New-York tribune., 1905-11-19
PANAMAN PARTISANsHrP.


political partisanship is at the present time be-
ing raised, at least by some influential leaders
in Panama and also in the inclination which Is
manifested to involve, If possible the United
States in a domestic factional dispute The
Panaman revolution was SO much a protest
against the unscrupulous factionalism Of Colon
bia that it would seem the Panamans should
carefully avoid that evil They seemed at first
intent upon so doing. Their government was
organized upon q non-partisan basis, with
Conservative for President and a Liberal for
Yice-Presdent. There seemed to be in the poll
tics of the republic no issues sufficient to provoke
serious partisan rivalry. Yet now, only two
years after the establishment of the isthmian
republic, party passions rising to an ex-
treme pitch.
The memorial presented to Secretary Taft by
the National Directorate Of the Liberal Party
of Panama"-of which we print the text In an
other columns not lightly to be dismissed, for
it is signed by Dr. Pablo Arosemena, the Vice
President OF Panama, and by DR.. Belsario
Porras, President Of the Municipal Council Of
the city of Panama. Yet it is impossible to read
It without regret and surprise bordering upon
incredulity Note for example, these state
ments:
The government is getting itself in readiness
to take hand in the coming elections
and is circulating the threat that 1t will stop at
nothing and spare means IN order to gain the
elections; that 1t has the support of the United
States and that it will, If necessary, high
handed means and force to attain its ends. On
the other hand, it has also given notice that IL
the people of Panama should resist this usurpa-
ton American troops will come to maintain
order and to shoot them down without mercy
Thus the government wants to place before the
people Of Panama alternative: Either they
permit the coming elections to be farce, or they
offer resistance and thus provoke the interven-
ton of the United States In the last
elections realized to what lengths the agents
of the government would go. In some precincts
no vote was cast. because the mayors prevented
the notices Of the appointment of election judges
from reaching their destination; in others the
Liberals were attacked and shot at to prevent
them from casting their ballots; in others the
lists of voters were altered on the night pre-
ceding the elections, and the names of the Lib
erals were stricken out; in others the people
were intimidated by the police end forced to
vote contrary to their convictionA
We must incline to the belief, certainly to the
earnest hope that these charges have originated
chiefly if not entirely In the superheated imagi-
nations of men in land where excitement is
one Of the easiest things to arouse. Yet such is
the presentment formally made by these respon-
sible gentlemen after which they want to know,
in brief, what the United States is going to do
about It. Under the treaty and the Panaman
constitution this country has the right and
thority to intervene anywhere In the Republic
'tof Panama for the re-establishment Of consti-
"tutiOnal peace and order, If this should be
disturbed" Wherefore they ask If this country
will guarantee constitutional succession in Of
fee; If 1t regards as within the pale Of its pro-
lection a government which violates the consti-
tutional right OF free suffrage; if it will regard
with Indifference the oppression Of the people,
and If it Is willing to appear as the champion
of abuse and oppression. There can, of course,
be no doubt as to the answers to these questions,
so far it mag be necessary to answer them.
Secretary Taft, year ago and again this month,
made eloquently and Enthusiastically clear to the
government and people of Panama his own views
and the determined policy of this government
upon such matters; to wit, first, that repub-
Iican government is worth anything that is not
based upon free vote, fair count and peace
ful acduiescence In the will of the majority, and.
second, that revolutions. save through an hon.
est ballot box, have permanently gone out OF
fashion in Panama
We trust 1t may safely be left to the people of
Panama and their political leaders Of both
parties to interpret this American doctrine