The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-11-10
Our Panama lmbrcgIfo

Our Panama lmbrcgIfO
So it appears at last that, notwith-
standing the vehement denials by the
administration through its representa-
tives, there has been very serious fric-
ton between our government and that
of Panama. 1t appears. moreover. that
the misunderstanding must have
reached particularly acute stage to
call for the appointment of mission
to the isIhmuS headed by the secretary
of war, and including committees of
both houses of congress. Rumors to
this effect were rife few weeks ago.
high officials of the Panama govern
ment openly declared that the new
republic had been misled by false PROM
1ses, and although these statements
were promptly and emphatically chal-
lenged in Washington, their authors
did not retract or in any way modify
them. Now, there is no further attempt
to disguise lie. existence of bitter
clash, ana one may readily imagine it's
Importance by considering the nature
OF the remedy the president has ap-
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 was much too sud-
den to be legitimate, and far too fruit
Iul OF condolences to leave the United
States free OF the suspicion of compile
lty. And 1t was most unpleasantly
significant that our forces were on
nand when tue so-called declaration of
independence was proclamation hand
and under orders to permit no Inter
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
tnat the new republic was "recognized''
on the 9TH, at time when the gov
eminent was represented by self
appointed junta, composed of three per-
sons, and when there was not the
slightest visible evidence Of popular
support or even puDular knowledge OF
the pretended upheayal. The patrtor
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 Panama's diplomatic
representative a gentleman who was
neither a natl nor citizen--in a
word, M. Bunau-Varilla, worthy
French gentleman, whose only interest
In the affair lay with the sale OF the
French company's rights, properties.
junk. prospects, etc.. to the United
States.
Just here, we fancy, the core OF Pan
ama's discomfort will be discovered,
for M. Bunau-V arilla, fastening fondly
to Washington-he reached here with
In ten days after the revolution
and finding treaty already cut and
dried. so expedited the formalities that
the document was solemnly signed
only two or three hours before the ar
rival of genuine Panama committee
which had been hurried hither to see
to its proper and satisfactory formu-
lation. This, in fact, is the genesis OF
the Panama complaint. Messrs. Boyd
Amador and Arosemena were duly
authorized to look after the interests
of their fellow-citizens, but M. Bunau-
Vanilla saw to it that treaty which
met the views of the United States
government and the French company
was finally executed before they could
get here to interpose protest or offer
suggestion. 1t will transpire, we
think, that this treaty constitutes the
grievances of real moment DR.. Morales
and Senior Cbsldia both insist that 1t
is not what the Panan49sos had been
promised or led to expect, and II i
quite plain that the i'll feeling springs
from M. Bunau-Varilla's lightning-like
diplomacy.
Of course, it is mere incident in
one sense, for the whole performance
was SO grotesque and so devoid OF
every quality of legitimacy it would
be unreasonable to expect single dig
nified feature at any stage of the trans
action. To compress the obvious COM