The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-24

garrison the town was hnalIy delivered up to Paey,
Who WAS beseging IL. This was on the lst Of March,
1856, and bad Monagas held out longer in Cumaua,
il might have cost the government an infni,y Of
trouble to step the progress OF the nsurgent spirit
The disturbances commenced on the 9Th Of July,
and thus was the revolution, knewn in Venezuela as
La Reforma, brought to IN end.
On reviewing the official history Of this period,
there does not seem 10 be much credit due TO Paez
for his acts in this matter--acts which much Of
his reputation as Governor of Venezuela has been
founded. Valencia yielded to him without blow.
Caracas he found unattended. To the eastward he
was SO fOied by Menagas that he had to make the
best terms he could with him-terms that were
certainly not the advantageous ones victor could
have commanded. MarecaibO obtained for itself as
advantageous terms as Monagas did. The reform
istas lost the day at Valencia, though not to Paez,
as he was not present. Colonel Codagzi commanded
the government troops there, and Puerto Cabello
was yielded to Paes through threachery--still the
country was quietcd and all once more resumed its
wonted aspect.
The redoubtasle President, Vargas, and his Vice
President, Narvare, had returned from their trip to
st Thomas shortly after Paez reached Caracas from
Valencia.
Congress met again in the commencement of 1886,
and Vargas again presented his resignation, which,
this time, was accepted and Narvarte the Vice Pre-
sdent, continued the acting President. By decree
Of the 18th Of April, 80, thanks and recompenses
were gi7en to the constitutional army which had
served through the crises, and to Paez was awarded
golden sword and the title Of Esclarecido Cuida-
called in all public documents. Some alterations
were made in the various coarts and judicial pro-
ceeaipgs. And having learned by experience that
fcrresses, in the hands of insurgent force could
lie used against the government, several Of the
strongest in the country ordered to be demoish-
ed. The remainder of the year 1886 passed off with
out any thing worthy Of note, and 1857 commenced
| with the meeting of Congress, as usual.
On the Goth Of january Senior Narva's Vice Presi-
sidental term expired; and as Vargas had resigned,
it became necessary to appoint an executive. Gen.
| Soublette, who il will be remembered was cand-
date for the Presidency with Vargas, had been sub
sequently elected Vice President, to succeed Mar
| vafte, but he was absent on q mission to Spain,
whittier he had gone previous to the breaking out OF
the reform revolution, consequently General j. NJ
Carreno, the President of the Consej0 de Estade,
nominated to act, pro tenn, until the return of
| S0ublette, which happened on the 18th of May He
had been unsuccessful in his mission; still his return
was hailed with the liyeliest satisfaction, and he
commenced his term with every prospect of peace
! He was man; and though known to be of the
| Paez school, still the military party were more
satisfied than if Paez had again been put in.
| Nevertheless many Of that party were dissatis-
fed. The West India Islands were thronged
| with numbers of them, who had been expelled from
Venezuela for the part they took in the reform bu-
siness They complained that the election of Sou
in fact the old feeling the military against civilian
still existed, and was not in any way tranquilzed
| by the civilians gaining the day Rotation in Of
| fee was called for, and bitter complaints made,
friends, for though Soublettc was the acting Vice
President, the military party declared that Paez
was the real power behind the throne"
1t certainly was hard for veteran soldiers who had
spent their life fighting through the war of indie
pendence to be reduced in their declining years to
| the condition Of wanderers and exiles in foreign
lands.
| The answer of Paez, Soublette & Co. to all these
complaints. was the prosperous condition Of the
country and its continued progress-the favorable
condition Of their foreign credt-he public treasu
ny rapidly flling-the public employees all recev-
ing their salaries with regularity Certainly these
were incontroyertible arguments, still the idea of
| the complete oligarchal system that was forming
under Paez. was gall and NORWOOD to the opposite
party. let alone the many other Of irritation
they had against him ever since the time of Boil
var.
The military party were thus still much opposed
to the civilian, but though opposed. they were also
| impotent nevertheless there were not wanting de-
sultory attempts against the Paez government. A
certain Colonel Farfan landed in Guyana, and pro-
claimed the military party in the province
| Of Apure--a province especially adapted for
| cavalry tactics. II consists of immense
! plains. Paez elected by Con.
gress COMMANDMENT. Chief of the campaign
to be undertaken against Farian. lie accordingly
| departed for the pure, and meeting with Farfan
aud his men, completely routed him. Farfan does
not seem to have had any distinct plan OF action,
nor proclaimed anything in particular; in fact,
| his iIsunection in the Apurc partook more of the
character If maranding expedition than anything
| else Tho remainder Of 1857 passed off quietly.
Durpg 1857 took place the presidential election for
the tenn commencing January 20. 1885, when Var
gas term would have ended. We have seen how
weak he proved himself. and how Souhlette, the
Vice President acted for HIN. In August, 1887,
thsn. took place the presidential election. The
military party had not yet recovered the effects
OF the rtformisfa camIaign their principal men
were scattered about in exile, among the West In
dia islands: great enthusiasm had been kndlcd
| among the Pace party by the generals reiormista
campaigns and the people generally We're fully oc-
tha His fhprh had han
| pened to them during the turbulent times Just
passed. consequently, when Paez was proposed as
candidate. no opposition was offered. The army Of
Office holders, ard all in any way dependent on gov
eminent, for him, and the military party being
| spirited and broken up, suenly assented.
| He was elected, and assumed the Presidential
Office again in 1888, Soublette remaining as Vice
President Things went on very. quietly during
1888 and lSS9-there was opposition to the gov
| ernment--every body seemed easy and quiet. The
military party seemed to have made up their mind
| to live under Paez's rule, and it was hoped that
henceforth Venezuela would be quiet. Vain hope
| shall see hereafter.
| In August, 1899, the Vice Presidential elections
| came on-Soublette's term expiring on the 10Th
| January, 1910. Santos Mitchelena. Paez man,
was elected to that office, and there outbreak
during the elections, though considerable excite
ment was manifested. In the year 1910 commenced
an epoch which had considerable. indeed every, in
fuence on the fate of Venezuela up to the present
date.
name of Antonio Leocado Guzman. Guzman has
long been opposed to Paez. even from before the
time of separation from Colombia. Guzman is
most devoted disciple Of Bolivar, and had, in the
early part of his career, enjoyed the confidence Of
the liberator, both personally and politically lie
j. man of considerable talent, and thorough going
democrat in his political ideas. AS we have seen,
he occupied Irresponsible position in the government
agree that the sound advice he gave to Vargas the
day he was imprisoned in his house, saved the
country at that time from being ruhlessly seized by
probably with view of conciliatinr Gu Guzman. in
yiied him to take Office under his government,
and Guzman accepted the Offer
In the month Of February, $40, Guzman was
moved from his post in most laconic manner.
This, of course, was not very pleasant, and, more
over, his sudden removal gave rise to many reports
derogatory to Guzmans character-among Others
that he had been removed "for having revealed
important government secrets regarding the settle
r. IL 4 4 -