The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-27

Democratic Decentralization by Party
Politics-Fesr Of Rsvolutfon from tho
Presidential Contest. i
BARRANQUILLA, Colombia, April IL, 1874
Tne signs are that the neighbortng Republic OF
Venezuela may before long be the scene OF ono o.
those revolutionary crises which have been the
Danc OF that beautiful but unhappy country. The
present Executive Chief Ia, whether justly I'M
justly man VINO Is exceedingly unpopular; and
"a he has reached his power In q manner far from
constitutional the spirit of dscord has been very
strong. s#
TIE POLITICAL PARTIEs. sfA
Perhaps . sketch OF the political condition OF
Venezuela may serve to remove the curtain which
conceas Its true politics nom the eye OF the world
The two important parties OF the country are
named respectively conservatives and liberals
These, however, not political parties, properly
speaking. Both profess the same principles; at least
they make such declarations stand for such. Both
sides advocate the prosperity OF the country, che
freedom from dsh0nor OF the courts, the purity Of
the government and SO on all through the gamut
OF those 'glittering generahties" AMI pretty moth
ings that constitute party programmes every
where. II both to be equally believed, 1t is the
most astonishing fact in political history that
Venezuela IL not now on the high road Of national
prosperity, instead or having tumbled down at the
foot OF the hill Of faction. None OF the file or the
smaller patriots pretends for moment to believe
the Chief Patriot OF the day when he exposes Tor
the hundredth time the threadbare plaritudes.
And whys Simply because there is
NO CONSTITUTION, s
so to speak, in Venezuela There is one in name,
put it Is OF about much use at this time ~ .
costume OF the days OF Tibertus would be to q
lounger along Broadway or Adams first dress TO
an elegant Of Madison square. There being NO
constitution, It follows that there are no
elections worth the name. There being
neither, 1t follows again that there is no
responsibility anywhere. II the liberals happen
to be stronger, the Chief Patriot, to the extent
OF his capacity, usurps power that looks purple
IN It's imperialism. II the conservatives are
stronger, tnen 1t Is their G. P. who takes the
glove rom the hand OF iron Either way this state
OF things lasts just long the opposite party 10
not strong enough to remedy IT, There are ex-
ceptons OF course to all tins; but this Is the rule.
l do not doubt that there are many honest and
patriotic vcnezuelans; but, In the main, power
makes them despotic, and sounding patriotism 10
too weak vessel 80 resist personal interest. It
has sometimes happened that truce IS a2reed on
between the contending factions; but 1t has rarely
occurred thar the truce has been more than y q
CLEAN OF sunshine There was such . ssNss
BURYISG OF THE RATCHET
in 1858, embooying complete oblivion Of the past
and the gathering OF both parties under the high
President General Falcon did not prove himself
able to sustain the balance between the nigh
81 o. his ADMINISTRATION, although his cabinet
compared some Of the most eminent
poc 'a tue s"s gem
eraiy LET'S very open question; but u seems 70
enae and
aJ least, sure that fierce and sangutnary war o.
100 days around Caracas. the capital, followed.
General Antonio Guzman bianco led the liberals
and tr1umphed with them. Then came she usual
somerset ] have already said that ne 10 far
from being popular. Or course, have only read
the creed 81 his enemies shear the other side"
IL sale maxim enough, bat tribe hard TO follow
at this moment whether true or NOT, cannot
say but PRESIDENT Guzman Blanc0 10 charged with
making money out OF the desoiatlon OF his country.
Ten years ago he was as poor tr Is said rat as
ever grew lean IN church, now the same vera
above million. But this Ia not all that the '.puDnc
voice' charges upon hum. It SPEAKS OF a mind that
~ Inc aGSss O. aes
fellow countrymen from their homes; or
. mcrcilessness that h9ds delight in the
heart that revels ia the slaughter Of hundreds VI
adversaries; OF the basest OF treachery thar,
through jealousy. DEGREES the execution OF poll
tical and personal friend, ana his owl Vice Presi-
dent, 1t an obscure spot; In fine, OF other deeds,
Nero This n the story that Is connectei with tho
name Of the Venezuela President. Is IT. truey
That ie what cannot answer. AT least. IL 10 NOT
found in the journals OF the country; there the
PRESS MUZZLED
in more enectua sense than we're ever Slre ''Free
Companions OF the Paris press under MS hate
Imperial Majesty. But there are some papers
SAID, by the way, to be freely papped by govern
IL might be iancied that they would limit them
selves TO comparing Jhis Guzman Banco with
nx our George
| none too high for the IMAGINATION OF the Fene-
sa that sSs very sn' nss
In South America. Let man Just raise
npseli IKE one OF victor hugo's Egyp nna
he becomes eJ Fashtagton, or (more usually eS
Wasni,sgtson, OF what county soever ne may hap
4 pen to be In There IS not the most remote ike
ness in the picture. We Americans ought, sup
pose, to ieel complipeuled at this But the iins
must be drawn Somewhere.
The other states OF South America ana the ADA
cent islands are filled with large number OF those
| are not only conservatives but nberas-not only
men Of the same party on which ne rode i INTO
from the start The breaking OF the pact Of 1855
was in the eyes Of many Of the liberals, a grave
MANY honorable men who believed In II have been
rudey awakened In this cisy have met several
exied venezueians, Gil nigh toned and dignined
e al se0 s Sss o. sse are Among
s'eM LIBERAL raj and senior p. seoerssroms. the
director Of q very nourishing college here; Gen.
eral Jose Ma; Betancart sucre, nephew Of the
Sucre de Sacre, one OF the fathers OF the independ-
cnce OF Colombia, and Generals Uriarte and Poca-
what have heard reads me to believe that what
ever movement will be made win be, II inauga-
THE WORK or BOTH PARTIES
No plan has ~ vet been decided on; but the ele.
ments are all ripe and the parties are not wanting
in preparation.
Among the most prominent OF the outs" II DIT.
Pedro Jose Royas. Men speak well Of tins gentle
man, or his intelligence, OF his capacity
for state AFFAIRS, and, above all, OF an tn-
corruptibe honesty that. after years or public
service, has lett his family In reduced cir.
cumstances Should any such movement as that
20 which have referred occur you may look TO see
the name Of DR.. Royas placed very nigh. He has
already peen President oil Venezuela. The tides
political as well as oceanic, ebb ana now; and ne
may be President or Cesar once again.
THE CLIFTON OUTRAGE