New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-05

PROCITY TREATY-THE NECESSITY OF
PROMPTLY IMPOSING DUTIES ON
VENEZUELAN COFFEE.
rRoMAsrAyF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE,
Caracas. Venezuela December %.
Il may be accepted certain that so long as
DR.. Anduesa Palacio remains in power here
reciprocity between Venezuela and the United
State. will he impossible unless Venezuelan coffee
is immediately shut out of the American market.
The story of the negotiations which have been
conducted with the utmost ability by Minister
Scruqgs during the last two years in the cndeavor
To bring Anducsa to his SENSES is long and rrtat-
ing. No interest he served that is worth
while serving by reticence my part in
telling the story, but. the contrary, frankness is
the best policy. Anduesas conduct is not merely
stupid and ungrateful, but it amounts 10 gross
betrayal of his country mainly in the interest of
the merchants of nation which is its avowcd
enemy. and from motives the most dsgraceful.
Among the few people in this country who man
age 10 keep themselves well informed concerning
public affairs this is perfectly understood. The
trouble IS that Venezuea's Government is
military dictatorship Of the sevcrest kind, and
who says what he thinks about it must be
prepared 10 shoot be shot.
Venezuela is a great country, full Of natural
wealth. and it has made during the last thirty
years wonderful progress toward the Angle-SaXon
idea of civilization There is element among
its people, while of course the great majority are
still sadly ignorant and wholly lacking in public
spirit which is as well equipped in character in
telligence and education as the best class oil any
other country. Venezuela is TO he commended
for what has been accomplished in the generation
of health-giving forces rather than blamed for
present bad conditions When It's independence
was effected ii divided into twenty small
and sparsely populated States. each ef which was
governed in absolute despotism by military
cbicftain who robbed and plundered the people
under him at will. The Federal President was
the creature of these cNcftans and impotent TO
deal with them. He could command neither the
money nor the forces necessary TO hold their
deviltrv in check and for many years every at
tcmpt 10 do so led to a bloody revolution. Prcsl-
dents sprang up and fell down in quick succeSson'
a carnival of blood attending the rise and fall OF
them all.
But when Guzman Banco succeeded ia attaining
the Presidency of Venezuela man of real goV-
arnnc genius held the rens of power THURMAN
Uas magnetic aulaciouS, tremendously energetic
and CAPABLE of inspiring the confidence OF large
numbers of men and Of combining them for the
attainment Of his purposes. How ne succeeue" j.
4 tale Of itself thrilling and full of romance sue
ceed he did and these local military chl'itaihN
throughout Venezuela who had ruled and robbed
50 atrociously for half a century were one atter
another captured and shot or HANGED me"
mower was utterly demolished. The country was
rcorcanized into seven large States and AT tie
head Of the State governments was put man OF
Guzman's own maxine who we'll understood that
his life was not worth q peso II he departed III
1hc smallest particular from the execution Of Gu2-
fNpp o.
peace. during which Venezuela wac allowed 10 de-
velrD her splendid stores of mineral ard a9ilculF-
ural wealth, subject 10 no other plunderer IMAM
Guzman himself In these twenty wears Guzmah
~savedn $40 600 900 or $40. 10000. But II he
did well.bv hnselt in certain particulars ne Oh"
well by his country also, and the general sell
tnert of the Nenezuelans with regard 70 hlin' nov
that he has gone, is one OF profound Gra'l'u,'
and vencration. lie built railroads. ne estao-
Gsbed schools he erected splendid public onlio-
inrs he made Caracas city or much beauty
He allowed ot-er people to get rich without 100
sovera an eXac.ion upon their capital and m
dustry. and better than all else, me kllcd OK
a numerous body Of political r"Scals
The story of Gu2man's fall is another talc OF
,teclf II was "A pure accident due 10 the we'll
aetoblisbod fact that no man, however wise ara
great. possesses a foresight as good as his hind-
.ibt lie did not entirely fall az first ard when
\. vent ont of power il is doubtful If he under
stood that ne had fallen At all. lie named ms sue
ccs-or in the person of DR.. RoJaS Paul VINO I'M
donbtedly went into the Presidency upon the ais
tiuct understanding that he should retre IN "nE-
mans favor at the end of his legal term OF Once
This understanding Paul conveniently for2ol' an"
Cnzr,an having gone to Europe, Paul, VINO haF
ohili-v. FOO consolidated his strength ana COZ
trived to persuade his great rlVal tna' II Was pts'
Va remain abroad. The Constitution o. Ne"e/"'ld'
i.1 10. Crzmon to secure his timely success
sion. forbade IN any President Sec"H" "'"' y"
..,o po,l retired. which he only did in Difference
IN an luminous revolutionary cl"nd tHat sprahE up
,o,o,e him At the end Of his term hc
.o,oc.od as his successor the present executive
,d,osa ,,bnm he regarded Of all men inc
to-, I,,eIv 10 be ahle 10 develop personal sfehg"
Tho came understanding that had existed "c"eeh
c,r,on and Paul undoubtedly eAs'cd p''"'eh
Paul and Anduesa. but as Paul s1Ppoih''" r
man so Anduesa contrived 10 dnappoin' raul Wv
nersonal power Of the Executive here Is I"ul",
~ rand system Of bribery. He makes II I"
evcrvbodv's interest 10 sustain HIM lIaNlhS gov
the army in shape il is easy TO gel every D""N ''
in shape. if not with money, then WIZ" o'S
.,.d,,osa had been in Office only few months
when Paul with a degree oil a'i"|''"e"O i
.a,,.IIad nv his v~xation, found it necessary suo
da,,I, o. depar; for Trinidad, where he has since
,;,'oI IN svlc Paul's confidence i'll Anduesl
,,crs,al unftuess for the high office OF rresioehc
WIS not at all misplaced lie has been IN oi"'f
,,yo years. At the time Of his elevation mr. wa
absolutely penniless and head over heels III dep'
To-day he is one Of the wealtLirSt men Ia V''e
.rr and he is now building magnlhcen'
.o.ea ., cost of about Ss0 900. He has maze
numerous investments i'll mines. ana ne OWN
large blocks Of real estate have he'ru liO"
s,rrces undoubtedly yeraclous score OF "''"'o
stories a. to the means he has enipoFe" |" ga"
..,.I,. r.lS WHY j 90