Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-06-28

I
thor Of the resolution which passed the
last Congress directing the President TO
urge Great Britain % arbiuate the
Briush-Venezuela question, returned to
/ Washington from an extended trip
through Venezuela, where he went to
make personal inspection OF the mer-
its Of the controversy. He went as tho
| guest Of the Venezuelan government,
and was given an official reception
throughout his stay in the country He
returned with a fund Of information
which promises to have a bearing on
the action of the United States in ex-
| tending the Monroe doctrine to the
British-Venezuelan troubles. He brings
also important news concerning recent
| events In Venezuela, including q rebel
! lion in Valencia, which was quickly
| suppressed by the government and
| which was not reported outside of the
/ country; also the news that at a recent
| meeting of the cabinet the English con-
! cessi0n FOR vast tract Of the Orinoco
country, including the famous Bahia
gold mines and part Of the territory
| called for by Great Britain, was re-
! vOked and q new concession granted to
an American company The latter inn
medietely sent its men TO take possess
sion Of the concession, and Representa-
tive Livingston expects that if the Brit
ish occupants refuse to yield the Amer
lean company will make speedy repre-
| sentations to the authorities at Wash
ingtoA. AS q result Of Colonel Living
stOn's trip he is convinced that the Uni
| ted States viii adopt a strong policy on
I the BritishVenezGelan question, per-
! haps through the executive branches
this summer, and certainly through
Congress when 1t reaesembles.
To an Associated Press representa-
tive, Mr.. Living ton outlined the es-
sential features Of his trip.
The people Of this country hardly
! appreciate the unbOunded enthusiasm
which prevails in Venezuela toward the
! United States. As q member of the cab
! met said 10 me: The Americans are
/ gods in this country
The first thing I heard on landing
from the steamer at Laguayra was
Hurrah for President Cleveland
The government placed special
train at my disposal to carry me to
| Caracas, where l was met by the Presi-
/ dents aide and many officials. To
show the intense AJnericanism of the
/ people, I win cite the fact that one of
the entertainments they gave me was a
| base ball game-simply because it was
American. The government band was
| present and played Dixie and the
crowd kept up a constant shouting Of
| 'Hurrah for Cleveland and 'Hurrah
for the Monroe doctrine.
Even the small boys in the streets
are shouting for the Monroe doctrine
! and for the Unitel States. The govern
ment had the action OF our Congress con-
cerning the British-Venezuelan ques-
tion printed in Spanish, and it is dis
| tributed to all the schools throughout
Venezuela, so that children may be
taught the intimacy between the United
States and Venezuela"
Colonel Livingston was asked con-
cerning President CrespO and the other
! public men OF the country.
The country requires a very strong
man, said he, and 1t has one in Cres-
20. He came in at the hea dof the
revolution two years ago and he rules
/ with an iron hand. Ee began as a
cowboy. then advanced TO a cattle own
er. and now is mar of great wealth,
owning property in Brooklyn, y. y,
and in France and England.
Tine laws are such that he is little
short OF absolute dictator. He owns
] the great sugar refinery of Venezuela,
and the tariff on sugar is 1G cents per
| pound. He recognizes the need Of con-
/ slant vigilance against the rebellious
I element led by BlancO. and in conse-
/ Quenoe he keeps an army Of $4,000 men
| ready % be moved at any moment.
Il was assured that In case Of any
I UPRISING an American would be entire
! Is safe. as an parties protected an Amer
I can. 7 began 10 understand the mean
! ing OF this assurance when the next
| night o. messenger came to me to say
that a rebellion had broken out, when l
heard vans moving along the streets,
/ gathering soldiers to conscript for an
/ uprising. A messenger brought me
word that an outbreak had occurred In
! the Valencia valley. The soldiers were
hurried forward and the outbreak
! crushed before it had gained ground.
/ No word Of il ever reached this country.
1t shows the need of a strong govern
ment with determined men at the head.
The little Dutch island Of Curacao,
off the coast. is the centre Of rebelllous
| organizations. It has long been held
by the Dutch and had Dutch governors.
hHere the disaffected elements meet and
plan. The head of the disaffected class
| is BlancO. who was president before
! CresDO headed a successful rebellion
Bl9ncO STAYS in Paris, where he Is
enormously rich. and keeps his agents
fomenting the disorder and trying to
stimulate a revolt Not only have the
Dutch this island. but the Germans
also are trying to secure an island foot
hold off the coast, and the British have
the island of Trinadad as their naval
base of operations off the Orinoco
| river"
Col Livingston was asked as to the
American interest at Venezuela as af-
fectad bv the British controversy.
"T am glad to say" he answered,
"that Americans have now substantial
and definite interest in the most valu-
able section of Venezuela, part Of which
is claimed by Sreat Britain. Although
7 have no ins4-est in the subject eX-
cept az an American, yet l was g lad TO
he able while at Caracas to assist In
consummatipg a concession Of 14'OOO,-
| 600 acres tg an American company, in
I