The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-22

army scattered through towns, garrlsohs
and ships, one iron steamer ana three
coast vessels 10 defend terri-) Dry ten
times the size Of Illinois from Great brl-
tain But it must be taken into account
that the national militia includes all men
from IS to a.. Sixty thousand men nave
been got into the field at one TINE, anu
that to Quell civil rebellion, ana 1reSf
dent Crespo claims that over quarter
Of the entire male population would oe
under arms in a month after declaration
Of war by a foreign power. There would
be only the coast line of Few hundred
miles i'm length with few harb)Ts ana the
Guina frontier 10 defend.
on the other hand the English troops
would have the climate 10 contend against
an undeveloped country with mountains
AMI forests and unbridged streams venom
ous reptiles. poisonous insects, sWamps,
snow ice and tropical heat, besides the
difieulty OF transporting suilcleht
number Of troops TO be effective, anu
thereby diverting ships and men from
Europe and India. Besides, they believe
that the other South American republics
are with them, that the Monroe doctrine
counts for something and that there IS
Crespo. who had rather fight than eat
any day.
Crespo is a host With seven other hot
heads he. in his youth. robelled against
the Catholic church. lie was rebel and
the state troops were called out against
him. Two thousand regulars camped
near him, fully armed. lie had 600 or 700
stragglers with no equipment but cow
boy knives. At midnight while the re-
gulars slept Crespo seized store OF
cocoa butter. had each man strip and
grease himself and slip through the camp
D. HaHHr al
presence Of a creased skin marked
comrade, rag of clothing an enemy, In
the darkness. Every man came out arm
ed to the teeth, and the regulars had to
mako terms and contribute uniforms the
next day TO the naked men camped on
the other side Of them.
Now he sits in the yellow House." the
presidential mansion of Venezuela, with
guard OF white duck uniformed cowboys
who are regarded by the citizens much
as the Turks OF ConstantinOple must
have looked upon the janzarles about
the person of the Sultan. and they VIII
tell you that when this terrible guard is
on the battlefield no man stands up be-
fore them.
Term after term has Crespo served the
people and served well in the Office OF
chief executive. The old monasteries and
converts have been converted into fed
eral palace, an opera-house and pan
theon in which to lay the nations great
men. Church Is separated from state.
though Crospo is a good Catholic. He is
afraid OF nothing The United States IN
dismissing a plenipotentiary cXtraor-
binary of a big power would use much
diplomacy. and when the Objectionable
person did take his leave 1t would be
with all the appearance OF taking vaca-
ton, with Uncle Sam bidding him a tear
ful au revor at the dock When Crespo
has enough of a nation he tells its re-
preventative to get out within a week
or be kicked out At one time IL was
confidently expected that British. German
and French gunhoats would arrive 10 take
off this ministers who were so summarily
dismissed. The astonishing part Of il is
that nothing happened Crespo snifs at
diplomatic corrosDOndence. lie deals in
ultimatums. lie does things with impuni-
ty which the United States. because OF
its SIZE would not dare do. but he is not
afraid Of the consequences and is ready
TO face them.
No wonder the Nenezuelans love their
country. that fair land with a climate
like that Of southern France, so far from
us, more foreign than India or Japan, yet
as near 10 New York and Chicago as
'%tft4 R''i ~ SltCilti. Oill llIEn OF
IL under cultivation, yet there Is no want.
Prosperity smiles on them: they pay only
per cent in the markets OF the world
and they import the manufactures OF
Europe and the United States So rich
and varied are their products that Eng
land could blockade their coast, for years
and not starve them out. while the capital
and government were safely intrenched
behind the mo untains that climb from
the seaport town of la Guayra.
-Four thousand feet above sea level, and
only nine miles from the coast. Carlcas
nestles among the ranges On plateau.
Almost below Il spreads the sea I'm one
unbroken expanse. clear 10 Florida and
New Orleans. The great plain Is COW
cred with feathery palms, and far of
San Sebastian lifts his head clear of
clouds a perpetual haze Hes on the val
ley but a mist on the moint,in portends
an earthquake. II Is a beautiful city OF
Spanish character, but with
broad boulevards and spacious plazas.
whore there Is always a statue of Bolivar
or Washington.
The houses are of one story and built