The Detroit times., 1910-07-28
COLOMBIA HOSTILE
TO ALL AMERICANS
Outbreaks Against the Street Rail
way in Bogota Due To General
Antipathy.

bO0OlA, COiOuuids July ~
this centennial year OF the independ-
ence CT u great portion OF South Am
erica the cry is all for peace, but peace
seems rather inclined to turn deal
ear to the appeal. Argentina and 30
livia are no longer friends, and Chile
averts her eyes when the name OF her
neighbor over the Andes Is uttered
In her presence Peru and Chile are
sworn foes, md these who know both
countries and have heard the lament
Of the 'captives" OF Tacna and africa
know on which side the fault lies.
Ecuador is arming and Colombia is
showing her friendship by her oner OF
both moral and physical support
already some Gozen generals, nsny
colonies, and o few privates haze has
tened the aid OF her sists' ana
neighhor.
Peru is advancing upon Colombian
territory In the Putumayo, and from
far distant countries on the other side
OF the Amazon and the Andes come
rumors OF revolution and labor wars.
The memory Of Panama and the lost
integrity of empire keep the fire burn
ing steadily within the heart of this
dismembered land. End patriots fotfd'
ly proclaim the impossibility of ever
regarding the name of America With
feelings of friendship. Courtesy has
been displayed toward members OF the
American colony here, but that does
not make for either forgetfulness or
amity.
Here Ia Bogota we are quite In the
midst Of the turmoil. Open hostilities,
so to speak, began in March when the
manager of the street railway com
pany fell foul OF the public. He claim
ed TO have merely elected a man from
a car because the delicacy OF lady
was offended by certain utterances OF
the person whom he summary re-
moved. Life sometimes hangs heavy
on our hands here on the heights OF
Bogota. Al times we tire of gazing
upon the majesty OF Monserrate and
turn expectant eyes downward toward
the regions beyond this plateau, long
ing for anything to happen to stir
the monotony. SO there was pleasur-
able excitement in the early morning
air when we heard that the people
had risen In their majesty against this
young Payard, and that he was even
then EMBODIED in the Stars and Stripes.
When the aggressor or the hero, "a
one looks at II, took refuge In his
office and was subsequently removed
by his minister under parole to the
legation, to appear before any and
every court OF justice or, at least, Law,
II and when called upon, Il is scarce
ly to be wondered at that when night
fell excited crowds surrounded the
legation, and some stones were
thrown. The real grievance appeared
TO be that a prison cell is considered
good enough for most OF us who arc
arrested for assault or battery or
other diversion of the kind directed
against the person OF another. Why,
asked the mob, should this man have
the luxury OF a mansion in place OF
the severely simple and unadorned
apartment so many OF them had so
often occupied
A few front windows were broken.
but II is safe to assume that the
stones were thrown by absolutely ir.
responsible ragamuffins. Guards we're
at once placed at the doors OF the lega-
ton and for a long time afterward
even the entrances to the street we're
protected by police. AS the British
minister and his wife we're guests OF
the American representative and re-
NAMED there throughout the agitation
Il Is perfectly evident that the matter
was OF the people and not of the au-
thorities.
Needless TO say, the Panama affair
was recalled, and the most respect
able papers referred to the trouble
with noble impartiality which spared
neither Colombian nor American
Houses of leading citizens were stoned
end posters at street corners connect
ed their names with the 'negocio' oil
the Isthmus, while pointing out that
prominent Colombians were response
BILE for the franchise Of the American
Trsmway company. AS all foreigners
look more or less alike. they have a!
been generously embraced I'm the CT,
OF Down with the Yanquis,
IL is safe to declare that no one
has been annoyed by respectable at
lacks, III attacks can be called respect
able. No one nays attention TO Ih'
stupid cry Of the street urchin 49,
will call out anything he Is told b,
bigger gamins. Also. considering tina
no Colombian suspected OF a connec
ton with the tramway concession
either as lawyer or adviser. escaped
without fierce paper attack or a vol
ley OF stones against his windows. i
Is little beyond the mark to say thai
Americans alone suffered in this az
fair