New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-21
LITERARY CRITICISM
AND BOOK NEWS
A Study in Purple Of the Panama Canal
Adventures in Siberia-Books Of Script
mal Lore-Om Enemy, the Fly
"A City Mans Farm.

tory which up to the last moment
seemed to be wellnigh impossible
The next labor Of Hercules was d.
rected toward Colombia, TO persuade
that purblind government TO ratlfy inc
Hay-Herran treaty. NJ. Bunau-Narllia
resorted to direct dealings with Presl-
dent Marroquin. and warned him pam
IN that if the treaty was not ratihed
Panama might and probably would
secede. II was III. Bunau-Varilla him
self who conceived the scheme of a
revolution. "A grave question of con-
science confronted me. Had | the
moral right to take part in a reNolu-
ton and to encourage its develop
ment?' My answer was: Yes 1t was
for me a cruel duty, but II was my
duty. Meanwhile | was sure TO ne
approved by the civilized world"
Then he went to Washington and
had an interview with the President
Colonel Roosevelt, who after a lew
preliminary remarks asked him, con-
corning Panama: well, what do you
think is going to he the outcome of the
present situation" Let us quote Mr..
Bunau- VariIa's own words:
II was then or never. remained silent
for a moment. and | pronounced the ioi-
lowing four words in slow. decided
manner:
MIR. President a revolution.
The features Of the President mani
tested profound surprise. revolu-
tion," he repeated. mechanically. Then
he turned instinctively TOWARD M +.
LOOMS. who remained standing. impassl-
BILE. and then said i'm low tone, as II
speaking to himself: "A revolution! -. ..
Would it be possible But II II
became reality. what would become OF
the plan we had thought Of
The story of NJ. BunauVarilla's
negotiations with Or. Amador is al
ready well known, though not gen
orally with quite so much of NJ. Bunau-
Varlla in il as il here contains. II
was to Amador that the great French
man presented the ultimatum. that he
must he made Panama's first minister
to Washington for the purpose Of max
ing the necessary canal treaty. ANA
dor was reluctant at first, wishing him
self to have that post; but he WAS IN
able to controvert the convincing ar
guments by which NJ Bunau-Narilla
demonstrated himself TO be the best
fitted for the work. That was long be-
fore the actual revolution. But NJ.
Bunau-Varilla saw 10 it that the rev
olution came off as per schedule; and
when at the supreme moment an
American warship was needed AT Colon,
for moral influence. it was he and no
other who had the Nashville sent
thither. And on the arrival Of that yes
sci in the roadstead, what?
| A burst Of delirious enthusiasm shook
/ the whole isthmus.
| II was really true! Bunau-Varilla had
| effectively obtained for the unfortunate
] country the protection OF the poweHu
republiCi
/ At this moment. without one word hav-
/ ing been uttered the Revolution was
! accomplished in the hearts Of all. The
/ regime Of Colombian tyranny was over.
All else was a matter Of course. The
I revolution was effected. The Hay
! Bunau-V arilla treaty was made. For
a moment the Panama government
| Jealous Of its envoy, hesitated TO ratify
/ it, You ratify or / resign cried NJ
! Bunau- Varilla. And they ratified.
| 1t is TO be added that NJ. Bunau-
Vanilla absolutely approves the course
of the United States in preventing
! Colombia action against Panama, and
holds that the prompt recognition by
practically the whole world vindicates
/ the righteousness Of the revolution
/ He maintains his inhexible opposition
/ to the lock plan of canal. and believes
! that we shall soon have TO abandon II
! and adopt the sea level Straits Of Pan
anna" He also condemns the proposal
to exempt even the coastwise COM
merce Of America from tolls, as a
violation Of the original intent Of the
| HAY Pauncefote treaty and as contrary
10 justice and equity-claiming himself
| to have discovered and first announced
| the latter fact He holds that nobody
excepting Panama herself has a right
| to object 10 our terrifying the canal
and that il would be unpardonably bad
grace for Panama 20 do so. Thus he
tells the story of great things, most OF
which he saw and all of which he was
Lamartine, he reminds US, once said
audaciously, referring TO the need OF
advertisement God Himself requires
| bells" But NJ. Bunau Varilla does
not: at least not beyond those which
/ he himself supplies.