Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-01
SITUATION IN VENEZUELA.
Cause of the Present Condition of Affair.
in That Country.

Cause of the Present Condition of Affairs
in That Country.
WASHINGTON, April IA gentle
man who is familiar with the situation
in Venezuela makes the following inter
esting statement of the causes which
have led to the present condition of
affairs in that country:
The new constitution of Venezuela
provides by one of its articles that it
shall not be put in operation until Feb.
20, 1894. But seven, out of eight states,
which have approved and ratified it,
have expressed their desire that it be put
in operation immediately.
Chiefly uDon this ground AndueZa
Palacio wishes it to be promulgated and
enforced at once. To this majority
in congress objects, Chi, on the
ground that the new constitutional
regime must not begin by violation of
an article of the constitution.
If the idea of congress prevails, an in
terregnum Of about two years has to oc-
cur, in which the present constitution
shall continue to be in force in the
country, But as 1t happens that the
term of office of President Andeuza
Palacio expired on the 10th of March,
the question arises whether a regular
presidential election must take place
under the methods provided for in the
present constitution, or whether the
election shall be restricted to cover only
the interregnum, with the understand
ing that III 1894 new election shall
take place according to the new consti-
tuition,
The majority of congress adheres to
the former view and wishes regular
election to be ordered, and that new
federal council-although that tody is
abolished by the new constitut1n-be
also elected.
President Andeuza Palacio on the
contrary wishes that a temporary presi-
dent be elected until permanent one
under the new constitution can be
chosen, and that the election OF the fed
eral council be dispensed with, in obedi-
ence to the will of the people who
abolished it in the new constitution.
President Palacio can not succeed
himself, because both constitutions for
bid immediate reelection; but he claims
the right, and says that it is his duty to
see that the new constitution is started
by its friends. Upon this ground he
wishes that the temporary president be
elected from list of three candidates
nominated by him. To this the ma
jority of congress objects, on the ground
that such pretension is merely cover,
which shall serve only to secure the cleo
ton of Senior Andeuza Palacio in 1894,
besides keeping in power, although be.
hind the scenes, between now and the
regular election,
To these well dignifed issues, large
amount of elimination and recrimina-
ton, as to the secret motives of each
party to the contention, has been added,
and it has been powerfully instrumental
in exciting the feelings of the followers,
both of the president and of the major
ity of congress.
On the Goth of February when con-
gress met it was found that there
was a quorum in the house, but not in
the senate. This condition of things has
continued and the fact is that no action
of any kind has been taken by that
body.
The majority claim that the friends
and followers of President Palacio alb
sent themselves ON purpose, SO as to OBJ
struct legislation or any action unfavor-
able to the wishes and views Of the
president.
President Palacio on his part claims
that the opposition in. congress does
everything to oppose the will of the
people.