Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1904-11-18
Qua PANAMA. IMunUGLIO.


So it appears at last that, notwith-
standing the vehement denials by the
administration through lite representa-
tives, there has been very serious fric-
ton between our government and that
Of Panama. 1t appears, moreover,
that the misunderstanding must nave
reached q particularly acute stage to
call for the appointment OF u mission
TO the isthmus headed by the secretary
Of war, aud including committees OF
both houses Of congress. Rumors to
this effect were rife a few weeks ago.
High officials OF the Panama govern
ment openly declared that the new
republic had been misled by false prom
Uses, and although these statements
were promptly md emphatically cbal-
lenged in Washington, their authors
did not retract or in any way modify
them. Now, there Is no further attempt
to dieguise the existence OF Il bitter
CLASH. and one may readily imagine its
importance by considering the nature
OF the remedy the president has APP
piled. 1t is only too evident that the
situation is critical indeed.
For our part, we have always
thought that the establishment Of the
republic OF Panama wis much too sud
den to be Legitimate, and far too fruit
full Of condolences to leave ths United
Satea free OF the suspicion Of compile
"a. Al "a $50, -.,rN l,uEr,tl a.
significant that our fol ces were on
hand when tue eo-called declaration Of
independence was proclalmed-on hand
and under orders to permit no "intcr-
ference" by Colombia. No one can
explain, upon any theory involving our
innocence in the premises, the facts
that the alleged revolution occurred
on the night of November 3, 1903, and
that the new republic was recognized
on the 9th ut Il time when the gov
ernment was represented by Il self
appointed iunta, composed Of three per-
sons, and when there was not the
slightest visible evidence Of popular
support or W popular knowledge Of
Iht pICDSluCp uDlltdNh. III IlllIoL
fathers, in fact, were so poverty strick-
en- in the matter OF material that the
junta, pressed for time, had to send
to Washington as PRnama's diplomatic
representative a gentlemaL who was
neither a native nor a citizeu-iu a
word, NJ. Bunau-Varilla, a worthy
French gentleman, whose only interest
III the affair lay with the sale OF the
French compnny's rights, properties,
junk, prospects, etc, to the United
States.
Just here, we fancy, the core OF Pan,
ama's discomfort will DO discovered
for NJ. Bupau.V arilla, Fastening fondly
to Washington-he reached here with
in ten days after the revolution
and finding IA "treaty" already cut and
dried, so expedited the formalities that
the document was solemnly eignel
only two OF three hours before the ur
rival of a genuine Panama committee
which had been hurried hither to see
to it's proper and satisfactory formu,
latlon. This, in fact, is the genesis Of
the Panama complaint, Mcssrs. BoyC
Amador and Arosemena were duly
authorized to look after tho interest!
Of their fellow. Citizens, but NJ. Bunau
Varilla saw to it that a treaty which
met the Vows OF the United State.
government ana the French compan
was finally executed before they coulC
get here to interpose II protest or ole
q suggestion. 1t We transpire, We
think, that this treaty constitutes the
grievance OF real moment. DR., Morale.
and Senior Obaldia both insist TINT il
is not what the Panamanos had been
promised or led to expect, and it is
quita plain that the will feeling springs
from NJ. Bunau Vnrilla's lightning like
diplomacy.
or course, 1t ~ q moro incident in
one sense, for tho whole performance
was 30 grotesque aud go devoid OF
every quality Of Legitimacy it would
be unreas unable to expect u single dig.
nitled feature at any stage OF the trans
action. To compress the obvious com.
mont into nm aphorism the episode
would make a comic opera IL it could
be rescued from the realm OF trpgody.
Washington Post.