The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-01
THE VENEZUELAN. SENSATION.
What May Really Be Behind the Schem.
ing Talk Of Some Adventures.


From the New York Graphic.
The removal OF Gen. Paez's remains to
Venezuela is made an occasion fer another
sensational story about the political sensa-
ton behind that function, and with regard
TO the ambition Of ex-Presdent Blanco,
now in Paris. War with Great Britain is
to follow, and Col. Gibbons will loom up
as patriot and soldier, and various other
adventurous individuals expect to become
famous, or what is more to the purpose,
very rich out OF the plumber TO be made
in the whole affair. Doubtless there is
this much about the whole job, and that is
that Gen. Blanco expects to advance
scheme for a confederation Of the Spanish
American republics OF the northern por-
ton OF South America. Confederation
schemes OF that kind have always been
favorite ones with Spanish American
statesmen in Mexico, Central America and
South America. Indeed, their early his
tory was based On that idea.
But the prctentious assumptions OF the
adventures who, il is asserted, are to lead
in this Venezuelan British movement, TO
which circulation is now being given,
ought 10 be made to hang together more
closely as 10 dates, ETC., than the magma
tive reporter has succeeded in making
them do.
For example, "Col." Gibbons Is written
about as II soldier in the Union service as
well also as an Irish patriot, yet he is also
said TO be chief OF the Knights OF the
Golden Circle, which secret organization
was the forerunner and secret agent Of the
Southern Conicderacy. These things are
somewhat incompatible at least, and the
points OF the story fail TO doyetail properly.
A certain military adventurer, known as
"Bob" Crawford is now brought on the
scene us the power behind Blanco, and tho
organizer of the whole scheme. Perhaps
he is and as he is reported to have been y
thiei, counterieitcr, man stcaler, de-
scrtcr and traitor, there can hardly he
anything too versatile and desperate for
such u genius TO undertake. But some OF
the dates don't tit.
Here, for example, Crawford is written
OF having been commissioned by Andrew
Johnson, when Military Governor OF Ten
ncssce, to raise a Union regiment. An
drew johnson was a man OF sterling hon
esty, yet this man makes him trust Il man
whom he knew to have been a thief, and
that, too, after he had befricnded him.
johnson was not in Nashville till the early
summer OF 1862 Between that city and
Louisville there is long stretch, filed in
those days with troops on both sides. Yet
Crawford is reported, after raising his
Union command and robbing bank
somewhere, To have disobeyed orders and
marched about $50 miles 10 Louisville
with his recruits. On arrival there he il
said 10 have turned them over to bounty
broker, got his pay and fled the country.
The story is 'bosh." No such body oi
men could have marched through the
country indicated Louisville was heavily
garrisoncd No such force could have
arrived there and been disposed OF as
stated. our reporters ought 10 study the
history OF their own century aud country
ut least before spinning off ON space
such intOlerahle rot" But the yarn
spins on. Crawford goes 10 New Orleans,
alter having failed to get the gallant Gen.
John H. Morgan 10 turn bandit ON large
scale. The vcracious chroniclcr OF the
notorious Crawford fails TO tell whether
Confederate Dick Taylor or Union Ben
Butler WIS in command at the Crescent
City. In neither case could Crawford have
ningp. Evidently the narrator mixes the
Grant project for the annexation OF Sar
Domingo in 1870 with the war period
After Crawiord's kidnapping spcculn
ton, ~ alleged, lac went TO Mexico e
work with anil for Macmillan. Again
the dates are mixed. The Austrian hlscC
was over in 1870
Cniwior. did not kidnap negroes from
New Orleans in 1881, because lac coul,
not have done Il. lie NAV have been IL
Mexico in 1886 OF 1896, but proably not
These little incongruitics arr pointed on
because they show the sort Of people
brought forward inthis Venezuelan schem'
and also because Of their internal stupidity
That some scheme II on foot there II prob
ally lililc doubt But that our govern
mcnt will not permit lis territory 10 b
used ~ a iilibustoring depot goes withou
telling.
Originally the State of Venezuela iormc,
part ~ the Republic or State Of Colombia
aud that was coequal IN territory with ia
Spanish Vice Royalty Of New Grenada AM
the Capiain.Gencnl Ol Venezuela tina
Bolivar and racE overthrow. Tho Blanc
Confederation II such bc projected, woul'
seek 90 rcmitc the thpe Latin republic
Of the United States oi Colombia, Ncns
zucla AMI Ecuador. II IL easy to pcrcciV
thai such u scheme, which seems, by th
WV, 20 have no ioOthold in Colombia
would L. likely 90 encounter the hostilit
al funcr. unless. indeed. DE Lcsseps IL I
br left with his cOstly Panama Speculation
or Blanro has decided 10 help the old pr
moier. Looking NJ The present suriac
condition u Affairs the whole story seen
prcposicrous.
Within the past twenty years or less sc'
erul Latin confederation projects have bee
n00tc,l, sub rusa and difcuScd nj consit
eniblc length in Washington and els
whore. l,cimr the railroad em oi Mcxic
and since the destruction Of the bogus en-
prc there. the northern or mineral Stat,
-Cbiiuahua, Sonora, sinola, Dumnl
aud Nuevo Leon were greatly dissatisiio
with their federal government aud its n
ADMINISTRATION. Il was said that they ha
done more Of the fighting for aud borne q
ihc cost VI restoring the republic and wei
generally ignored ut the City Of Mcxic
H. San Francisco the writer once had cy
doncc given him 81 tie existence Of an e.
tcnsiVo secret society, having for IL objc
the secession OF Northern Mexico. AN
probably voluntary annexation thcrcalti
H. the United States. ltwas asserted. als
that leading statesmen and soldiers In Me
leo wcrc not unwilling, provided at u
same time they were allowed 10 rccot
themselves In Central America 10y brin
inc Guatemala and Nicaragua, at lcas
into the Mexican Federal union.
4 map oi tlic proposed northern Next
republic II said 10 have been at one tin
.....i. L.. "a If,..t.l sfatca army antggr Wl