Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-05


~ Afterward the great navigator came
here and gave the name New Indi to all the
unknown territory south from Hispaniols.
Castillian explorers quickly followed and in
1919 some OF them crossed the isthmus and dis
covered the mighty Pacific, after which the
country was soon colonized by the Spaniards,
who after subduing the natives by superior
force Of arms ensiaved the survivors and com
PEELED them to adopt the language, religion,
laws and customs of their conquerors. In
course Of time this section, in common with all
the Central and South American countries. eX-
cept Brazil and Guiana, became
NEW SPAIN
In reality as in name, occupied by mixed de-
scendants Of the conquerors and the conquered.
In 1910 Colombia, in common with all her sis
ter provinces and Mexico far to the northward
drew the sword and declared the domination of
Spain at an end.
Cotombia's Washington, Gen. Simon Bolivar.
was inaugurated first president Of the newborn
republic and probably all would have gone
we'll enough had it not been for the discussions
that arose from petty jeaIousies and personal
ambitions. The first constitution survived
only eleven years, when the central provinces
OF the union broke away and in 1881 united
themselves with another republic called New
Grenada. Bolivar's brain, like that of his
antelope Alexander and his contemporary Ma
poleon, teemed with political schemes and his
great hobby was the union of New Grenada,
Venezuela and Ecuador into one extensive and
powerful state The idea found favor and was
ratified by the first congress, which convened
at Angostura in December, 1919.
Then followed half a century of perpetual
dlRsenSlOns vi md ha
sion and reconstruction OF constitution after
constitution, in which Colombia, in common
with the other divisions of South America, took
part.
THE LAST REVOLUTION,
that of 1885, left government which seems to
be more firmly established than any that has
preceded it. After its suppression council Of
delegates met in Bogota in the summer Of 1886
and sanctioned a revised constitution whereby
the United States of Colombia were deprived of
their individual autonomy, the name of the
country was restored to that it bore nearly a
century before, viz, the Republic of Colombia,
the first article of the new constitution dis
tinctly. stating that Sovereignty rests solely
and exclusively with the nation as a whole not
with individual states" 1t re-created depart
ments instead of states the same as in 1881. to
be ruled by central government located in
Bogota. The preservation of public order is
vested solely in the national government, which
whole purport of the modification being the CEN
tralization of power.
The departm are subdivided into prov
inces and these again into municipal districts,
the former ruled by governors and the latter
by alcaldes. There are nine departments,
whose names are as follows: Magdaleua, Boil
var, Panama, Antioquia, Cauca, Tolima, b.
jaca. Santander and Cundinamaria, besides the
federal district of Santa Fe de Bogota, which
contains the capital.
THE AREA OF THE REPUBLIC.
The superficial area of this big republic,
which extends along the Atlantic seaboard from
the Isthmus OF Panama to Venezuela, south
ward along the Pacific to Ecuador and in the
interior to the upper waters of the Orinoco on
its western frontier and to the northern tribu-
taries Of the Amazon on the outskirts Of Brazil
is about 5O4,77 square miles, Its southern
boundary is one of the most definite landmarks
Of the earth. being nothing less than the equa-
tor. Its total population is estimated at 2, 955.-
255 including more than 100000 aboriginal
Indians, who dwell i'll the forests of the in
terror and of whose characteristics even the
Colombians know little beyond the fact that
they are peaceably disposed toward the civil
lied communities if they are not interfered
with. To show how little is known Of some
parts Of the country, it may be mentioned that
the Colombian government has recently offered
a reward of f200 to any one who may succeed
in making his way to the coast from the river
Magdalena, over the Sierra de Santa Rosa.
How THE COUNTRY is GOVERNED.
Congress meets in Bogota on the first day of
the new year, both the senate and chamber of
deputies using the same room, spacious apart
ment with galleries ON three Sides The vari-
GUS departments are administered by depart
mental assemblies which meet once in two
years, and each district or province has its own
municipal council. Judicially the republic Is
divided into districts, each possessing its SUI
periOr tribunal and district Judge. Besides the
civil, criminal and district courts commercial
courts are also held. The presidents term of
Office is six years. He is assisted by vice
president, seven ministers and council of
state. The present executive, DR.. Rafael NuneZ,
is enjoying his third term Of Office and has
nearly three years yet to serve.
Though Roman Catholicism prevails. there is
no state religion. natives and foreigners being
guaranteed freedom of conscience and worship.
The only monopoly in the country is that of
SALT which is still in the hands of the central
government; and in some departments that of
the rum distiiierles which is administered for
the benefit OF their own municipal revenues.
The trade in arms and ammunition is now en-
tirely free. There is a large public debt owing
to foreigners, three-fourths of which is due to
British creditors. who hold as security a mort
gage on the republics chief source of revenue
that derived from the customs
The principal national coin current is the
half-dollar. but that, being away below par. is
not thought Of at all III the conduct OF COM
mercial transactions abroad and is pretty nearly
valueless even in Central America. where drafts
are sometimes sought by business men
on the Isthmus For the purpose of
such drafts the silver dollars of Peru
and Chilli. the former called soles, the
latter pesos, are preferred, and are quoted
at from one to ten per cent above the money OF
Colombo. When the foreign dollar was intro
duccd this gold was sold at par, but domestic
want. added to the bi-monthly calls above al
luded to, has sent the American money n long
way up in the market. Therefore the very
best sort of funds one can possibly bring to
South America is United States gold, the pre-
MUM on which is always considerable.
THE EDUCATIONAL PROBLEM
The new organization of national schools.
modelled on the German method. took effect in
the year 1870, and already there are in the re-
public AS many as eighteen hundred educa-
tional institutions that are su pported from the
public treasury, with average of $4,000
pupils. There is also national escuaia nor
NAL for the especial instruction OF teachers in
the capital Of every department Those
trained for the work in these normal schools
are appointed to teach the common branches
in the national public schools. There are
many seminaries and colleges Of higher grade,
besides private schools for girls, where needle
work and household economy very properly re-
ceive more attention than the higher mathe-
mates, mechanics, DE-.
The practice of all trades and professions,
including those of law, medicine and the
apothecary, is absolutely unrestricted, so that
one need not even possess license or diploma