New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-06
ANXIETY IN COLOMBIA.
FEAR THAT REVOLUTION rs IMPEND-
ING
THE TROUBLE DUE TO THE UNcERTArNrf oVIN
TUE REBUILT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ErEc-

/
taken place whose result, owing 10 an uhio' 'ua'e
.v.tem of delay is not yet known and VIII not DC
known until May Of this year. On Dece"p.i
last a general election took place AT which eb"y
nve electors were chosen. representing inc e's"'S
| five provinces OF the Republic. On Feprua'y
| these electors met In their respective "''
.,., and cast their votes for President and Vice.
| president On May Grand Jury VIII DC ap'
pointed by Congress- In Bosota to receive anu w..
o,or. thu result of these February elections ThiS
Iurv will consist of nine members one from eacn
of the nine Departments Of the Repuohc'
Although the eiThty-nvs electors met ana voted
according to statute governing elections on rsoru
airy q the result will not be dehnitey Know" M
the meeting and decision Of the Grand jury Ie'0
1ranhic adyices however received in this city from
,mnortant points throughout the Republic Indicate
victory for the Nationalist ticket-a victory tha'
should insure the continuance OF the present reSe'
A complication however, has lately arisen shat In
the minds OF many. threatens the country with row
dictionary trouble.
THE PRESIDENTIAL TICKETS
On election day. December 5. these three Prssiden-
tal tickets were placed before the people, NationaE
It's Sanclemente and Marroquin Conservative
Joaquin Reyes and Quintero Calderon: LIBERAL
Miguel Samper and Focion Soto.
The Nationalist candidate. Jose Sanclemente Is
a retired statesman. sighty-nve years OF age he
was nominated with tho avowed expectation that
his physical nirmites would prevent his accept
ance of office in tho event OF his election. Ac-
cording to the Constitution the duties Of the FIX
ecutive would thereupon devolve upon his COM
panion In office. Marroqun. The latter has also
been regarded az an Executive mpossbility. owing
to his advanced age and supposed reluctance 70
battle with the storms and dangers that I'M
doubtedly beset the Presidency OF this turbulent
Republic 1t was therefore tacitly understood by
the Administration nominating him. that I'M
st0oo ftOp OfG
rooun would also resign. in which event Congress
would designate an acting President. As Con-
gress Is made up Of the friends OF Vice-Presideht
Caro- the present head Of the Government. 1t was
foregone conclusion that his admins ration would
be continued in the event of the designations OF
Sanclemente and Marroduin. This simple programme
has, however received somewhat OF check by the
sudden announcement on the part OF Marroquin
that he would refuse to resign In case OF election
and the resignation OF Sanclemente Following TINS
announcement various rumors have been ahoat 70
the effect that Vice President Caro- would insist on
the forcible substitution of his name for that OF
Marroquin on the Nationalist ticket Whether.
under his instruction this actually done by the
electors on February will not BE- known until the
decision by the Congressional Grand Jury In May
II at that time the election OF Caro- Is proclaimed
there Is every indication Of serious popular up
rising that will probably nausurate complete
change In the political complexion Of the country.
The possible attempt Of Caro- to retain the Presi-
Dental power means Of course. a continuance OF
the Conservative or, as It is NOW called. tho ma
tionallst, policy and methods In the administration
OF Affairs
Vice-President Oaro's political dominance dates
back to the latter part Of the career Of the late
President, Rafael Nunes. the founder. or. as he Is
sometimes called. the regeneretor Of the present
form Of government. Nuhez was elected 10 the
Presidency OF the United States Of Colombia 1882
He was at that time Liberal and served short
term Of two years. provided by tho constitution
Of that time In 1884 he reelected by a special
Congress. this time a Conservative. This change
Of party brought on the civil revolution BY the LIB
erals In the year 1855. This revolution was sx-
tremely bitter one and It only after many TO
verses that Nunez succeeded in queng his adver-
saries and placing his own government on . perma-
nent. safe basis. This he accomplished By chang
Ing the form OF government from a loose federation
OF States republic whose power was vested In
a central government, ruling the country through
departments instead OF sovereign States as former
~. The OF the country changed to the Re
public Of Colombia instead Of the United States
OF Colombia" and entirely new constitution was
adopted Since his first election. in 1882 DR.. Nuhez
had served continuously President until his death
In 1894 His last term began In the spring Of 1892
when he entered ONCE with Miguel Caro- as Vice
President Ever since their Inauguration in the
latter year. Caro- has been acting President. DR..
Nufez retiring to his home in Cartagena, where he
remained until his death. Were It not for this I'M
interrupted tenure OF the executive power the
part OF Caro- there would be constitutional objec-
ton to his election to the Presidency at this time
PARTY POLITICS IN THE REPUBLIC.
Party politics shown by the elections Of last
year. not altogether applicable TO those accus-
toned to North American political methods and
motives. The opposition to the Nationalist candi-
dates has been conducted almost entirely by the
Conservatives the Liberals taking slight part in
the campaign Such differences exist between
the Conservatives and the Nationalist appear to
be entirely confined criticisms Of the Official acts
Of Vice President Caro- The latter 10 chiefly CEN
sured for the number Of mouopoes that he has
granted to private individuals and corporations.
Thus. the sole hight to manufacture rum. Gig
arettes matches. salt-not TO mention the exclusive
control Of other smaller industrteshas been grant
ed sold to various contractors agents during
this Presidential term. Although there is
specific clause Of tho Constitution denying to the
President the right to grant these monopolies the
enemies of the Administration say that the rev.
enues OF the country have sustained serious loss
by this policy Of favoring privileged class. Prices
also on articles secured under a monopoly have
necessarily advanced and to the loss in customs
duties has thus been added Increased expenses 70
the Individual consumer.
Besides this criticism Of the policy OF the Admin
stration the matter of monopolies. II Is assorted
that unauthorized issues Of paper currency to the
amount OF SI,UoW mas peeh rnaue since mo On
trance of Caro- into power In 1892. To these issues
is attributed the present ruinous depreciation OF
the currency while the fact that before the year
1885 this currency was at par with gold Is quoted
as an evidence otohe financial unsoundness Of the
present system.
Possibly the most active incentive 10 the oppo-
sition against the Nationalist Administration
party arises from the denial Of free ballot 1T the
popular elections and the permission TO Govern
ment troops to vote Notwithstanding the express
prohibition Of the Constitution 1t Is positively
serted BY competent witnesses throughout the
public that soldiers taken TO the polls by their
officers, and that after thus voting they again
civilians.
In these criticisms ~ tha h,, Oh.