Panama by B. E. Connerly

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jul 25, 1912

Panama

By B. E. Connerly

THERE is being instituted a new order of things in Panama. With the aid of Mr. Dodge, the American minister, in superintending and a few American police to keep order, we have just witnessed a fair and wholesome election. There has been no drunkenness, no rioting, no personal violence, no imprisonment of minority politicians, and every voter has had the unprecedented opportunity of casting his ballot for the candidate of his own choice. An election of such a modest character was more of a surprise to the Panamanos themselves than to the foreign residents. As in times past, the people were warned to keep off the streets for fear of stray bullets; but in this election such precautions were wholly unnecessary, for there was no time during the entire day and the evening following when a man and his family were not perfectly safe in any part of the city. Such an election is proof that the people are worthy of better government than they have known,

and indicates a spirit in favor of liberty and progress.

But best of all, this election was a sweeping victory for the anticlerical party. It seems assured now that the Catholic party can no longer dominate Panamano politics, and its defeat is sure to have an ethical influence throughout the country. If the newly elected officers administer the government as they have advertised, we may expect a complete separation of church and state. The government will no longer support an unworthy priesthood; the ignorant Jesuits will be excluded from the public schools; Protestant clergymen will be granted the right to sanction marriage ceremonies, which will strike a mortal blow at the present system of concubinage; greater freedom will be granted to the teaching of Protestantism and the circulation of the Bible; and more, a clean administration of government affairs will determine a more proper line of cleavage between true patriotism and the erstwhile religio-political scheme that has kept the people in ignorance and poverty. We are certainly warranted in expecting a better showing in the propagation of the truths of the third angel's message.

B. E. CONNERLY.