Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-10
PRESIDENT NuNEz.
Interesting Facts About the Prssiden. Of
the United states OF Cciombia.


To Rs Edior of the DisDatca:
Some days ago read a letter from iagen;;
tlenan in Costa Rico relative to alleged
disturbances in the United states or 20
lombia. a country with which ours has
very close and important relations. The
writer expressed himself in terms OK very
strong censure of President Nunez, who is
responsible for the present Constitution OF
Colombia. -
Nunez is a very remarkable man. he is
accounted in that country poet and
scholar of a high order, and the unbroken
peace which has prevailed throughout the
borders of his native land since Nunez mas
guided its policy marks him statesman OF
| no mean order. Unlike most OF those who
| have been president OF that country. Nunez
''bas no turn for war; His physique Is
very delicate, being in height about feet
| A inches and scarce hundred pounds IN
weight. lie often complains OF III health,
and makes his residence IN Carthegena be-
cause be cannot stand the mountain
climate of Bogota; ana only goes there III
He speaks several languages, as do many
| Of the gentlemen of Colombia. and has an
| nouncsd the education of all classes of his
| people the first necessity OF constitutional
| FREQ government and personal liberty,
| aud 70 this object he has efficiently ad-
| dressed himself. Meantime until the pee
| pie shall be intelligent enough TO behave
| themselves as freemen, DO so disposes OK
| his we'll appointed little army o. 10 keep
peace in his republic. The results so far
| have justified the wisdom OF his policy
| and for nearly ten years peace has prevailed.
| not a drop of blood has been spilled In
civil or foreign strife, and prosperity
| aDoundS.
| Several years ago Nunez left his lovely
| home upon the beach at Carthegena, re-
paired to Bogota, and caused decree es,
| tablishing q censorship of the press and
| bapished from the country thirty-slx
| prominent politicians and generals. They
/ were all arrested without resistance or
| the use of any unnecessary. personal yio-
| lence. They were permitted 10 select the
place of their Punishment, whittier they
were sent ut the expense OF the Govern
| ment. After these enactments were put
in force he placed President Pagan
in the presidential chair and returned to
| his villa by the sea, where he had not rested
| long before he was recalled to Bogota be-
cause Pagan had suspended the law muz-
cling the press and relieved toe exlled
generals from the decree OF Punishment. d,
Nunez on his arrival in the capital
promptly ordered tue enforcement of the
! censorship. he did not revoke Payan
pardon of the banished men. But he sent
| tuAL klDQ-ucdIJcu OIh SOiuNA INV 1910
| under guard, to pleasant residence where
he could do no harm TO the country and
enjoy the personal lndulgences 10 which
he was much addicted.
After the Inauguration OF President Hat
| euin NuneZ was made president tor life
with large salary. He declined the sala-
~ but accepted the life presidency. de
now resides habitually In Carthegens and
| occupies himself with schemes OF internal
| Improvement.
General Porter Alexander is president OF
| a syndicate of Boston men who have con-
cessions from the Government through
men OF influence which viii soon connect
Carthegena by rail and steamers with the
| interior, make ii the great seaport or Co
| lombla, and the entrepot OF the vast
commerce which is beginning TO .tow
from Galveston. Mobile, and our other
Gulf and Atlantic ports into the fare5t
and most fertile of all the regions on
earth-the United States OF Colombia. In
a short time Bogota, the beautiful capital
of that country, Will be connected by
steam with every other part of the world,
and the invalids and pleasure-seekers who
now resort 20 Europe will find all they de-
| sire much nearer home and by saler and
more interesting route.
III our own vast domain did not offer
such tempting opportunities TO enterprise
and IL our Young men could speak Spanish
they would swarm INTO Colombia. where
are SO many opportunities for winning
wealth. Not all of the Spanish-American
countries can compare with 1t In the edu.
cation and the purity of life of its people
or in the value and variety OF its re.
| sources. y.