Evening star., 1898-08-08
VENEZUELAN SENTlMEN T
It Has Recently Changed in Favor of This
Country.
South American Republics Repudi-
ate Spain and Look to the
United States for Protection.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


CARACAS, Venezuela, July 26, 1895
Americans in Caracas were very much in
| terested in an editorial in The Evening Star
of June 10 on the sentiment in Venezuela
| concerning the war with Spain. and an ex-
tract from Ell Pregonero, declaring that
all the opinions, convictions and good
| wishes are on the side of Spain.
The tone of the press has changed COM
pletely within the last forty days, and l
find a friendly feeling fer the United States
everywhere prevailing in the newspaper
| world, save, of course, In the two journals
which are published by the large Spanish
colony in Caracas. In fact, the article
| quoted in The Star did not represent the
| true feeling here, and has been disavowed
| by the paper which printed 1t. The follow
| ing recent leading editorial from the Prego-
| nero shows clearly this change of senti-
ment:
Spain and the United States.
'It is certain if the history of nations
and Of interna tional wars teaches anything,
that not only will Cuba realize its long
cherished dream of Independence as a re-
| suit of the struggle between the United
States and Spain but that the commercial
| relations of South America will soon be
enormously increased with the former
country.
Spain has failed to keep her place in
| the onward march of progressive, enlight-
ened nations Of the world. She belongs TO
the past, and Is STEPPED in idle dreams OF
her vanished glory. She fancies that be-
cause she was once an Irresistible con-
quering power that she ought to continue
the present vain struggle though the an
Inhalation of Cerveras fleet at Santiago de
Cuba and the capture of the city make II
| plain to the rest of the world that SPANS
hour of doom has sounded. Spain has been
struggling against progress, against des-
tiny, but pride of race should not make her
| blind to the fate which has decreed her
downfall
IN the great triumph of the United
States we discern no purpose 10 molest or
| to absorb the smaller nations on this side
| of the Atlantic, or on the other side OF the
| Pacific. We see on the other hand fresh
vitality given to new and wider appllca-
| ton of the Monroe doctrine, which means
we shall be protected from the unjust in
| reference and intervention of Europe.
United by ties of reciprocal interests
with the great nation of the north we may
count upon the moral support of its squad
rons and the material advantage of its
commerce. and thus recognized as worthy
| of respect by the other nations of the
world.
From a commercial point of view 1t is
certain that the United States will have to
extend its influence in these southern coun-
tries, but this in itself will be guarantee
that the splendid progressive spirit of that
great nation viii infuse new life in our
veins and we shall share with it the tri
ulnpnS OF ltS ueVelopmenI ana llS
From this point of view American inter-
vention will always receive our support and
admiration.
For we must not deceive ourselves;
while we continue a weak nation, unable
| to sustain our rights, and although moral
| y may be amply justified, We will
| always be at the mercy of European diplo-
| macy, and a nation, merely because 1t is
powerful, can invade our shores with ships
| and torpedoes, pretending to enforce
claims, for the most part imaginary, and
oblige us tC enter into shame-faced com
pact.
| I'VE must ally ourselves with some
| ton that protect US, and consequently
| we must look to the United States of
| America, under whose powerful protection
may pass some day nations now consider
| ed invincble, for the great republic has un-
| told millions and powerful squadrons. From
Spain on the other hand. all we can get is
| the example of her former deeds of valor
| to inspire us, If indeed we require such in
| spiration."
Against America.
| The truth is the Spaniards, who are
| strong in numbers here, about %, 900, set
| do cd