu-
tuition would be like committing the decision on a
question Of paramount Importance body OF
inbecilos The males In this aggregation voted
during the Colombian regime. but elections then
were held with the polls manned by armed soldiers.
the only duty of the voter being to take a ballot
from a soldier and deposit It in box That method
IS to be abolished under the republic: hence IT is
irnposslble 10 ntrust a vital issue to an unedu-
Gated. unframed and inexperienced rahhe.
Another reason FOR this decision is that the pop
ula.ion Is almost entirely concentrated in the cities
and towns Thus in the province OF Panama. Pan
ANA is the chief city and embraces the great ma
torty Of the people in the province In the province
OF Colon Colon occupies the same relation In
Bocas del Toro IT is the city Of Bocas del Toro:
IN Chirqui, the cities OF Chiriqu and David; In
los Santos the city OF Los Santos. etc. 1t fol-
lows therefore. that II the municipal councils OF
these several cities were properly chosen in the
first Instance-and they were chosen according TO
tho Colombian rule OF selection in elections
they are practically representative bodies. They
stand for the people of these cities, and conse-
quentIy for the people in the provinces in which
they are located.
Everv condition on the isthmus warrants those
in control in taking these steps There is as yet no
omen division Of sentiment; but the pretty union
effected by the Liberals and Conservatives when
everybody Joined hands for free Panama. will
not last forever Jealousles have already cropped
ont: those considerations of the relationship Of
church and state upon which ! have previously
commented. and the lnevitabillty OF ponucaI
ties VIII sooner o. later come 70 play their part
IN rte "a the cause OF the republic IL this spirit
should occur before the government shall have been
a a. ia areeIv to guard against such contingency
that the dominant factors, moving under the spur
toward constitutional convention whereas I;a ter ten
'e What Chez the delegates be chosen in the
bev know but how to 60 about the task
that as yet remain in the dark.
TO FRAME CONSTITUTION.
In discussion with the members of the Junta yes
terday 1 WIS informed that the constitutions of
the United States and Cuba are being closely
studied and as one of the councillors naively ex-
messed IT, hope by taking the best from each.
10 produce constitution which will be suited to
the isthmus" This remark was but another evil
of the lack or thSSe peopie-
They will follow where others lead. will copy what
others have done, but they are most helpless
when it comes to blazing way for themselves
Those who are now guiding this ship of
state have ideas which sound well. and which
go to substantiate the statement made in pre-
vious letter TO the effect that there lis suspicion
of their integrity Of the sincerity OF Their pur-
nose The one thing they do know is the calendar
~ evils they avoid. That they have learned
IN the hard bs Of d 1tn them ana hat Re
viii hardly forget It. First In their purpose look
Ing toward the framing of their constitution Is
a desire 10 produce a scheme of government which
will eliminate all occasion for armed revolutions
The presidential term will therefore, be dennteiy
dxed at four years. and rigid provisions VIII De
made for quadrennial elections Panama does n9t
once elected holding himself in office by means
og the army The army will &C cordingly De re-
dnced in numbers until il will be no more dlg-
,,i6ed than is a medium sized ctys police force
- This establishment viii be made wholly SUD
! saryent 70 the civil authority me same tTeat-
ment will be applied TO the navy
rrnrc1Ar. SYSTEM TO BE REFORMED.
For tba enforcement of the law-the majesty OF
which has heretofore been travesty-it IS pro-
posed to erect judicial system perfect IN It's "Details
I +ha amin n