New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-15
TYRANNY IN COLOMBIA.
THE PRESS GAGGED, COLLEGES CLOSED
AND ELECTIONS MADE A FARCE.

AND ELECllONS MADE y
PROM AK OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF Tue TRIBUNE
BarTanouua June 1a-Sincc the return OF Dr
Nunez 10 Borota the order Of things inaugurated py
General Pavan as President Of the Republic OF Col
on,hia has been entirely reversed. Personal liberty
and liberty Of the press have again been restricted
and the country Is once more groaning undcr inc
dictatorship OF DR.. Nuncz Great hopes hah pcch
entertained that General Pagan, who began so
well on the departure of DR.. Nunez would continue
on the same line and, as he had the power IN MS
own hands that he would prevent the return OF the
Dictator In such course hc would have been
sustained by the unanimous sentiment Of the country.
But these hopes disappointed, and Immediately
on the return Of DR.. Nuncz, the DEGREES OF General
Pagan removing restrictions from the press ana
giving liberty TO political cXilcs TO return were
practically annullcd, and moro tyrannical method
established than had before existed. All tho liberal
Journals one by one, were suppressed and Some of
their editors imprisoned while others were exiled.
Among tho former were Nicholas Esguerra, and
Cesar Conto, both men of talent and distinction,
who had violated law but had only In respectful
manner advocated the reform Of existing evils NO
trial was allowed them, nor any charges pre-
fcrrod against them. DR.. Comic at The Time OF
his arrest on asking by what authority he was taken'
was told that IT was by the verbal order OF SUI
peror powcr' In similar manner were arrest TED
and imprisoned Felipe Perez, Francisco Carrasquna
and Julio Anez, all editors of liberal journals. Juan
do Djos Tribe editor Of The CoTeo Liberal was
exlled.
These violent measures were compementcd by the
removal of General Pagan from the Vice Presidency
without impeachment or uial solely as punishment
for his attempt to free the press and secure personal
liberty at all This proceeding, without example IN
history excited universal indignation constituting
as It did a marked abuse Of power and an open Vlo-
lation of the rights of the people
The elections FOR the Congress- the first under
the socaed Constitution are in progress, the cleo
ton days appointed having been the third and fourth
Sundays in May. As the time approached, the Gov
eminent knowing It could not secure a majority by
fair means resored to others, and many distinguished
men in important centres Of the Republic were I'm
prsoned without even the prccnce of trial or even
the preermcnt of charges, the only conceivable OBJ
cct being to intiuiiGate the Liberals who constitute
a majority in the country. Among others arrested
on the eve of tho elections was General Calmargo,
a patriotic and distinguished who has acted as
President and always served his country we'll I'm
mediately after his arrest he was sent out OF the
country on the preiext of being the chief of con-
spiracy against the Government, which NOBODY Dc
lie0es to have any foundation
Under the crcumstanc the Executive Committee
of the party issued circulars strongly recommending
al Liberals abstain from voting, believing that IN
any event their votes would not be counted; and
there were tho additional reasons that by pursuing
such a course they would In no way lccoShlLe inc
existing Government except as usurpatlon. This
advice is being adopted and the field Is practically
abandoned 10 the Government
The subject Is under discussion In the National
Council OF closing several Of the young mem colleges
I'm which liberty Of conscience and liberal ideas
inculcatcd. u is maintained that such are subverVe
Of good government. one college. the " EAicrnadO,'
In which there hundred students, was us-
pended by decree Of the Government Oh May 10, the
day before the elections began, and the students
held as prisoners. At the time the last mail left
Bogota they were still in confinement, and dispatches
since received advise that bill has been passed
authorizing the President 10 close definitely such OF
the Institutions his discretion dictate Carlos
Cadeion fought bYa| ely against tie measure, dcclar
ing with the Constitution In his hand that 1t would
be violation of the solemn guarantees therein con-
tanned The bill passed by vote Of nine to siN.
Such is progress in Colombia to-day. Never In the
history Of the country. even under the Spanish do
mron has there been such tyIaAncal abuse OF power
a. at present exists.