Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-14
FOR PANAMA.
How William Paterson Con-
ceived It Years Ago.
PERSISTENT SCOTCH PLUCK
Scotland Fostered, But England
crowned Upon It.
PERSISTENT SCOTCH PLUCK
Story of the Ill-Fated Expeditions
and Their Warm Welcome
by the Natives.
BY WILLIAM E. Curtis.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago RecOrd-Herald.


history by collecting and publishing in an
attractive book all the traditions and
} written documents concerning the OAR
len Company of Edinburgh. which was
promoted in 1895 by William Paterson.
} a patriotic but unsuccessful empire build
er. who had founded the Bank of Eng
land the previous year. The object or
the Darien Company was to take possess
sion of the Isthmus of Panama establish
colonies there and control the American
trade in the interest of Great Britain and
particularly Of Scotland. 1t was to De
for America and the West Indies what the
East India Company was to India and the
East Indies. and in pursuance OF this
great expansion policy it located the first
English speaking colony upon the soil Of
South America.
/ William Paterson, the Founder.
William Paterson was remarkable
man. He was born in Dumfrieshice: his
father was a farmer. and the cottage in
which he lived was standing until 1864.
Paterson was educated in the parish
school and from the manner in which he
expressed himself in his numerous writ
ings must have had superior instruction
and natural literary ability. When about
seventeen years of age ne was accused OF
giving aid and comfort to certain Govern
anters in his neighborhood and sought ref
uge from arrest in Bristol. England. with
an aged kinSwOman of his mother. This
lady must have left him some money. be-
cause, shortly after her death, he went
to Amsterdam and fitted on. an expedition
to the West Indies where he spent some
years trading with the natives. There
he made the acquaintance of William Dam
pier and Lionel Wafer. two notorious
! pirates. from whom he derived much
aIr,a1 Gown Inn n,
mus and Central and South Anne lea.
1t has been stated repeatedly that Pat
erson was himself pirate. Other writer's
have said that he was missionary. but
Mr. Barbour was quite certain that
neither of these stories IS true, because
during his life in Jamaica he was engaged
wholly in mercantile pursuits 1t is known
that he was a deeply religious man: his
sympathy with the Covenanters was in
tense: he knew his Bible by heart: all Of
his plans for colonizing included mission
airy work among the natives: the motto
upon his coat-of arms, which he designed
yourself and other traits of his char
acter and incidents of his life are incon-
sistent with the idea that he was a buc-
cancer
/ His Scheme Did Not Take.
After acquiring a fortune and much
valuable knowledge and experience in the
West Indies. Paterson returned to Eng
| land with broad scheme for COLOMBIA
ton and commercial enterprises in tropi
!! cal America, and as he could not get a
hearing in his native country. he sub
rnitted his plans to several European SOW
ereigns, who gave him no encourag e-
i ment. He then returned to England and
settled down in London as merchant.
In 1851 he first proposed national bank
and agitated the subject until he was
finally successful in completing an organ
ever. shortly after the bank was fairly
started. he sold his stock and withdrew
from the corporation because of differ
ences of opinion regarding policy with
his fellow directors. Taking his money
with him he went to Scotland. where con-
dit'ons we're very favorable for the prose-
loution of his Darien scheme. The srelig-
ious and political trouble had begun to
subside, a spirit Of trade and adventure
had taken possession of the people, and
the S, ,tt,sh parliament had passed an
"act for encouraging foreign trade" Of
fering charters and subsidies to all COM
panies that would unde: take the develop
ment of commerce with any country
not at war with their majesties"
Scotland Tried It.
A bill was prepared, submitted to and
passed by the Scottish parliament. 1t be-
came a law by being touched with the
scepter'' June IS. 1895, and granted a
monopoly Of the trade between Scotland
and Asia. Africa and America, exempt
from taxation for thirty-one years. and
authorized the importation of all foreign
merchandise except sugar and tobacco for
twenty-one years. The company was au-
thorized Ito take possession of any unin-
habited territory by consent of the in
habitants provided they were not pos
sessed by any European sovereign" there
to plant colonies, bui.d towns and forts,
wage war and make reprisals and con-
clude treaties of peace and commerce.
For all these privileges and monopolies
the company was to pay yearly to his
majesty and his successors one hogshead
of tobacco.
1t was proposed that the citizens of
Edinburgh should take possession of apd
, develop the Isthmus of Panama. Just as
, the citizens of Glasgow had undertaken
, to develop Virginia.
, An attempt was made to place one-half
, of the capital of $3,OOOOOO in London. It
. was all subscribed for in nine days. the
; same time required for placing the stock
; of the Bank OF England. Indeed. the stock
; of the Darien Company was oversub-
scribed and the allOtments were made in
proportion.
England Condemned It.
The success of the new enterprise alarm
, ed the powerful East India Company,
; which appealed to parliament. and the lat
! ter body denounced the scheme and for
|. | Oa0e CNe QIOIHOlcTS u IL any
, further After this hostile action on tho
. part Of the government the English SUBJ
. scribers reluctantly withdrew and Mr..
. Paterson shook the dust OF London from
. his feet and proceeded to Edinburgh.
. where he found sympathetic reception.
; The action of the British house of COM
mons In denouncing company that had
been chartered by the Scottish parlia-
ment wounded the pride and aroused the
| indguation of the Scots who made tie
| scheme a patriotic concern and clamored
. for shares. In his history of England
Macauiey says that every man In Scot
. land uho had E1nO was mpatient to in