New-York tribune., 1901-08-15
TIE GREAT coLoMBIA SCHEME.

The current disturbances in Colombia and
Venezuela appear to be assuming a more than
ordinarily serious form. They no longer involve
merely the question of revolution in one or both
countries, but rather a warfare between the two
in threat of such warfare domestic revOlts in
each are commingled. The leader of the Colom-
bian rebels aims not only at the overthrowing
OF the Colombian Government but at the coer-
con OF Colombia into the surrender of her inde-
pendent sovereignty through union with Venez-
uela. And the government of Venezuela is
said to be privy to the scheme and thus to be
cooperating with the Colombian rebels 1t is
added that the government OF Ecuador is also
involved in the undertaking. and will openly
avow itself thus as soon as sufficiently encour-
aging progress has been made. At the same
time the Colombian Government not only strives
to suppress the rebellion in its own domain, but
apparently sanctions an armed invasion of
Venezuela, where the Colombian rebels have
their base Of operations.
There is of course something to be said in
favor Of the ambitious scheme TO which General
Uribe-Uribe has committed himself, provided
the States concerned would accept 1t. The three
States of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela
were originally one. 1t was as one State that
they gained independence from Spain in 1919.
No doubt Bolivar, the liberator. intended and
expected them always to remain one. AS a
matter Of fact they did thus remain one for
more than a dozen years until 1892. Then they
separated into three. and three they have since
remained. They might readily be reunited IL
they so desired. Their populations are homo
geneous Their constitutions and general sys-
TENS are alike They all three have the same
State religion, Roman Catholicism, and Colon
bla is only trihe more tolerant OF other faiths
49,
would form a large and compact State. Colon
bia has an area of about 5O5,OO0 square miles
Ecuador of 10000 and Venezuela OF $4,000, a
total OF 100000 square miles. ColombIa's pop
ulation is about 100000 Ecuador's 100000
and venezuelas 100000. a total OF 100000
The "Great Colombia" would therefore be the
third State OF South America in area and the
second in population. II would rank with
Brazil and Argentina to form the big three" Of
the continent
II is doubtful, however. whether the one State
would be any more peaceful. stable prosperous
or progressive than the three. II three or four
million people cannot get along without revolu-
tions nine millions cannot Still more doubtful
Is Il whether a lasting union can he formed
through the means adopted by General Tribe
A somewhat similar experiment was made
with far more justification. by the late Pres-
dent BarriOs OF Guatemala with disastrous
results. Peoples. even of the same blood and
language and religion and civil polity. do not
always want TO be under the same government.
OF that fact South America has n noteworthy
! illustration in the heroic history OF Paraguay
1t is quite legitimate for one State to say 10 its
nelghbOr. Come let us take counsel together
for the formation OF a federal union But for
it 10 say TO its neghbor Unite with me or
will thrash and annex you"' is simply attempted
conquest in its most naked and brutal form. II
would be deplorable If any such course were
entered upon at any time Above all would II
be deplOrable and disheartenng II II were begun
| just on the eve OF n Pan-American congress
intended TO promote peace and equity among
| the nations