The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-04-06
THE VENEZUELAN REVOLUTION.
How 1t Appeared to Portland Gentle
man just Returned from Caracas.

To the Editor of the Press:
1t is very difficult for man of New
England training and imbued with New
| England ideas to arrive at even an APP
proximate idea of the revolution at pres
emit taking place in Venezuela. This
country, which is republic in name, is
situated between the parallels of 10 81 and
12o 49, north, and between the meridians
of go and 730, III west. 1t has an area of
632, 900 square miles and a population of
about $780, 900, or less than four to a
square mile. About one per cent of this
population are whites of pure Castilian
| lineage, the remainder are largely a
mongrel race of mixed Spanish, Negro
| and Indian blood. There are many full
blooded Negroes, and in the remote dis
tricts, wild and savage Indians. The
country is very mountainous. The tenn
perature ranges from the extreme heat
of the coast towns to the extreme cold of
the mountain peaks. The high table
lands in the interior have a salubrious
climate. The country is volcanic and
earthquakes are frequent. Caracas, the
capital, was almost totally destroyed by
an earthquake in 1912. The commune
cation with the outside world is mainly
through the ports of Lequira, Porto
Cabello and Maracaibo on the south
and by the Orinoco river on the east.
There are railroads from Lequira to
Caracas and from Porto Cabello to Va
lencia and the Orinoco river is navigable
for many miles into the interior. Ordi-
nary communication is by mule path
The standing army is small and quite
lacking in esprit du corps. The navy is
composed of several small gunboats,
principally converted merchant steam
ers.
There are many large cattle estates,
and coffee plantations in the interior.
Coffee and hides are the principal ex-
ports. Owing to the frequent revolutions
manufactures are almost unknown
Commercial business is largely in the
can house of II. LIE Boulton & Co. is one
of the most prominent. The main Office
of this house is in Caracas. 1t has
branches in most of the places of any
size, controls the Red D line of steam
ships under the American flag running
to New Fork and is represented at that
port by the firm of Boulton, Bliss &
ballet.
The annual income is about thirty five
millions Bolivaris OF about seven million
dollars. The expenditures slightly ex-
ceed this sum. The debt is about sixty
five million of dollars. The great repub-
lie of the north is highly thought of.
There is a monument to Washington in
Caracas and square named for him, and
American influence is especially promi-
nent at present owing to quarrel with
England over the Eastern boundary.
The shores of Venezuela were dis
covered by Columbus in 1893 and were
the first part of the main land seen by
him. A settlement was soon made and
Venezuela remained colony of Spain
for over three hundred years. Under
Bolivar the iberator, 1.-THE South Ameri
can Washington, it gained its indepen-
dence in 1928, after a struggle Of over ten
years, but for many years after, there was
almost continual civil war. The con-
stitution has been changed from time to
time, but at present the country is gov
erned by president assisted by minis
try who are elected for two years. The
president is not eligible for reelection.
The legislative chambers are composed
of delegates from the different provinces,
known as states, and the country is now
styled officially the United States of Ven
ezuela. Their most prominent ruler OF
late years is General Guz-
nan Blanco, now in exile, who is said to
have accumulated large fortune, princi-
pally by concessions to different foreign
companies. This he now has securely in
vested in Europe. The present presi-
dent is Senior Andueza Palacio, and lit is
his attempt to keep himself in power
which caused the present difficulty. Pre-
vious presidents of ability, after serving
the two years allotted by the constitu-
ton have been content to rule through
some candidate that they could control.
This plan is apparently not satisfactory
to Palacio, who is holding onto Office till
his successor is elected, but is doing all
he can to prevent an election being held.
He issued a long proclamation on March
18th, which was followed on the 10th by
shorter and more concise proclamation
signed by Casanas, his minister of state.
The other side, of which General Crispo
is the head, have also issued proclama-
u1UuS, VI W uoO O OPo1ic1 eOAii3 PiOhetl-
ciamentos. These documents abound in
grandiloquent and patriotic express
sions. This contest is, however,
largely between the Gins" and the
'outs.,' Most of the inhabitants prefer
that the ms shall remain in power, as
they are to some extent satiated, and
therefore less rapaeious than new and
hungry horde would be. The official re-
ports from the s'ins'' say that the revolu-
ton was a mere riot, and has been put
down, and that the country is in peace.
The underground report from the other
side says that the government troops have
been defeated and that the insurgent
army is marching on the capital. On
the 10th of March the American minister
wrote to his government that the country
was unsettled and asked that a man-of-
war be sent to Laguira at once. On the
18th and 18th the writer was in Caracas
and, while there there was some little ex
citement, the streets were quiet and or
derby and band played in the public
square in the evening to careless and