The sea coast echo., 1899-11-18
GUZMAN BLANCO'S LIFE.
1T 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 III Caracas in 1884.
His father was a man of wealth and
note, being friend of Simon Bolivar,
''the liberator," 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 Venezuela
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 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 an 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 $50. =
600, 600.
He governed, with law or without
law, but he governed. He was presi-
dent every alternate term since that
first election in 1870-and he owned
the acting president in those inter-
regnums-until his voluntary derar-
ture from the country in 1887, since
which time he has lived in Paris, en-
Toying 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 aiministrat on Of affairs
in Venezuela by no means resembled
q red of roses. When he came into
office as president he took au almost
empty honor. Since Polivar no man
and no legislative body had 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 III
taxes and gave nothing III return, and
who tiourished in all possible vanity
until some envi0us partner, grown
strong, raised revolution, oyerthrew
the vernment. and became dictator
in turn.
The ten states we're n un-On in name
only. The central, nominalIy nation
al authority, was not recognized to
the point of obedience outside Of
'aracas. National troops dared not
cross the border of any wealth.
Federal income could not be drawn
from ports outside the one province.
Laws had no authority in the realm
of the petty dictatO,8. And III Nenez-
uela revolutions were Of perp petual &C.
curence.
Naturally the state of the country
was unspeakably bad. Even in the
big cities there was no uniform sys-
tenn OF street paving. With few ex-
ceptions the trampleI earth was all
the pavement to be found anywhere.
There were no wharves in the har-
bO.s; no breakwaters, no highways,
no public credit. The mineral aud
agricultural resources Of the country
were undeyelored as when he Span
ish first installed themselves 300
Years ago. The forts were mud banks;
the artillery was a peril to the de-
Tenders. The whole country was a
quarrelsome brood Of savages-with
unmeasurable wealth awaiting mas
ter
Guzman- -BIanco was that master.
When he became president he I'M
moned the governors to acknowledge
the fed deral authority and to contribute
to the federal expenses. They laughed
at him-or arrested his messengers.
Then, one by one, he shot seven OF
the ten governors, and the rest recog-
uized 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 rue.
And when his first term of two
years had expired the country was
quiet. The people were busy. There
was the beginning Of national
awakening throughout the length and
breadth of the land the noise of indus
try had succeeded the rabble shouts
of retty revolution. And Guzman-
Blanco, being guided by a constitu-
ton which would rather obey than
change, put loyal servitor into the
presidents air 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 a moment.
They built wharves and docks.
they built breakwater as good as the
best in the world. They erected forts
and armed them with modern guns.
They put up public buildings and laid
out beautiful parks and did business
with the nations If the earth-on a
cash basis. The credit of Venezuela
was giltedged, anh the habit of its
people was peaceful industrious. The
rich earth had AMPLY rewarded labor,
and every man -@ho desired it had
plenty.
OF course that was not magic Ii
was the result of (system and common
eense and states5manship. And just
author and finish|e |er of it. That man
was Guzman-Blh hnco. OF course II
was not donsf in two years. nor IN n
four, nor in six. But it was don done IN n
the seventeen years between lo5G pIoe,aa and
1887. AAd then ouzmanfniau[o fdnar;-