New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-28
GUZMAN AND VENEZUELA.
A NATION OF THE SPANISH MAIN.
HOW MUCH OF THE coUNTRY's PROSPERITY Is DU

HOW MUCH OF THE coUNTRy's PROSPERITY Is DUE
TO ONE MAN.
England ON the barren and forbddlng coast of
newfoundland laid the foundation of great and
powerful nation Spain, at that time the most
powerful nation in the world, laid in the eternal
summer of the tropics, IN land the most frultlui
IN the world the foundation OF discordant ana
belligerent nations which have lost the cviilza-
ton of the sixteenth century without acquiring
that of the nineteenth. To some OF them new
era seems dawning; but the condition OF others
must make old Simon Bolivar tnrn IN Ills grave
Venezuela owes all that she is to one man. GuZman
Ranco. For years the will of this remarkable mau
has been the sole governing force of the nation. and
the hand of steel has not always been covered WIN
the velvet glove. There is no comparison between
the venezuela of to day and Venezuela as she
was when General Guznan first took the helm.
HIS first labor was to convince the people that the
game of rev olution was played out and the next
that they must go to work. lie had hard tino.
hut he succeeded Then he built railroads an"
formed companies for developing mines and other
resources of the country. The cost OF administer
ing the Gov ernnert was reduced, and the revenues
increased.
ALI this was done in spite of the people, the
minority of whom quite content with their
old way of life The more intelligent of the Ven
|
infinite tact and force of character to work the
changes that he has. He appointed his Cabinet
Ministers and they form with him the Federal
Council Every act passed by the Federal Council
becomes at once law. There a National Congress,
but its power amounts to nothing The whole
GOV eminent rests in Guzmar. The only trouble IS
that lie has established an empire without piovd-
ing for succession of power when ne dles no
NAV have so fk advanced the Venezuelans in
/ o;x, atm at Ia m
form of government which is republican III reaiot
as we'll in name; But the probabilities are tnae
! with the death OF G0Zman the prosperity Vi 'e"
This VAS illustrated recently dnrng the short
interim IN Guzmsns reign when % The great
Powers Of Europe. Things went on IRON, piu "
worse in Venezuela until Crespo, casting apout nor
means to raise money for the needs OF the Oovern-
ment sent an agent to London to sell the bonds Oh
the Caracas and La GuaJra Railroad whlch are heln
bv the Venezuelan Government On reaching
London the agent called on General Guzman ana
Wy et me see those bonds,v said the Illustrious
American" and the bonds were handed TO hlm
&" Here said Guzman to his secretary, take these
| bonds and lock them up III the SAFE. =,
The discounted agent returned TO senezuela oy
and when General GuZmaD returned TO caracas
little over two months ago he restored the bonds 10
The Venezuelan treasury. When he got back tnis
fail he found things in a bad state and Immediately
set to ork to put them right. In two months ne
has doubled the revenues of the Government;
been able to do this, he replied:
a. BY putting honest men in Office" -
At present none of the South American hePuDllcs
is IN as good condition financially or SO iar al
vanced in civilization as Venezuela, with the
exception of Chill. General Guzman has MADE
enemies and like srtOng man, his enemies are
very hitter ones. He is called by them tyrant
and so he may be but if Venezuela could Fave q
succession of such tyrants she would soon De one OF
the most prosperous little nations in the world In
his beautiful capital city OF Caracas Guzman
surrounds himself with the pomp so plesalng TO the
Latin eve and from his palace makes his energy felt
throughout the nation. He has well-drilled little
army of about 5000 men and weil-orgahized
civil service. go -,
The breakwater which is icing bult at the port
of La Guayra IS of the greatest engineering
works of the kind in the world. Caracas has
population of about 100000, has water WORKS
| (which are being extended electric lights and all
sorts of modern improvements Among the mines
which are being worked are those of Callao, the
richest in the world. The pillars which are iett 70
| support the roof of the mine are said to be OF
almost solid gold. company is about to work work
contain large deposits of asphalt: and every pos
sible resource of the country is beng developer;
Schools and colleges have been established ana
| societies for the encouragement oil tne aIts anu
The people have got so used to looking to Guzman
now for every thing and have so recently h a. a
| taste of bow helpless they are without him. THAT
the only question asked when any new enterprise
! is proposed 49, What does Guzman say r 1t Is
charged by his enemies that he has crown WeaI1S
as ruler OF Venezuela but 1t has never heen charged
that he has enriched himself at the expense OF the
country. The wealth which he has collected Is as
drop in the bucket compared TO the wealth ne mas
| bestowed on the nation. Many South American
rulers have made themselves presidents and
| dIctators with the idea of plunderng the
| cDnntry, but Guzman has kept steadily before him
the adv ancement of Venezuela. There is not a
more absolute ruler in the world and not one who
| has made better use OF his power.
Gnzmans manner of enforcing respect and
obedience is we'll illustrated. by an incident which
took place recently when he was forming his
Cabinet. One of those who had been summoned to
the nalace TO take portfolio arrived late. Guznan
impatient at his Hardness, walked to the door
where a military officer of high rank was leanins
| against the doorpost, and said Go and find SenoI
-" The officer called TO an orderly and
repeated Guzmans order The President seized tht
officer by the shoulder and pushing him out of the
door, said I" Go you and ind him. i am master
| here The officer went.