New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-29
PAN4MAN POLITICS.

Political activities on the isthmus, which have
been increasing in intensity as the date of the
coming election has drawn nearer. have this
week assumed a striking and perhaps a crucial
phase in the departure of the National Directo
rate of the Liberal Party from Panama for this
country. for the purpose of making a direct per-
sOnal appeal TO the American government for
the exercise of its good offices in their behalf
in the election. This procedure must be regarded
as extraordinary and perhaps superfiuous
Readers of The Tribune will recall that through
our special correspondence at the isthmus we
first made public in columns the amazing
memorial which this same Liberal directorate
presented to Secretary Taft-and through him
to President ROOsevet-On the occasion of his
last visit to Panama. 1t might have been
supposed they would consider that sufficient
presentation of their case and that they would
also consider Secretary Taft's letter of instruc-
tons to Governor MagoOn a fortnight ago as
this governments final and conclusive answer
Apparently, however, 1t is not so, but the same
gentlemen who made that impassioned appeal Of
months ago in writing now coming on to re-
new it by word of mouth. 1t is pleasant to see
that the Panama railroad and steamship line
have been placed at their disposal and that all
possible cOurteses are being shown 10 them. We
have doubt they will be treated in this coun-
try with the consideration which is their due.
For they are a distinguished company DR..
Pablo Arosemena is jurist of high rank He
was formerly Governor Of Panama, when that
country was allied with Colombia and he Is
now First VicePresdent of the republic. This
latter Office, 1t should however, be explained is
very different from that of Vce-President of the
United States as it involves no official authority
and should perhaps preferably be called simply
First Designate. There are three such 'desig
nates-Senor Obaldia, Panaman Minister TO the
United States, being the second, and SehoR Men
doZa, who is companion Of Dr. Arosemena on
the present extraordinary errand, the third.
Another of the coming visitors is DR.. Belisario
Porras a clever lawyer and chronic revolution
list. At the time of the revolution which won
the independence of Panama he absent from
that country. He very bitterly opposed the
revolution, and especially the relations which
Panama then established with the United States.
On that account he was, under the provisions of
the Panama Constitution, denied the rights of
Panaman citizenship, though lie has been vgor-
ousy fighting for them. lie now sees that he
can gain citizenship only by an act of the Pan
aman Congress, and that is the consideration
which makes him and his friends most DESTROYS
of Liberal success at the polls. The fourth mem
BIER of the visiting junta is General Domingo
DiaZ who took creditable part in the revolu-
ton of 1903
VIC hhNC SHiu mat INC VI NAAN'O sC4itiC-
men is perhaps superfuous. That is because
1t does not appear that they can do or expect to
do more than 10 repeat what they said in writing
to Secretary Taft months ago. They may be
sure that their memorial was most carefully con-
sidered by the Secretary and the President and
that the practical reply to it which was made by
the Secretary in his letter TO Governor Magoon
embodied the mature and measured judgment of
the American government. The United States
/ yil tol in
Panama. That is the Alpha and Omega of the
whole matter. That infiexible principle was
made known to the people of Panama in plain
terms by Secretary Taft on the occasion of his
first visit, in December. 1904 and applauded
by them TO the echo. 1t particularly ap-
/ proved In public utterances by DIR. Pablo Arose
mena himself and that at a time when there
! had just been nipped in the bud, through prompt
and vigorous American action, q conspiracy Tor