The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-02


by the municipal councils is the fact
that the more intelligent men of each
city sit in these councils; that these
men are heartily in accord with the OBJ
Jects of the revolution of Nov. 8, and
that they can be relied upon to send
as delegates to the constitutional con-
vention men who can be relied upon
not to obstruct the wishes and ideas
Of those who brought the republic into
existence.
Conditions Require Safeguards.
Every condition on the isthmus war
rants those in control in taking these
steps. There is as yet no open divi-
sions of sentiment; but the pretty
union effected by the Liberals and Con-
servatives, when everybody Joined
hands for free Panama, will not last
forever. Jealousies have already
cropped out; those considerations of
the relationship of church and state
upon which l have previously COM
mented, and the inevitability of a DO
litical division which shall cast the
people into two parties, win sooner or
| later come to play their part in the
affairs of the republic. 1t would be
disastrous to the cause of the republic
If this split should occur before the
! government shall have been actually
established upon a stable foundation;
and 1t is largely to guard against such
a contingency that the dominant fac
tors, moving under the spur applied by
DR.. Amador, are now rushing head
long toward a constitutional conven-
ton, whereas ten days ago the thought
of such a convention had hardly oc-
CURED to them.
What the delegates, to be chosen In
the manner above described will do
Sc ind 70
That an organic law is to be framed
they know; but how to go about the
task and the form to be given to that
law are things that as yet remain in
the dark. One thing is clear, and
| that is that the work of the constitu-
| tional convention will have been al
most entirely done before it meets,
the stronger minds among the 18TH
| mians having already taken measures
to have a constitution prepared and
ready for submission to the conVen-
ton when the delegates shall assem-
bic for their first meeting. This is an
other step in the direction of repub-
lican security, for if the needful docu-
ment were left to be evolved by dis
cussion among the delegates, differ
ences Of opinion would inevitably crys-
tallize the members of the convention
into factions and lead to those divi-
sions it is earnestly hoped to avoid.
Flexible Constitution Needed.
In discussion with the members of
the Junta yesterday, / was informed
that the constitutions of the United
! States and Cuba are being closely
naively explained It, I'VE hope, by TAX
| ing the best from each to produce a
constitution which viii be suited to the
| isthmus." This remark was but an
| other evidence of the lack of inita-
! tive among these people. They will
| follow where others lead will copy
what others have done, but they are
| almost helpless when 1t comes to
blazing a way for themselves.
The stronger minds will, however,
| prevail in this as they have in other
instances, and the influence welded
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 it
| is one which must be performed for
no hybrid constitution, formed by par
| ceiling other documents, can serve the
purposes of this country. In this case
| the constitution 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 those requirements are
This is because the remote 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 abb
sence of communication facilities, than
| they are from the States.
In draughting constitution which
will suit all conditions in the republic,
and prove a vehicle for the govern
ment of the Indian tribes, the native
Colombians, the negroes, the mixed
bloods and the generally congiomerate
masses of humanity that will rank as
citizens of the nation, the instrument
must be made as flexible, IL not more
so, than that of the United States has
proved to be. When this shall have
been done the constitutional conven-
tion VIII have to resolve to entrust
the all-important duty of adapting adj
minlstration under the constitution TO
the stronger minds in the government