Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-17


President P0'0cio very little to
admire in his character 1t is not strange
then, that be should be held up to ridicule
and that when speaking of him his fellow
sountrymen call him ''the fat President"
Born of the people, his family of no
greater social importance than the majority
of those less fortunate than he, enemies,
round him on every side, and his tenure OF
Office has for year or more been considered
as only a matter of a few months at the
longest. 1t was to be expected that an at
tempt, like that reported, to cling to the
reins of the Government by lengthening the
term of Office of the Presidency, would
crvstallize the animosity toward him into
open dissent
Guzman-Blsnco as a Deliverer.
To determine as to the exact depth of the
antipathy toward him, it is necessary to
inquire somewhat briefly into the past
history of this most important of South
American Republics. Its existence is
marked by many storms, and until the ad-
vent of Guzman- Blanco, in 1873, Venezuela
internecine strife. For $50 years (it was
first settled in 1920 by the Spaniards) I'm
ternal chickering's. bloody strlfes, with spoils
of Office as the incentive, and constant quar-
rels formed the subject matter of most of
the pages OF Its history. Then came, under
Guzman-Blanco, nearly score of years of
prosperity, advancement and material
progress, which, once experienced by the
people, cannot be forgotten.
The relapse of the affairs of the public
veal into a state of "innocuous desuetude"
under the Presidency of Juan Pablo Roias
Paul and Raimundo Andueza- Palacio has
for months past been the cause of mutter-
ings under the breath in the plazas and pub
lie places; has been one of the principal
reasons why the people have shown them
selves so ready to espouse the cause of an
opponent Of the Government, whether that
opponent is their old friend Guzman-
BlancO or the Minister of the Interior, Sc.
bastian Casanas, who is said to have an eve
on the Presidential chair, or General
Crespe, who is charged by Casanas with
being the tool of ambitious members of
Congress. Taught by Guzman- Blanco that
at least q share of the Government income
should be devoted for the Improvement of
the country. the Venezuelans have long
since agreed that they cannot give alleg-
lance to men like Paul or Palacio. to
whom personal aggrandizement has been
the sole aim.
Got Rich but Pleased the People.
1t is admitted-everybody knows it-thai
Guzman-Blanco grew rich from the spoils
of office; that he increased his fortune from
almost nothing to more than $40, ,00O, 600,
but they say that, at the same time, some of
the income was expended upon public
works and in the Improvement of the
country at large. On the other hand, it is
charged that neither Paul nor Palacio have
spent ''reaP' more than they could help
upon anything other than themselves.
W hen, after constant series of reyolu-
tions lasting from 1876 to 1873, Guzman-
B.anco was made President, the country
was In the most primitive state. There
were no docks, no railroads, no roads save
those built by the early settlers, no parks
nothing that tended to indicate the pres
ence OF a civilized race A few mud forts.
constructed three centuries before, frowned
weakly upon the various ports of entry,
their guns OF no later date than their walls.
One OF these, at Puerto Cabello, still
awakens interest on account of its resen-
bl2nce to medieval structures even to the
surrounding moat and its drawbridges.
Street cars were an unknown factor in
moving the multitudes about the large
cities. The thoroughtares of the towns still
presented their red-clay surfaces trodden
into shape by the inhabitants during dec
ades Of travel They headed in no particu-
lar direction, and were as crooked as the
ways Of the officials. There were no pleas
ure grounds, statues, fountains and the only
public buildings of Importance were the
bull rings. Water works were primitive
Ihere was no gas nor electricity. The tele-
phone and telegraph were conspicuous by
their absence, and the commerce of the
country was conducted by and dependent
upon the burro, which en- traiue is to-day
the railroad of the country.
Record Guzman-Blanco Left Behind.
Fifteen years afterward Venezuela was on
the high road TO prosperity, to a foremost
place IN the list OF thriving nations, con-
Quoted thither by the firm guiding hand of
Guzman-Blanco. 1t had 1879 schools of
all kinds, with 10O,O26 children in attend
ance, including schools for soldiers
in quarters, normal schools, a school
of arts and trades and 1,346 schools
directly depending upon the Gov
ernment for support; 20 Federal COL
leges, a nautical school and telegraphic
school. 1t had a national library contain
ing 80, 259 volumes, national museum, and
during the latter davs of his power Guz-
man Blanco caused the erection of 80 ma
tional buildings and spent much money in
the establishment of cities like Caracas,
Valencia, La Guayra, Macuta, Antimo, Los
Teuues, La Victoria, Guacara, etc. A
standard hospital was commenced, as was
also an astronomic and meteorological OBJ
servatory. This, besides the Inauguration
of the railroads from La Guayra
to Caracas and from Puerto Ca
bella to Valencia, the powerful
impulse given TO similar enterprises, the
construction of II aqueducts, the opening of
six high roads, the reconstruction of 20, the
canalization of four rivers, the establish
ment of five telegraph lines and of 80 post
lines served by carriers on foot, II on horse
back, three by railroad, two fluvial and
seven maritime; the completion of a SUBJ
marine cable, the institution of two tele-
phone systems in each of four cities and
many other enterprises was due to the
policy of the first and only great man that
has been at the head of the affairs Of the
Government
Under the influence of q progressive as