The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-05

niSgistrates. military chiefs. and their subordinates have been and are foreign W the department. It seems that the wishes to exclude the Isthrnus from all participation in public affairs. As reg ard |, international dangers in the Isthmus all l can say is that If these dangers exist tional government, which Is in the direc- tion of feaction,
 If the Colombian Government will not take action with yisw tS preventing ,
 In the New York Herald of October 2s it was reported that revolutionary ex-
 ecssSn snaeS on o the % Istbmus T dn me wssS,ng .S ton Post of October 9 1t was reported from Panama that in view of the im- pending trouble on the Isthmus the Bo- sufIicient numbers to at once put down an attempt at secession. In the New York Herald of October % 1t was annornced from Panama that Bogota was hurrying projected revolt. In the New York Her ald of November 1t was ann ounced that in Bogota the Congress had infor ed the energetic measures taken to meet the sit- uation on the Isthmus and that 6,000 men were about to be sert thither.
 Quotations like the above could mul-. tiplied indefinitely. Suffice 1t to say that it was notorious that revol 'tionary
 
 on the Isthmus. But 1t was necessary to rely exclusively upon such general means of information. On October 15 Command CT Hubbard. of the Navy; notified the were quiet on the Isthmus. rev luton had broken out in the State of Cauca. On October 16. at the request of Lieuten- ana x0uns nsut .aw aaycon caP Mse Provost Murphy. who had just returned from 6 four months tour through the northern portions of Venezuela and Co.,
 aarn nsy m the ssspPss er p part Sf sspe@ Der. At the time they were sent down there had been no thought of their going to Panama. and their visit to the 18th of their return Journey; nor had they been spoken to by anyone at Washington re- garding the possibility of revolt. Until they landed at Colon they had no knowl- Ss. tass sy hsS ssnsd the pers What they saw in Panama so im- pressed them that they reported thereon to Lieutenant-General Coung. according '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 Hay in course of organization having for Its object the separation of the State of Panama from Colombia. the leader being DT, htCudTU AEaukOs U lUfEu0E kONcTuOt
 of Panama: that when they were on the Isthmus arms and ammunition were being smuggled into the city Of Colon In piano boxes, merchandise crates. etc. the small French rife, the Remington and the Maui ser; that nearly every citizen in Panama had some sort of rife or gun in his pos. session, with ammunition therefor; that In the city of Panama there had been or- ganized a fire brigade which was really intended for a revolutionary military or m kAtion; that there were representa-. lives of the revolutionary organization at all important points on the Isthmus; that in Panama, Colon, and the other princi- pal places of the Isthmus police forces had been organized which were in reality revolutionary forces; that the people on their sentiment against the Bogota G5v. ernment, end their disgust oyer the fail- lure of the Government to ratify the treaty providing for the construction of the canal and that n revolution might be ex- pected immediately upon the adjournment of the Colombian Congress without rati- f1cation of the treaty"
 their report as of such importance as to make 1t advisable that I should per sonally Isee these officers. They told me what they had already reported to the Lieutenant- General. adding that on the Isthmus the excitement was sesthing, and that the Colombian troops were reported to be dis. affected. In response to question Of general belief that the revolution might break out at my moment, and If it did not happen before. would doubtless take place immediately after the closing of October) if the canal treaty were not rat flied. They were certain that the revolu- tion would occur. and before leaving the Isthmus had made their own reckoning as being probably from three to four weeks after. their leaving. The reason they set th@P as the probable inside limit of time was that that they they reckSnea 9G,r that that 1t say not until October 20-before suffi- cient quantity of arms and muni Ions would have been landed.
 In view of all these facts directed the Navy Department to issue instructions such as would insure our having ships within easy reach of the Isthmus In the event of need arising: Orders were given on october 19 to the Boston to proceed to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; to the Dixie to prepare to sail from League Is- land; and to the Atlanta to prOceel to was ordered to proceed to Colon. On Mo- vember 2 when the Colombian Congress having adjourned. it was evident that the outbreak was imminent. and when 1t was that both sides were making ready forces whose meeting would mean and disorder. the Colombian troops having been embarked on vessels. the following instructions Were , sent ,, 70
 
 Maintain free and uninterrupted transit. If interruption is threatened by armed force. occupy the line of railroad. Pre- vent landing of any armed force with hostile intent. either Government or in- surgent. at any point within 50 miles of Panama. Government force repo ted the Isthmus in vessels. Pre- vent their landing. if in your judgment, the landing would preciptate a conflict
 These orders were delivered in pursu- ance of the policy on which our Govern ment had repeatedly acted. This policy was exhibited in the following orders. given under somewhat similar circums- and the year before that. The first two telegrams are from the Department of State to the consul at Panama:
 act of hostility which may involve or im- peril the rafe and peaceful transit of per sons or property across the Isthmus of Panama. The bombardment of Panama would have this effect, and the United States must insist upon the neutrality of
 November 20. 1901.
 Notify all parties molesting or interfer- ing with free transit across the Isthmus that such interference must cease and terruption of traffic upon the railroad Consult with captain of the Iowa. who will be instructed to land marines, if necessary. for the protection of the rail- road in acordance with the treaty rights and obligations of the United States De- sirable to avoid bloodshed if possible.
 The next three teIegrams are from and V ~ 'september 12. 1902. Ranger, Panama:
 trality of Isthmus and that free transit from sea to sea be not interrupted or