Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-23
A DICTATOR OVERTHROW.
The Reign of Guzman Blanco, Of Vene-
zuela, at an End.

1
| CARACAS, Venuezuela, June 10.-Sensa-
tional events have been occurring here in
Iconstant succession for the last thirty
days and the republic has been trembling
with apprehension and excitement, but
the first peaceful revolution it has ever
known has been accomplished. The reign
| of GuZman Blanco has ended; the military
despotism that has existed in Venezuela
for a quarter of century is abolished. and
| there are constant demonstrations of graft
| fication in which all classes join with equal
ardor. Men who have submitted quietly to
| the tyranny of Guzman for fear of injury
| to their business, are now marching and
shouting in the streets; those who have
| hardly dared to whisper his name are
| shouting Down with the tyrant," and
most of his most Obsequious followers are
foremost in the demonstrations of rebel
lion. For the first time in thirty years the
press is free; the editors Of the
established papers are permitted
to speak their minds without fear
of Imprisonment or exile, and an
amusing crop of 7x9 handbills is spring ing
out of every printing office. In them the
"Illustrious American" is lampooned
without license and cartooned without
mercy, while he is in Paris crashing his
teeth in rage and planning revenge. That
he will make an effort to recover the con-
troll OF the government and resume the
dictatorship is not doubted for moment
by those who know him, but nobody be-
lieves that he can succeed and that opinion
adds to the enthusiasm.
That the situation may be understood
and the significance of recent events APP
preciated it must be known that General
Guzman Blanco since he first came into
control of the government in 1870 has
seemed to regard Venezuela as his own
property to do with as he desired. He has
treated the republic, which embraces an
area as large as the middle states and New
England as if it was his own inherited es-
tate and the 5000. 900 people as his ten
ants at will. He has been an uncrowned
car and his government an absolute
despotism. Under the constitution the
president may not succeed himself in
office, may not have two consecutive
terms, c2t is eligible for reelection after
an interval. Guzman Blanco has there
fore filled the presidential chair every al
ternate term During the last nineteen
years and between times has placed in
power dummy or 0lask, who was en-
trely subject to his will. His many acts
of tyranny has awakened a secret
hostility that, has only been suppressed
been manifested by an outbreak, or an at
tempt at assassination, and during the
latter years he has been compelled to sur
round himself with soldiers, night and
day, to protect himself from the vengence
of those who have suffered at his hands.
Two years ago, at the expiration of his
presidential term, he left the country, and
has since resided in Paris. The cable be-
tween Caracas and Havre has enabled
him to continue the direction
of governmental affairs, and nothing has
been done here without his approval. Be
fore going he gave himself credentials as
envoy extraordinary and minister plenlpo-
Tertiary to all European powers, and the
ostensible motive of his absence was the
ferences that exist between Venezuela and
England, France and Germany. Before
leaving for Europe, Guzman placed in the
presidential chair DR.. Rojas-Paul, one of
the ablest citizens of the republic, who had
previously been prominent in public af-
fairs for many years.
The manner in which Guzman performed
his self-imposed duties in Europe was
highly unsatisfactory to Paul as we'll as to
the people, and during the past year the
breach between the president and the
dictator has been widening. President
Paul fearing that GuZman would incite a
revolution began some months ago to
gradually depose from their commands the
leading officers of the army who
with the angry man in Paris and
replaced them with men in whom
he had confidence. This called out an in
sulting protest from Guzman, but Paul
was sustained by the people and the con-
ference, and did not swerve from his
course.
The trouble that vexes Venezuela is over
the boundary line between its provinces
on the Orinoco and British Guiana. Eng
land has been pushing her Outposts
over the border until she now en-
braces the mineral district of the
Essequibo, and Venezuela is thus robbed
of the richest portion of her territory.
GuZman Blanco was authorized to settle
this matter with England, but Lord Sails
bury declined to treat with him because
during his last presidential term he had
insuIted Mr.. ST. John, the British minister
at Caracas, and had compelled the latter
to take refuge upon an English man-of-
war in the harbor of La Guarya. But
wild rumors came from England that
Guzman was negotiating for the sale
of the Guiana province entirely in
his own interest and intended to pocket
the price. The people were excited
by these reports, inflamatory hand bills
were printed and posted in the streets and
some of the anti-Guzman papers added
fuel to the flames by asserting that the act
was already committed.
w lille I'LL UliS was SOluS OH SdIuc tuo
anniversary of the capture of Caracas by
Guzman and the assumption of the presi-
dency on the 27th of April, 1870. Instead
OF decorating GuZman's statue, as was
usual in all cities of the country
the people decorated the statue of
Bolivar. and attempts were made to pull
down the images of Guzman When
Guzman learned in Paris of these proceed
ings he lost self-control and sent several
long cableprams to President Paul with
out using his customary cipher, denounc-
ing him for his cowardice and demanding
that the men who had insulted him should
be arrested and shot. The steamer which
arrived from Europe on May Il brought
letters from Guzman to the president of
such character as to bring matters to a
crisis. Just what their contents were no
one seems TO know, although there are
many reports in circulation.
On the following day, TO the astonish-
ment and CONSERVATION of every one, DR..
Paul sent to congress his resignation of
the officeIof the president. He gave no
reasons, and it was unnecessary. Every
L that he had raceIya1 letters