New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-15
POLITICS IN VENEZUELA.
THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ISSUES
AND CANDIDATES.

lFRox AYQccAsIosAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
Caracas. August 81.
Tho whole of Venezuela and especially this capital,
IS all ablaze with the excitement Of a political cam
palgE. How to prevent big slice of Venezuelan
territory from being gobbled up by England is the
burning question and on It the Presidential election
VIII mainly nm Tho whole matter has been worse
than bunglcd In Europe by Venezuelas representative
there exPiesdont Guzman Banco. The people and
Government OF the United States arc, therefore,
directly Interested In the present electoral campaign
which will result in the election of President ready
to do the bidding Of England, Of true Venezuelan
patriot, bound to resist British encrOachments on
the National territory, with without the help Of
sister Republic which prohibited such encrOachmens on
American soil. by her Monroe Doctrine. Venezuela
has constantly protested, In 1922, 1880, 1874 and
1886, against the advance steadily made by England
from the EsscqulbO frontier TO the mouth of the
Ornoco, stream whose possession, sim better than
that Of the Amazon, would give her the political and
commercial domination over the richest portion OF
South America. Whlo negotiations proceed
ing at London in 1885, with Lord Rosebery, British
agents invaded Venezuela mp to Barma Point. and
revenue crtter cruised in the spare which lies be
tween the Amacuro and Barima Rivers thus prac-
ucay controlling the outlets of the Ornoco. On this
occurrence the Government ordered IT'S represent.
alive In Europe, General Guzman BlancO, to break
up the negotiations. Since that time tho enormously
successful working OF gold mines In the district Of
Yuruari has attracted there considerable British i'm
migration and the Anglo GuIanese claim that district
as belonging to Guiana, on whose inland border it is
situated.
No wonder, then that under the circumstances, the
electoral fight should rest mainly questions of for
egn policy. This explains why GWman BancO,
formerly the real master of the country. but who Is
charged with having neglected its interests during
his diplomatic campaign in England, stands in corner
of the electoral arena like masked man, determined
to push himself forward and fight only after the
avowed candidates shall have retired and he shall stand
alone in the field But his chances are poor il cal.
cuated ratio Of support he gets among the 133
Venezuelan newspapers, forty-nne of them dailies
As to the three other candidates fighting openly for
the Presidential election, one Senior Abreu, IS hardly
known and his candidacy up to the present time IS
not considered seriously by anybody. The actual
President, Juan Pablo Rojas Paul, has no heart
I'm the struggle, and runs To please his friends rather
than to satisfy any ambition of his After having
governed for many months with splendid success.
might spoil the laures of his political past: His
policy OF concord has considerably contributed to the
united under his guidance to establish true republican
institutions. The quiettng influence Of President
ceeds with a tranquility somewhat unexpected IN a
country where the climate and tho native character
is inhabitants ii IS true that all Che candidates
.,'u Mr.. Crespo, who was exed two years ago after
l> revolutionary attempt and whose name IS also put
forward By few friends-are honorable cabalcr)s,'
gentlemen. Moreover, there is direct or popular
ballot Il the National Congress which has 10 choose
the occupant OF the Casa Amaria." the Red House.
The third Tor the fourth II Crespo runs serious cand
date Is Doctor Jesus MnOZ Tebar, Of the greatest
social and political rospec liability. For nineteen years
he has served his country, nearly always as Minister
OF Public Works In other high Offices Of the adj
ministraton. lie Is intelligent and we'll known
engineer and has cOnSecTated a large portion of his
life to matters OF public instruction. He also was
the rector OF the Caracas University, wrote several
school books and delivered many remarkable speeches
while he occupied seat Senator I'm the Venezuelan
Congress. Whenever important work, like a rail
had 10 be accomplished, Dr. Munoz Tebar was sure
TO have something to do with it in the capacity of
engineer director other character. His qualities
have him the admiration and friendship of all
political parties. which IN him man with
national reputation, whose public and private life has
not been lacked by anybody. He IS also known as
being the favore candidate Of the actual President,
who. though competitor and a candidate also, VIII
protect with all his honest energy absolute freedom
of elections.