Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-13
THE LAND OF BOLIVAR.
Men and Affairs in the Republic OF
Venezuela.
From the New York Star.

Men and Affairs I'm the Republic OF
Venezuela.
From the New York Star.
Venezuela contains four hundred
and twenty-six thousand eight huu.
dred and twelve square miles, and
is as big as France, Spain, England
and a few smaller countries put to-
gether. 1t has an immense coast
line, extending over a thousand
miles, with thirty-two ports, fifty
creeks and five CULTS. 1t has, it
need scarcely be said, three zones
agricultural. pastoral and forest.
Twenty Independent States make
up its federation, which is ruled
over by congress with two cham
bers, both popularity elected, and
by a president who, until lately,
stayed in Office until some other
president turned him out, and then
he in turn fought his way back
again. The population of all races,
which are numerous and mixed, APP
pears to be somewhat under 1000,
900, and the national revenue, de-
rived almost entirely from the GUS
toms duties, is about G1,000,0O0 a
year. The amount of its nominal
debt is beyond calculation, but the
precise figure is a matter of merely
speculative interest, as the uniform
practice of Venezuela has been to
pledge the customs duties, pay for
year and a half, and then stop al
together, and invite its creditors to
let bygones be bygones,'
The better class of Venezuelans
have many faults; but it is aston
ishing, when their history is con-
Sidered, that they should be as good
as they are. In the first place,
Venezuela was, Of course, q Span
ish colony with small population
Of Spanish extraction, and ruled on
the usual Spanish principles. 1t
revolted, and the war of liberation
was very long and very savage. TO
be cruel and stern in the suppress
sion of insurrection was principle
Of Spanish policy which was car
ried out in Venezuela as elsewhere.
The war, therefore, left behind it
bitter memories, and the habit of
perpetrating, suffering and reveng-
ing atrocities. When it was over,
two parties were, as in every Span
ish colony, left face to face. In
Venezuela they are called the Blues
and the Yellows, aud in other colo
nies they have other names; but
they invariably consist of those
whose minds are governed by the
traditions and habits which Spain
implanted during three centuries of
empire, and those whose minds re-
volt against these traditions and
habits. The sympathies of En-
glishmen are naturally with the
latter, and Bolivar, who headed the
war Of independence and subse-
quently presided over the infant
republic, was a man Of unusual
force, uprightness, and largeness of
character, and was treated with
appropriate ingratitude. But the
notion that, if you disagree with
people, you must try to kill them,
was deeply rooted in the national
mind, and its hold had been greatly
intensified by the incidents and the
prelongation of the struggle against
Spain. After fifty years of contest
the Yellows, or Liberals, have tri-
umphed, at least for a time, and
perhaps definitely, What Is really
remarkable is that the men at the
head OF the triumphant faction
should have SO many qualifications
for good government as the late
president, his ministers, and the
chief persons In Caracas possess,
They have set themselves to main
tain order, to promote education,
to carry ont material improve
ments.