New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-12
PANAMA AND COLOMBIA
No Differences Bet5oeen Them, Says
Representative of the Latter.
!e Editor of The Tribune.

Sir: The has been given recently
notably in your paper-that conference between
William Nelson Cromwell. counsel for Panama,
and Enrique Cortes representative of General
Reyes of Colombia, with Secretary Taft as media
tor. took place in this city. looking toward set
tlement of the differences which have existed be-
tween those two countries since the rebellion that
made Panama independent"
Allow to state that differences have ex-
listed between Colombia and Panama William
Nelson Cromwell plotted with Bunau-Varilla,
Frenchman, and with two three other men-not
Panamans-a so-caled rebellion. abetted by the
United States government. From said conspiracy
resulted owing the power Of this country and
Colombias weakness. the so-called Independence
of Panama, but those facts did not create between
Colombia and the inhabitants of her stolen terri
tory any differences whatsoever II the pressure
OF the mailed fist OF the United States were to be
withdrawn the entire population of Panama would
return to the fold, from which it has never Sc
coded at heart. IN spite of Cromwell. Bunau-Va-
rla &c Co., this time truly
Notwithstanding efforts made to disguise tho
truth or TO gloss the action taken in regard
TO Colombia by the Washington government, the
conscience Of this nation has recognized that truth.
and has condemned that action by mouth OF her
truly representative. sincere and just men. 1t is
foolishness. bordering on insanity TO attempt to
suppress truth.
That a conference was held do not doubt That
differences exist IS evident but the nature Of those
differences and the parties concerned in them are
misrepresented in the item.
An understanding of the situation VIII be gained
by brief sketch of Colombian history since the
Panama rape.
Colombia despoiled OF her territory at tho
close OF an Internal struggle lasting three years
No mention will be made here OF the deep rooted
causes OF our revolutions; suffice 1t 10 say that
countries that boast great culture have undergone
similar tribulations IN corresponding periods OF
their development. and that many outside Of South
Amerca-Russia, for instance-are at present in
the throes OF like trials This internecine strife.
however. was productive OF ono bleFsing-it dis
couraged the people ut large regarding the etii-
cheney OF killing another in order 70 BRING
about the reign OF justice and OF progress
The vitality OF Colombia was exhausted one nun
dred thousand OF her best sons having bled 20
death In the battlcAelds. The niquttous anToRt OF
her despong could under the circumstances be
met only by cry OF impotent rage that dled IN
her throat so unexpected the blow, and by
tho bitterest shed by an unhappy people.
In the midst OF this stunned condition two con-
servatIve candidates for the Presidency We're pre-
scented 10 the Colombian people. General Nelez and
General Reyes. The former was known as an
honest Of principle. but so reacuonary that
one half of tho Conservatives and almost all the
Liberals shrank from him. fearing his rule would
bring about the establishment Of the dreaded
| inquisitOE In a shape TValnnS It's nourlsIlhS
periods. The latter. Reyes. was known as man
without schoolfellows and OF limited intellectual
capacity, but being 81 successful business man,
though his methods could not have been held as
exemplary. Reyes had been in Mexico and had
| witnessed the Porfrio DiRz rule Of that country
He promised right and left be for Colombia tho
counterpart OF the ruler praised by Tolstoy and
committed himself to policy Of strong handling
of the numberless foreign clergy People said 10
each other 1T is true that this man has no
learning and Intellect TO speak Of. but he seems
| animated by a spirit OF fairness. and he may now
that he s comfortably well off, allow himself the
luxury of being honest; besides, those VINO know
him claim that he is man OF deep hatreds;
II suuported by some OF our able men. may yet
save what remains Of our Countr?
Reves's nomination asserted to by ma
iortv of the people. He not elected because
the elections held were only sham. but he be-
| came the de facto President. IL soon developed
that the negative qualities which had determined
/ the selection Reyes 10 be the undoing Of
the country. Though ne appointed men OF differ
ent affiliations for high places ne chose them from
the weak and inconspicuous. fearful OF being out
| shone by some man Of consequence The general
has always shown marked antlpathy for persons
OF learning His great delight has been to gather
/ around him a crowd OF ignoramuses and of hatter-
crs who basely conceal the little they know TO win
his rraces and fire at them In rapid succession
as many big words as he has been able 10 get
hold Of.
Some years ago at a gathering several friends Of
Reyes tried to hoom his candidacy and he was
| ca He'd upon without previous warning. to make a
speech He launched into flow OF words, repeat
edly using the expression senlle parllamentarisTn
The phrase was reported. far and wide, and his
candidacy died natural death Ions after II was
found out that the general had not intended I" cast
onv slur uuon parliamentarism. but. through ig-
norance. had used the word senile instead of VEN
cradle
! The opnosing elements in Reyess political house
hold strove TO obtain control Of public affairs by
pulling the blanket toward themselves and by de-
| nouncing other members of the Cabinet plotting.
they themselves were doing ihese conditions
| gave rise to a series OF conspiracies with = view
! OF suppressng Reyes. and eliminated In an at
tempt against his life planned and carried out by
one branch of the conservative party. BY this time
| no had been the object Of so much abject aduaton
that he believed himself TO he the greatest living
statesman and wondered why Tolstoy did not
| come out proclaming before the world that Diaz
| had been enaced by his imitator. The attempt
against his life astonshed him, for he actually be-
eved that not only every COLOMBIAN but the entire
world marvelled at his achievements and loved him
| FOR them The very persons who plotted his
assaseinetIon tried to persuade him that the
| spiracv had been the work OF their adversaries.
and the political game continued as In the past.
| only made worse by Reyes5 dread OF all parties.
| ctnca then the prosecutions OF the dictator, who
has neither discrimination sound reason. are d.
| rected by the last who talks with him and
| accuses enemy.
! Another development of the attempt Reyes s
life has been the spread over the whole country or
| peculiar disease manifestlng ltselr In sort OK
insane panic which does not disappear even alter
the victims have spent months IN foreign countries
Reyes himself IS a victim of the disease and MS
LOGON. otor ataXia has been aggravated by IL as
shown I'm his unbalanced intellect possessed by one
all absorbing passion-a morbid and insatiaoie
sordidness. - . 49,,
| imprint OF this petty greediness Reyes is trust
unto himset-of such a kind that II would make
the mouth Of the ss pep nse In Vail Street
| and so green with envy that II he chose 20 take
! to the woods when lodging subpoena servers IL
would be impossible TO distinguish nun among the
/ trees Reeves who Is not restrained by any con-
MISUNDERSTANDING suppressed it-nor py any tarl1'
has organized into trust combinations every profit
able business in Colombia, has reserved for himself
a large majority of the preferred and OF the COM
mon stock. egislates by means OF what ne cals