Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-11
GUZNAN AND VENEZUELA
A Nation OF The Spanish Mains
HOW MUCH OF THE coUNTKY's PR0sPRRrTY Is DUE 10
ONE NAN.

From The New York Tribune.
England on the barren and forbidding coast OF
New England 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 fruitful
In the world, the foundation Of disc0rdant and
beligerent nations, which have lost the cfvfliza-
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 turn in his grave
Venezuela owes all that she is to one man, Guz-
man Blanco. For years the will Of this remark
able man has been the sole governing force OF the
nation, and the hand OF steel has not always been
with the velvet fa glove There Is no nG
Venezuela she was when Gen. Guzman first
took the helm. His first labor was to convince the
people that the game OF revolution was played out
and the next that they must go to work. He had
a hard time, but he succeeded. Then he built rail-
roads and formed companies for developing mines
and other resources OF the country. The cost OF
administering the government was reduced, and
the revenues Increased.
All this was done in spite of the people, the major
1ty OF whom were quite content with their own
way Of ife The more intelligent OF the VeneZuelans
OF course supported him, but 1t required 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 Is national congress, but It's power
amounts to nothing. The whole government rests
in Guzman. The only trouble is that he has estaD-
ali eIilplIc WItuUuG pTONlulnH lUT d SuCCCo-
sion of power. When he dies he may have SO far
advanced the Venezuelans in civilization that they
may be able to go on under form OF government
which is republican in reality well as in name.
But the probabilities are that with the death OF
Guzman the prosperity Of Venezuela will come to
an end.
This was illustrated recently during the short
interim In GuzmanS reign when President CreSpO
held office. Guzman was Minister to the great
Powers OF Europe. Things went on from bad to
worse in Venezuela Until Crespo casting about for
means to raise money for the needs OF the govern
ment, sent an agent to London to sell the bonds of
the Caracas and La Guayra railroad, which are
held by the Venezuelan government. On reach
ing London the agent called on General Guzman
and told him OF his mission.
"Let me see those bOnds.n said the Industrious
American" and the bonds were handed to him.
Here, said Guzman to his secretary, stake these
bonds and lock them up in the safe"
49, the discounted agent returned to venezuela by
the next steamer without the bonds or the money,
and when Gen. Guzman returned to Caracas, a
little over two months ago, he restored the bonds
to the Venezuelan treasury. When he got
back this, fall he found things in bad
state, and Immediately set to work to put
them right. In two months he has doubled the
revenues OF the government When some one re-
Gently asked him how he had been able to do this,
he replied:
SPY putting honest men in Office"
AT present none OF the South American republics
Is In as good condition financially or so far ad-
exception OF Chill. General GuZman has made
enemies e and, like strong man. his enemies are
and so he may be; but II Venezuela could have q
succession of such tyrants she would soon be one
OF the most prosperous little nations in the world
In his beautiful capital city OF Caracas GuZman
surrounds himself with the pomp so pleasing to
the Latin eye, and from his palace makes his
energy felt throughout the nation. He has we'll
drilled little army OF about 1900 men and we'll
organized civil service.
The breakwater which is being built at the
port OF La Guayra Is one OF the greatest engineer
ing 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 left to
support the roof or the mine are said to be of
almost solid gold. A company is about to work
the pitch lakes in the state OF Bermudez, which
contain large deposits OF asphalt and every posi-
Bile resource Of the country is being developed.
societies for the encouragement OF the arts and
sciences founded.
The people have got so used to looking to Guz-
man now Tor everything, and have so recently had
taste OF how helpless they are without him, that
the only question asked when any new enterprise
Is proposed Is, "What does Guzman say?" 1t is
charged by his enemies that he has grown wealthy
as ruler OF venezuela, but 1t has never been
charged that he has enriched himself at the eX-
pense OF the country. The wealth which he has
collected, Is as drop In the bucket compared to
the wealth he has bestowed on the nation. Many
South American rulers have made themselves pres
identS and d1ctatOrS with the one idea OF plumber.
ing the country, but GZman has kept steadily be-
fore him the advancement OF Venezuela There
Is not more absolute ruler in the world and not
one who has made a better use OF his power.
Guman's manner OF enforcing respect and obedi-
ence Is well illustrated by an Incident which took
place recently when he was forming his cabinet
One OF those who had been summoned to the palace
TO take a portfolio arrived late. GuZman tmpa.
tient at his hardness, walked to the door, where
military officer OF high rank was leaning against
the doOrpOst, and said: ''GO and find Senior
The officer called TO an orderly and repeated Guz-
mans order. The president seized the officer by
the shoulder and pushing him out OF the door,
said: $50 you and find him. l am master here j"
The officer went.