The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-03

. constitution prepared and ready for sub mission to the convention when the dele- gates shall assemble for their first meet ing. This is another step in the direction of republican security, for if the needful document were left to be evolved by dis cussion among the delegates. differences of opinion would inevitably crystallize the members of the convention into fac tions and lead to those divisions it is earnestly hoped to avoid.
 Flexible Constitution Needed.
 In discussion with the members of the Junta yesterday. I was informed that the constitutions of the United States and Cuba are being closely studied. and as one of the councillors naively expressed it. i've hope. by taking the best from each to produce a constitution which will be suited to the isthmus.' This remark was but another evidence of the lack of initia- tive among these people. Thdy will fol- low where others lead; will copy what others have done, but they are almost helpless when 1t comes to blazing way for themselves.
 The stronger minds will. however. pre- vail in this as they have in other in- stances. and the influence wielded by Americans is still relied upon to produce a constitution fitted to the country to which it Is to be applied.
 This will not be an easy task. but 1t is one which must be performed. for no hy- brid constitution, formed by parceling other documents can serve the purposes of this country. In this case the consti- tution must be made with an eye single to the peculiar requirements of Panama. and, unfortunately. there are very few men on the isthmus who know what these requirements are. This is because the re- mote parts of the isthmian republic are as unfamiliar to these people as they are to the people of the United States. and even farther removed from the centers of isthmian activity. owing to the absence of communication facilities. than they are from the States.
 In draughtlng a constitution which will suit all conditions in the republic, and prove vehicle for the government of the Indian tribes. the native Colombians. the negroes, the mixed bloods and the gener- orally conglomerate masses of humanity that will rank as citizens of the nation, the instrument must be made as flexible. If not more so, than that of the United States has proved to be. When this shall have been done the constitutional conven- tion will have to resolve to entrust the all-important duty of adapting admins tration under the constitution to the stronger minds in the government which will be created by it. for the proposal of that constitution will almost certainly create political parties and lead to serious differences of opinion.
 American Domination a Blessing. Under the circumstances. and having in mind the perpetuation of the republic. 1t is a most fortunate thing that Americans dominate in the new state of affairs. In
 the absence of an opportunty-sucha as we | had in Cuba and like We have seized in the Philippines-to school the Panamese for the responsibilities of self-govern-
 ment. domination by Americans resident
 on the isthmus is virtually the only guar | antee for the future. Without that guar antee revolutions would surely occur im-
 mediately upon the initiation into office
 of the proposed new government; with 1t
 there is very strong probability that in- ternal disturbances will be averted for sometime to come.
 | Those who are now guiding this new
 ship of state have a few ideas which sound well, and which go to substantiate ! the statement made in previous letter to the effect that there lis no suspicion of their integrity or of the sincerity of their purpose" The one thing they do know is the calendar of evils they are to avoid. That they have learned in the hard school of experience. and so thor