Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-01-10
50 vigorously portrayed by Mr. Clay still

name. lie was born at Caracas, IN en-
I ezaela, in 7S3, of family rich enough to
I afford him the most costly advantages Of ed
ucatlon, W hen young man, he travelled
/ extensively 10 the nited States and Ia
( Europe, aud learned to speak with ease, and
/ write with ability, Ave languages Spanish,
/ French, Italian, German and English. Re-
( turning home, he gave the first proof Of an
+ enlightened mind by freeing the negro slaves
empl0Yed upon his estate.
I The example Of the United States in
/ throwing of the yoke nf the mother country
I produced the most powerful impression uD
on the oppressed Creoles IN South America
During The bnyhnnd and gesrs.l'-of ESoltsssTs
MS Ieiiaw citizens rose four times IN revolt
against the Spaniards, and four times their
effnrts were frustrated, and the rising flame
OF freedom quenehed 10 patriot blood. 10
stead OF mitigating the oppression of the
people, the Spanish government bore more
| heavily upon them, until, in 1911, the peo-
pie of Fenezuela attempted for the fifth
time 70 throw off the yoke. Bolivar was
then twenty eight years OF age. Entering
the patriot army with the rank of colonel
/ he shared the niSfOrtunes Of General Miriam
da, and again saw his country drenched in
blood. The Spanish general waged war of
determination, The very malefactors in
the prisons were organized into guerrilla
bands and let loose upon defenceless peo-
Pile, and their places in the dungeon were
hlled with the most respectable and Virtuou~
Of the land. The cry OF despair reached
Bolivar IN his exile at Carthagena He re
appeared 10 his native land, raised again the
standard OF revolt, called his fellow citizens
around him, and was soon in position 10
wage effective war against the public enemy.
u, 4
this new revolt, resolved upon the most dss-
perate measures, which he delaid not to exc
cnte The campaign Of 1914 was one of the
most terrible that ever desolated Christian
country. Cities were given up 20 pIllage
and CONFEDERATION. The wives and daughters
nf the patriot soldiers were abandoned 10 the
brutality OF the Spanish troops Prisoners
uy war were mercilessly put to death. and
hundreds Of citizens were executed for the
crime of wishing well to their c0untTy.
Bolivar, then commander in-chief of the pa
trlot forces, was compelled to issue an order
declaring that no quarter should be given to
any Spanish captive. Such brilliant sue
cesses, however, were won By han over the
Spanish troops, that, IN January, l9i4, he
could report TO the congress Of y Venezuela
that no Spanish army polluted its soil. He
resigned his commission, fniloWing the ex-
ample Of Washington but the congress in
sisted upon his retaining it until the confed-
Grated republics had expelled the Toe.
The Spaniard was not yet defeated. The
campaign of 1914 was disastrous TO the cause
nf liberty in the adjacent countries, aud
Bolivar alone. among the distinguished men
maintained a frm eOuutenauce and urged
his countrymen to perseverc. Spain now
made prOdigiOus efforts. In the sprins %
1878 feet Of fifty ships arrived, which
attacked and captured the principal seaports
while the new Spanish army ravaged the IN
terior. During these two teri IDLE years
more than six hundred patriot officers and
citizens we're banished OF put TO de8th, and
Bolivar himself was compelled to fly, and
take refuge under the British flag IN the
island of } Jamaica.
But his great soul was still unc0Hquered.
The next year. at the head ofthree hundred
mau, "equul, IS he said, .'in courage aud
~ patriori-m. as they were IN number, to
the soldiers of LeJnidas, he appeared once
more in his native land Again the RepuU-
licans focked 10 bis standard. The cam
paigns OF 1917 and 1878 were triumphant
for the patriots, especially that OF the latter
year The career Oi Bolivar. heucetOrth,
was one Of almost uBbrukeu victory, and at
ter four years of terrible warfare, the Span
i-h government was compelled TO treat for
peace. and 60 coneede the independence Of
the United Republics Again Bolivar re-
signed bis commission as general ana dIcta
tor. In his address to Congress, he said:
II am the child Of camps. Battles have
/ borne me 10 the chief magIstTacy, and the
/ fortune Of war has sustained me in 1t; but a
! power like that which has been conided to
1 me is dangerous in a republican government
I | prefer the title Of Soldier TO that Of Lib
4 orator; aud, in descending from the Presi
/ dental chair, aspire only to merit the title
of good citizen
| Spain renewed the war, and Bolivar was
called again TO the Supreme command.
| Three more bloody campaigns were neces.
/ -ary before the Spaniards were wholly and
/ finally expelled from the soil Of Columbia,
! hy which name the coufederated republic
/ were called. In 1925, Bolivar once more
abdieaied the dictatorship. An equestrian
statue having been deereed him by the cor
I poration Of bis native city, he declined the
/ honor saying:
/ '.Wait till after my death, that you nBy
Judge me without prejudice, and accord 10
me then such hoROrs A. you may deem suita
! ble. bat never rear monuments TO man as
{ long as be Is alive. He can change, he car
. betray. You viii never have this Tepr0ach
90 make to me; but wait little longer.
Unfortunately. the Crenles of South
America, after they had expelled the op
presSor. we're not able to form a stable anC
=. satisfactory government The ambition OF
some men and the weakness of Others made
the young republics the scene of confusion
and, sometimes, Of civil war; aud Bolivar
was ompelIed again 10 accept the supreme
authority. Ii was the great design OF hE
policy 70 mite all the republics, both o
; South aud North America, into kind ol
league. offensive and defensive, with Su
preme Court which should decide such ques
lions as are usually decided by war.
Like General Washington, Bolivar wa
less popular as a civil ruler than he bad beel
as a commander Of armies. Disguised a
length by the calumuies with which he wa
asssiled. he not only resigned the pre- idenc.
but determined 10 leave his country. H.
addressed to his fellow citizens farewell let
ter:
''The presence of a fortunate soldier,
said e, however disinterested he may be
ia always dangerous in a s.ate just set free
! am tired Of hearing it necessarily repeatet
that I wish to make myself emperor, and t
raise again the throne ofthe IncaS Every
where my actions are nisrepresented, lti
enough. | have paid my debt 70 my coun
try and TO humanity. ] have given m.
blood, my health, my fortune, 10 the caus
{ OF liberty, and a. long as it was IN peril
was devoted to its defence; but now cha
America Is no longer torn by war, nor pollu
, fsd eritb tba f,rnsepca Of an armed foe