Evening star., 1901-05-17
ACCESSION OF CASTRO
CONSUL PLUMACHER TELLS OF REV.
OLUTION IN VENEZUELA.
President IL Popular with the Down
trodden in the Western Part
of the Republic.

Eugene II. Plumacher, who has been
United States consul at Maracaibo. Eene-
zuela, for eighteen years. and was CONNER
cial agent there for five years before that,
is in this country on sick leave. his health
having been broken by long residence in
a trying climate. He has now recovered
sufficiently to admit of his early return to
his post. Questioned by a Star reporter
on political conditions in Venezuela, he
said:
You doubtless remember that Gen. Pala-
clio Andueza followed Crespo as president.
and at the end of his term Mocho Herman
dez-called El Mocho on account of his Grip
pied hand-and lgnacio Andrade ran for
the presidency. 1t was deal between the
Crespo party and the Andrade party. Ex-
President Crespo became general-in-chie
of the army and gave his influence for Gen.
Ignacio Andrade. Those who command the
ways the big end of the stick Gen Mocho
hernandez thought he was elected and
made war on the reigning power. In this
struggle General Crespo was killed. and
without him his party was of little service
to President AnGrade. Ell Mocho was de-
feated after a stubborn fight. made pris-
oner and sent to Fort San Carlos at Mara
caibo. where he remained until under the
presidency of Gen. Ciprfano Castro, he was
released and entered the cabinet, Castro
and Mocho Hernandez being both of the
liberal party.
Revolt of Castro.
I'VE had several small revolts against
President Andrade, but all were suppressed
until Castro left the state of Tachira with
thirty-six followers, raising an insurgent
standard. This was concident with the
civil war between the liberals and conserv-
atives OF the neighboring republic of Co
lombia, which was in full fury In the from
tier state of Santander, which borders Ven
ezuela on the west Castro, with his few
valiant followers, began wonderful march
tnrough the Cordilleras to Caracas. Start
Ing with handful of liberal part!sans he
came, after untold sufferings and many
heroic exploits, to Valencia, taking that
city and the terminus of the German rail-
road to Caracas after a severe battle.
Castro having now the key to Caracas,
and his little following having swelled into
great army with himself as general, Pres
ident 1gnacio Andrade left Caracas. send
ing his fleet and the loyal troops to his
brother, DR.. Alexandra Andrade president
OF the state of Zulia, to hold for him. 1t
was agreed that he should come himself
but he did not. Had he come in person
with the sinews of war he might have been
today again president of the republic but
he threw away his chance.
Castros first act on becoming dictator
was to release Gen. Mocho Hernandez from
prison, and. as said a moment ago, make
him minister of state. But as the cabinet
with which Castro had surrounded himself
was not liberal enough to suit the ideas OF
El MoCho he headed another revolution
and after much trouble and expense was
defeated and returned to San Carlos, where
he is still prisoner, but well treated. To-
day Gen. Castro Is provisional president OF
Venezuela by act of congress and the will
OF the people. and his recently elected cab
inet seems to be very good one
Where Castro Is Popular.
HAS there not been a good deal Of dis
content with Castro's administration"
Il observe" replied Capt. Plumacher,
that certain newspapers abuse Castro un-
tiringly and do their utmost to bring about
trouble between his government and for
eign countries. But from what l, as a for
eign consul in the western part OF Venezue-
la, have seen he seems to have acted wise
ly and to have relieved Maracaibo and the
Andes states of some terrible burdens heap
ed upon them by Guzman Blanco and never
lightened by any later president-even by
Andrade, who claims to be a Maracaiboan.
Gen. Castro has gained great favor with
the downtrodden people of western Ven
ezuela, and L doubt not that by a contin-
uance of the same wise and prudent con-
duct he can win the good will of the whole
republic. When he began his dictatorship
he found not a cent in the public treasury
and had hard road to travel. Justice and
common sense alike demand that he should
have fair show. and not merely obstacles
thrown in his way. Look at the president
of Mexico, the once hated and abused Por-
firio Diaz, who in the course of his long ad-
ministration has accomplished so much for
his country. l hope l am not mistaken In
the qualities If President Castro and in
wishing him long lease Of power for the
best interests Of Venezuela and the coun-
tries with which she has relations. l say
all this in spite Of the fact that l have
been for twenty years personal friend OF
the Andrade family, but have no intimate
acquaintance with or obligation to Presi-
dent Castro"