New-York tribune., 1890-06-28
SHORTER LINES OF TRADE.
DIPLOMATIC OPPORTUNITIES ~ vENE-
ZUELA

TRovERsI Es c 1MMERCIAL PRIVILEGES
THAT NAY BE JUSTLY DEMANDED
ny THE UNITED STATES.
fyRonA -rar coAnEsroSpEST rHBusrl
Caracas, March 10.
The capital OF Venezuela has the cTowning
glory OF being the birthplace of Bohvar-the
cradle Of South American liberty. II rcvcFences
his memory His dust is buried in it's pantheon.
His statue the finest work of art on the Conii-
nent. is in it's central plaza. Memorials Of his
patriotism and genius are seen on every side
Every coin passing from hand to hand IN the
daily traffic Of the city bears his image and super
scription. Caracas is the city Of the Llberator;
but alas, the traditions Of his fame have not
protected IT against political usurpation and the
most wretched travcstics on civil liberty and self
government
The Venezuelan Constitution is modelled after
the American Constitution. with notifications
grounded upon the extreme Calhoun doctrine Of
State Rights The Confederation consists of
eight States which are supreme and coordinate
in their sovereign rights The National Govern
nent theoretically represents, not the people, but
The State system The Congress comprises two
houses one consisting Of three Senators elected
by each State Legislature and the other Of Depu-
ties, elected on the basis of population. This
Congress elects Federal Council once in two
years consisting of one Senator and one Deputy
from the delegations of each State, and one adj
ditional Deputy from the Federal district This
Council of seventeen chooses one OF it's members
ms President Of the Republic for two years. II
Is in sense a popular election The repre-
sentatvcs Of the eight States select the National
Executive and reulain in Office during his term
Neither they nor he can be elected for the next
IL. ts.n.lf fttn
sovereign powers in order 10 protect themselves
against the evils Of centralized government.
While the constitution has provided ample
guarantees for civil liberty and State rights, the
Government has been virtually reduced to the
level of military dictatorship for twenty years.
II has been centralized government Of an eA-
treme type. Guzman Blanco has been the real
ruler of Venezuela during that period. When
not occupying the Presidential office himself, he
has controlled the Administration through can
didates of his own, elected by his orders. The
constitution rendered IL impracticabe for him
20 hold Office for two successive terms, but as
soon as one Of his political confederates had been
elected as his successor, lac would himself he
come eligible for reelection at the expiration of
the intermediate term. Guzman Blanco IN tins
way has been President repeatedly and has nom
mated his successor during the intervening terms
has been Minister 20 Paris, and from that capital
he has continued 10 govern Venezuela. reac-
tion against this system OF personal government
was inevitable in the libcrty-loving country of
Bolivar-the land which led the way in the re-
volt against Spanish tyranny. Last October the
signal for a political revolution raised 10y
university students, who began operations hy
linging stones at a statue of Guzman Blanco in
Caracas. Within twenty-four hours this statue
was pulled down and broken into fragments, and
another one also destroyed. In La Guayra
a third statue was torn down and muuhted
Tablets in commemoration of his public services
we're defaccd, smashed wrenched from their
fastenings. ilpaintines Of the Dictator disap
peared from the art galleries and picture stores
In was a singularly effective revolution, wrought
without blocdshed excitement.
VENEZUELA WITHOUT Tue DICTATOR
This political movement was successful because
the President, DR. J. p. Rojas Paul, was a wise
man. lie had been carried into the Executive
office through the influence OF the Dictator, but
when once installed he began 10 think and act
for himself lie watched the tendencies of pub
ho opinion and perceived that the domination Of
the powerful politician who was ruling The coun-
Try from the French capital would not he toll
Grated any longer. Instead OF rescntlng the III
dignities offered 10 the man who had put him in
Office he made arrangements for carrying the
work Of the statue-hreaNcrS To It's logical results
lie reorganized his Cabinet so as to exclude seV-
eral OF the DictatOTs partisans When Guzman
Blanco resigned his post as Minister 10 France a
successor promptly appointed Ihc ben
Mai Presidential election was controlled bY tine
opponents OF The political house which had gov
erncd Venezuela Tor twenty years. Dr. Andu-
eza Palaclo, who was a member Of President
Pauls Cabinet, was chosen hy the Federal toun-
ell as the new Presidciit To-day he has been
inauguralcd with the usual ceremonies, military
parades. and hiring of bombs by daylight and ol
sky-rockets at night The capital has been filled
with apathetic and bcwildercd spectators, Who
have hardly been able 90 realize that for the hst
time In twenty years Guzman BlancO has ceased
% be the power behind the throne II has been
q peaceful aud orderly demonstration. conducted
with dignity and certain degree oi st1tflhcss'
but there has been an uudcrt"ne "t Pnhic "Ppte-
hension and uncertainty IN tac festivities oi the
day. Can Venezuela be governed In defiance ol
the powerful will which has 50 long dominated
it? VIII the new administration MAINTAIN itS
independence OF action VIII Pauls man he
much of an improvement upon buznah men
Will there he COuutcT-TevOlutlOn IN the interest
of hahlcd intrigpcrsP These are questions when
have been sobcIly discussed wherever Thought
ful men have pet to-day 10 eAcnhnge views ON
the uncertainties of public analIs HuInah
Blanco, with all his faults. was IN many respects
@ public bcnefactor. He suppressed clerlcalSH
for thing, and established genuine religious
liberty. lie has strong partisanS I'm Venezuela
who VIII intrigue for his restoration 20 power.
For all practical purposes Caracas Is Venezuela
In matters OF government and Regulation Ine
political cahas OF the capital have ruled and ms
governed the country. Even the cherished doc
trine of State rights has constantly been nulhcd
by the appointment as provincial representatives
OF men who have never lived outside Of Caracas.
The chief executive appoints The Governor OF TIE
Federal district With tine aid of tue military
force that official control the capital, and
IL l. Caracas that governs Venezuela. All tie evils
Of irresponsible power and centralized adminlsra-
tion have arisen under constitutional system
theoretically designed 10 promOtc the largest de
vel Of rights Federal IL
ity Sanguine Observers are hoping that neH Ella
OF political cniranchscmcnt has opened. All fore
casts are premature Public opinion is an unde-
vcioped force In Venezuela, and without II good
government is iuipracucable under any consti;u-
tonal system.
IL Is rtl,l Ia