"Yes," said Mr. Hay, "that is unfortunately the most probable hypothesis. But we shall not be caught napping. Orders have been given to naval forces on the Pacific to sail toward Panama."
Prompt, decisive, daring action followed. Within a day this extraordinary man constituted himself the Jefferson, the Washington, and the Benjamin Franklin of the new Republic of Panama. He wrote the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, a methodical plan of the military operations to be conducted, complete details of the three days' defence of the Isthmus which he considered necessary, and a cipher code for dispatches, and most important of all, he prepared in advance the exact cables to be sent appointing a minister plenipotentiary to the United States capable of the direct, reliable, and prompt action necessary to satisfy this exasperated country. None other in fact than Philippe Bunau-Varilla. It was magnificent.
