The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-10
AFFAIRS IN VENEZUELA.

The contest in Venezuela, which seems TO
have ended with the occupation OF caracas
bv Crespo. was a family affair which pos
sessed little interest for foreigners: on
February 90 last the term OF once Oh l lesl
dent Palaeio came to an end. Accoiui"s ~
the constitution of Nenezueia, IL ue'ol'eu
nron the Council of State, CHOSEN oy Noh-
orasS m elect his successor. 1t discharged
r. dufv in such a manner as TO rouse OBJ
position, and in March revolutionary
leader named Pulido proclaimed himself
President, formed Cabinet, and undertook
the Government with the support of con-
siderable portion of the people and OF the
army Those who refused 10 acknowledge
his authority took the field in arms under
the lead of a veteran soldier named Crespo.
The two parties spent the summer IN hght-
ing. with varying fortunes. About week
ago they met at a place named San Fedfo,
and Pulido was routed. Crespo marcned
On Caracas and La Gaayra and occnpieu
them without resistance, the people peins
onlv too glad TO have troops among thehi "
nreyent rapine and murder fuiiuo see"'
To have fled, and there will probably De no
onnosition TO the installation OF Crespo as
President and to the restoration of peace.
4 mere important matter Tor Venezuela
than the personal question OF the Presl-
deney is the controversy with England over
the southern boundary. This dispute has
been pending for several years, and IS
farther from settlement than ever Great
Britain claims that the true boundary be-
! tween Venezuela and British Guiana Is the
Anacura River. Venezuela claims that the
dividing line Is tie ESSequibo. Between the
two there is an extensive placer country.
IL in Int 10 oil in
five or six millions a year. Negotiations
have been on foot fer some ten years, and
this country has used its offices with the
| Government of England 10 obtain its con-
| sent TO the appointment of boundary CON-
| mission. but, on one pretext after another,
| the application has always been eyaded. In
the meantime collisions have been OF fre-
| ouent occurrence. In March of last yeal
an EDgljshman began working on the dis
puted territory without obtaining permis-
| sion from the Venezuelan authorities, and
was driven off and so badly wounded that
! he died. On this the English drove the
| Venezuelans out of the territory, and
| erected works which command the 0rinoco
| River. Mr.. Blaine instructed the American
| Minister to present respectful remon-
| STRANGE to tie court of ST. James, but
| nothing came of it.
1t was held at the State Department that
| this was case to which the Monroe doc
trine did not apply. England was not an
nexing new territory on American soil, but
! was merely occupying territory which she
| claimed to have held from time immemo
| rial. 1t was a question Of boundary to bt
settled by engineers on an inspection o
| ancient surveys and treaties. In this view
| The language Of the United States wa
| friendly and rot Hostile. But II may b.
| hoped that the State Department did no
allow England to be ignorant of The fac
that the American people view with con
Germ the eneroaehments OF European
power upon the territory of an American
power. Ii Great Britain Is really entitled
to the country she claims, there is nothing
more TO be said. II she is not, the United
| States cannot regard her occupation of /
with troops under the cover Of gunboat
| without uneasiness. If Venezuela shout;
feel strong enough TO take the field in sup
port Of her preiensions, and a war SHOULD
end in her subjugation by Great Britain
| the end might be the extinction Of an indie
| pendent American State by a European
| power. That the United States could no
afford TO allow. 1t would seem that b.
eYading the proposed convention for de
lineation Of the boundary, England is drift
ing toward a complication which might be
come serious.
Venezuela is not power which can b
despised. Its area is one-ffth as large a
that of the United States. and it contain
two and a half millions Of people. 1t pro
duces large quantities Of coffee and cacao
most of which come to the United States
Last year it exported s1l.ooo,00o of gold
It's river, the Orinoco. is one Of the grea
rivers Of the world, running from the Cor
dIlleTas 10 the Atlantic, with innumeraoi
nayigable branches which drain countr
covered With cattle. 1t would seem tia
there is no excuse for the contemptuous re
lection Of the appeal OF such country 10
fair treatment from Great Britain.