The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1904-09-14
PANAMANS WRATHFUL.
Arbitrary and overbearina Deport'
FriSnt Of canal Commission
Causes Feeling in Panama:


The Atlanta Constitution prints the
following special from Panama: A
Crisis is at hand in the affairs of Pana-
ina. The most important Question af-
fecting the future of the republic will
be settled during the next two weeks.
Public feeling has been aroused 10
fever pitch. 1t has now cooled down
partially, but it is eagerly awaiting
the 6ute6ms Of the negotiations be-
tween John Barrett, minister OF the
United States, and Don Thomas Ar1as'
the Panama secretary of government
For time so excited were the Peo-
pie of Panama that there were open
threats Of another revolution and or
a return to the jurisdiction Of Column
bia.
The issue under discussion is the u
tai one of control of the ports or har-
bofs at the two ends Of the canal.
Panama claims that; according to ar
ticle 2 of the treaty, they are hers and
must be under her jurisdiction and So
vereignty in order to protect her reve-
hues and foreign trade. The commits
sion insist that article 2 has no such
meaning and that it will be impossible
for the United States to construct
and control the canal unless 1t has
absolute authority over the two en-
frances.
AS preliminary steps for an under
standing the American minister, by the
exercise of tact and consideration for
the interests of Panama, has gained
the confidence of the Panama govern
ment and people. The distrust and
bitterness toward the United States
grew cut of the autocratic methods
and acts of the commission. Mr.. Bar
rett undoubtedly prevented an armed
clash between Panamans and some
port and police officials that would
have created a sensation in the United
States and awakened intense feeling
in Panama against the Americans.
Acting as a sort of mediator, or buff
n, between the abrupt, undiploma-
tic methods of the commission and the
gentle Latin ways of the Panama gov
eminent leaders, who are as sensi"
tive Of their independence and dignity
as if their country were as large as
Mexico or Great Britain, MI Barrett
has saved President Roosevelt from
the criticism of acting arbitrarily AMI
imperiously in the administration OF
the zone.
While it is generally conceded that
Admiral Walker, General Davis and
their associates are able men and suit
ed for control of the construction Of
the canal, it is freely asserted, in both
official and private circles at Panama,
that they are evidently. not schooled
in diplomacy. They are too inclined
to treat Panama as a subordinate and
dependent section of the United States
and not like an independent state, as
the treaty provides Anybody familiar
with Latin statesmen and people can
readily understand why, therefore, the
commission ran against a dangerous
snag when it tried to pilot the zone
ship Of state into the channel of sue
cessful existence. Don Thomas Arias,
the head of President Amador's cabi-
net, is known to have said that Admi-
raj Walker and General Davis, al
enough meaning well, seemed to regard
him as the governor of some Ameri-
can colony instead as the principal di-
plomatic officer of an Independent gov
eminent, and that it was only since
the arrival of the American minister
that the United States had commenced
to transact diplomatic business with
Panama as it would with any other
self-respecting state