New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-03

A COLOMBIAN REVOLUTION.
SERIOUS AND HUMOROUS FEATURES.

lFEoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRBuSEI
CARTAGEYA. Colombia. February IL.
revolution in South America is not neces-
sarily rebellion. There is intention nor desire 10
su5vert the existing form of government revolution
is rather the popular method Of expressing dssatisac
ton with the regnant political party. When North
Americans organize bolt" South Americans organize
revolution When the former appeal to the baliot-po1
to remedy political evils the latter resort TO gunpowoer
and bullets. II the desired political changes can DC
effected empty narshaing of troops and the pias
of trumpets without appeal to arms both Iarties are
the better satisfied neither side hesates to resort W
blood letting, II is not otherwise atainaoie
In Cartagena, for time after actual hosunties
had broken out, the National troops were quartereo III
the Convent OF San Juan de Deos, while the
lists barricaded themselves In the college buildings
Why don't you drive that nest OF rebels IN tDs
collegei" asked loyal Official. "Qu.en saoef Mho
knewsD he replied with q shrug. And when nnsiy,s
steamer arrived bringing achievements from faha,
which embodened the National troops 10 march rouh"
to the college and capture IT, scattering the
lists and deposing Manuel Nunez Rapo, the reVoin-
onary President of the State OF Bolivar no attempt
was made to hold latter onsble for his intriguing
TO hand the city to the rebels, and many Oh te
recruits sooD turned up In the UNIFORM OF
National soldiers. To outsider such playing 81 war
seems nexplicabe at frst Closer scrutiny however,
shows that 1t wise Mcawber-ike waiting 10 see what
will turn up among the politicians who not the soldiers
generals, are the real drDiItIs VI
Either party is ready to succuno when " Is maies'
tina. its rival has gained the political supremacy.
On January the rebels captured Baranquiiia NJ tne
mouth the river Magdaena, the great cenra artery
of Colombian commerce. thus securing to themselves
the customs duties at that port They converted somo
OF the captured steamers into aimorpated gunDoa's'
and one of them large tug armed with an Armstrong
gun and commanded by plucky American captain
Akers, came down to CIrtagena and fred some blank
shots at tile town. .why don't your people lombard
the town and roust the handful Of National troops In
the conventf' asked rebel sympathizer Qdien
sabei" was again the reply; as long as there any
doubt as to which side will win what is the use CT use
less boodshed r. far can see, the whoie anar
is conducted upon the Same prncplo-a vast game Oh
bluff For weeks the National forces were Dusty
engaged ronplatng the steamer Rafael Nunez at great
expense to themselves of time and money At last she
was ready, and detachment OF troops, numbering 4oo'
under command of General Urueta, went up tue Dquc
imam her crossed to Sabanaarga which they occupied
February z, only few miles from Baranquiua. Az
latest advces they only waiting the arrival OF
cannon aud achievements dispatched by the steamer
Ailsa OF the Atlas Line to occupy the town. the main
body of the rebels having fled the river without fight
ing How long game will continue no one can say
though the National party seems ciea'ly 10 nave inc
ascendancy at The present moment ,ovo,,,ors Il, thu
inter paray sis OF industry and business when Ways
follows WITH the suspension OF puddle All t ne
National schools closed courts adjourned contracts were
suspended and eve,y one settled aoSn 70 k p .ch
the Interior Llockaded from ascending the river %
those In the Interior can neither get OUT nor
OF business companies engaged In mining or manu-
from tho hacendas TO make them into unwilling soldiers.
contscating at the time the mules ana horses Inc
panic among country people ia almost ludcrous TO
foreigner As was sailing up the Dique In steam
launch under the British dag the occupants OF the noats
and canoes took the woods without waiting TO ascer
tain our mission The male inhabitants OF whole villages
sleep In the mountains and savannas, to prevent
SURPRISE by the conscrpon Tho wharyes OF Cartagena
are laden with freight which the steamship companies
can neither forward to their destinations.
Whence comes the money which is squaudered so
lavshy by every who has his fingers In me pubic
those in authority is the talk Of all foreign residents.
The Yucstan was paid $4,000 for bringing na Few rev
aud 81 900 to the captain paid for carrying few
guns and equipments 10 Baranqulla IL Will cost the
detsined IN their employ and double for all
ployes The total OF the expenses IN his tte Town
for few weeks indulgence In revolution Will DO
So far as the property of foreigners concerned there
seems general disposition to Jet the Government
have what IL wants. Foreign gunboats are pretty
good security. and the size OF the claims Is proporonea
natives however have no recourse Deprived OF horses
aud stock the workmen conscrpted, all paying indus
ground lost by few weeks OF so-called revolution.
is the secret OF the slow progress OF THESE
lies South, in spite of their enormous rlchnes. IN
material resources. No will make Investments
requiring time and careful attention Tor ther develop
ment OF these nopportune seasons OF CONFUSION
and insecurity The Government cannot MAKE contracts
premiums In addition to the actual cost 70 conpebtate
contractors COR the risks they take Inc lower classes
prefer to live on pantans ana c pro"sy
which only exposes them to the far from kindly atten-
lions Of the Politics. who Ia TINS country a co@ norm
people with equal yieor Yet finer nobler or kndier
peore il would be hard TO nd than these coonbians
they cou rid themselves of the rule OF priests and
politicians.