Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-10-11
GUZMAN BLANCO'S LIFE.
g IT HAS FEW PARALLELS IN HISTORY
OR ROMANCE.

The celebrated GuZman Blanco Is
dead in Paris. He was q man that
for years made history in South Am.
erica, and he was always proud to call
himself the "great American.
Antonio Guzman--to which name
he later added that of his mother,
Blanco-was born in Caracas in 1884.
His father was q man of wealth and
note, being friend of Simon Bolivar,
"the liberatur," the private secretary
of that famous South American, and
a member of his cabinet.
Young Guzman-Blanco was edu-
Gated in the best schools in Yenezuela
and studied and travelled abroad.
When he attained manhood he was of
handsome, imposing figure, of great
ambition, but of equally great ability,
and with q bent for politics that seemed
latent in the nature of the Latin-Am-
erican. He was prominent in affairs
from the first, and it was not difficult
for him to secure the Office of presi-
dent in Caracas in 1870.
From then to the day of his depar-
ture in 1887 Guzman-Blanco was
Venezuela. He was on uncrowned
czar. He exercised the power of life
and death over the people Of the new
republic. He elevated his friends and
punished his enemies. He acquired"
money until his wealth totalled $780,
0O0.OO
He governed, with law or without
law, but he governed. He was presi-
dent every alternate term since that
first election in 1S7O-and he owned
the acting president in those inter
regnums-until his voluntary depar-
ture from the country in 1887, since
which time he has lived in Paris, en-
ioying such ease and luxury as no
crowned monarch in the world might
boast, and generally exercising his
olden influence in his native land.
There are few parallels in either his
tory or romance for the record of Guz-
man-Blanco.
But he has paid his way. In the
first place, his administration of affairs
in Venezuela by no means resembled
q bed of roses. When he came into
Office as president he took all almost
empty honor. Since Bolivar no man
and no Legislative body Lad governed
Venezuela. There were ten states,
and each had in 1870 its own petty
dictator, who controlled the people by
force of arms, who robbed them in
taxes and gave nothing in return, and
who Hourished in oil possible vanity
until some envious partner, grown
strong, raised revolution, overthrew
the ,vernment. and became dictator
in turn.
The ten states we're union in name
only. The central, nominally nation
al authority, was not recognized to
the point of obedience outside of
Caracas. National troops dared not
cross the border Of any commonwealth.
Federal income could not be drawn
from ports outside the ono province.
Laws had no authority in the realm
of the petty dictators. And in Venez-
uela revolutions were Of perpetual oc-
curence.
Naturally the state of the country
was nnspeakably bad. Even in the
big cities there was no uniform sys-
tenn of street paving. With few e1;
ceptions the trampled earth was all
the pavement to be found anywhere.
There we're. no wharves in, the har-
bors; no. break waters, no highways,
no public credit. The mineral and
agricultural resources of the country
were undeveloped rs when the Span
ish frst installed themselves 300
years ago. The forts were mud banks;
the artillery was peril to the de-
tenders. Tic whole country was n
ouarrelsome brood of savages-with
unmeasurable wealth awaiting mas
ter.
Guzman- -Blanco was that master.
When he became president he sum-
moned the governor, to acknowledge
the federal authority and to contribute
to the federal expenses. They laughed
Mt him-or arrested his messengers.
Then, one by one, he SHOT seven of
the ten governors, aud the rest recog-
nized him.
He impressed two great truths upon
: his. people. One was that the day of
revolution had passed. The other,
that the day of work had come.
Whether or not they wanted to, he
compelled them to disarm and turn to
labor. He did not wait for them to beat
their swords into plowshares; he did
it for them. He made industry, instead
of brigandage, the rule.
And when his first term of two
years had expired the country was
quiet. The people were busy. There
was the beginning of a national
awakening throughout the length and
breadth of the land; the noise of indus
try had succeeded the rabble shouts
of petty revolution. And Guzman-
Blanco, being guided by a constitu-
tion which would rather obey than
change, pnt loyal servitor into the
presidents chair and stood behind it
for twenty-four months. At the end
of that time he returned to the seat,
and the progress of Venezuela never
halted for moment.
They built wharves and docks.
they built q breakwater as good as the
best in the world. They erected forts
and ermed them with modern guns.
They put up public buildings and laid
out beautiful parks and did business
with the nations of the earth--on a
cash basis. The credit of Venezuela
was giltedged, and the habit of its
people was peaceful industrious. The
| rich earth had amply rewarded labor,