The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-10

who made a study of the social and politi-
cal conditions of those Countries and put
the result Of his observations in the form
of a book aiuable 10 students OF South
American affairs, says OF the uniication
sentiment: 1T required a long series of al
most fatal experiences 10 induce New
Granada, Venezuela and Ecuador, and the
petty provinces or states OF each, 10 sufh-
GENTLY overcome their preJudices to form
a federal union. The opposition TO the old
Colombian union was very general among
the leading politicians and demagogues OF
the provinces IN each OF those countries.
Nor was this strange antlpathy connned 10
the demagOgues alone. Intelligent and pa
triotic men who had other avocations than
Office-Seeking had a strange and underlined
dread of something which they called con-
sohdated government without exactly
knowing what this meant; and with them,
as with us. this senseless fear of 'centrali-
cation long continued to be the evil genius
of their political institutions. 1t was only
through the military prestige and personal
influence of General Bolivar that the union
became a possibility.
bringing Peru and Bolivia into his Colom-
bian union. At any rate, he was suspected
OF such a design, and this was attributed TO
him as a crime. So those two countries re-
pudiated him, and he retired to the troubled
rule of Colombia. Bolivar was ahead of his
time. He really had no public sentiment to
work With, such as Castro has. How strong
the decentralizing sentiment was at and
after the time Of Bolivar may be imagined
from the fact that after the dissolution OF
the union the sovereign states" of VeneZu-
ella increased from six to tWenty-one;
the new ones not made out of a new terri
tory, but carved out of the old states. In
New Granada every man of eighteen years
and upward was a sort of nondescript SOW
ereign, floating about at random, controlled
by some higher law inherent in himself. In
all three nations revolution succeeded revo-
luton, and constitution succeeded constitu-
ton with bewildering rapidity. Military
dictators or incompetent politicians alter
mated with each other at the head of affairs,
and the republic, for which Boil
var labored and from which he and the ad-
vocates of freedom all over the world hoped
for so much, became in its ruins a scandal
among governments and a stumbling block
10 liberty. And so it has remained.
Having thrown off the Spanish yoke and
ezuela and Ecuador into the Republic Of Co
lombia, Bolivar went with his Colombian
troops to Peru, which then was trying to
drive out the Spanish, and, defeating the
royalists in several pitched battles, put an
end TO Spanish power in that country. and
was made dictator of the new nation. He
then went to Upper Peru, a country which
had been formerly a dependency or the
Spanish province of Buenos Ayres, but had
revOlted. The people of this section formed
themselves into a nation. which they named
Bolivia. after the liberator. and made Boil
var perpetual President. Bolivar was now
at the height Of his power, and 1t is this
period of his career which must appeal
most strongly to the ambition of Castro. 1t
is also the portion which should be most
thoroughly studied by the Venezuelan Pres
ident who seeks to walk in the footsteps OF
his illustrious predecessor.
Bolivar created; Castro restored Is
what the newly risen guide of South Amer
lean destinies wants carved on his tomb:
and Eel Restaurador" would not be q bad
title to carry down to posterity.
There is little doubt that Bolivar aimed at
CHANGE OF SENTIMENT.
In Venezuela, between Bolivar and Blan-
co, there interviewed a state little short OF
political chaos. To the iron rule Of Blanco
succeeded another period of tumult and dis
order; now with Castro comes what? He
has drawn the sword of Bolivar, but can he
WELD it? The first movement toward GEN.
tralization appeared in COl~ombia-modern
Colombia-under~ the leadership of DR.. Ra-
fael Nunez, in 1883, and resulted in the re-
beIion Of 1885. After the revolt was put
down a centralized republic was formed
and the present constitution of the country
promulgated. Still we heard nothing about
the recreation of Bolivar's republic. 1t is
one of the most curious anomalies of po-
htical history that the unification senti-
ment should now appear in the ranks of
the Liberals.
Had it been taken up by the Conserva-
tives, it would have been logical; but the
Liberals constitute the party which tore to
pieces the old republic, and that party al
ways has been the champion of decentrali-
cation and segregation. 1t has been the one
and only Ineligible doctrine which it has
preached, the only reason which it has as
signed for its own existence. Now, sudden
ly, we see the Liberals of Venezuela, CO.
lOmbia and Ecuador marshaling their
forces for an armed attempt to overthrow
the strongly centralized government of Co.
lombia, and at the same time shouting for
uniicatiOn. How largely this anomalous
situation is due to the genius of Castro in
seeing the growth of the sentiment of uni
tcauOn and Selling upon ii for his own
ends, regardless of political traditions is a
question.
The President of Venezuela is so lauded
by his friends and so vilifed by his enemies
that it hardly is possible at this distance to
get a clear idea of his personality or his
abilities. 1t looks as if the unification issue
was like a gold dollar which had been left
lying in the street; the Liberals saw it first
and picked 1t up before the Conservatives
could get to it. 1t did not belong to the
Liberals; 1t was something against which
they had always inveighed, but it was also
a thing of which they Immediately recog-
nized the value and of which they pro-
ceeded to make immediate use.
The scheme for the establishment of
the Colombian Union is of especial interest
I'm It's connection with the canal question.
Inc Scheme OF an interOceanic canal across
the lSthmus of Panama was. with Bolivar
a part of the scheme for a
Union. 1t was Bolivar who took the first
serious move looking to the building of
such a canal. and he took it at the time
when the struggle of the nations of the
Union against Spain seemed least hopeful
or success. As soon as ne had been in
vested with dictatorial powers for the
prosecution OF war he sent agents 10 Lon
don 10 try and interest British capitalists
IN the scheme. Money finally was pledged
IN London for the canal, but as no mari
time power could be found willing to guar
antee the neutrality of the proposed canal
the scheme fell through. But Bolivar never
ceased TO revive it from time TO time. and
IL became a cardinal principle of his policy
lie realized not only the great commercial
advantages of such a waterway. but the
great effect which a water communication
between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of
the Colombian Union would have in hold
ing the federation together.
a canal across the isthmus would bring
the different parts of the country together
and consolidate their interests as nothine
else in the world would. The great din
Guilty or communication between the differ
net parts of the Union. owing to the char
acter or the country. tended to foster the
spirit OF segregation, against which Bolivar
iousht ana which finally rent the nation
INTO disordered fragments.
The year of his death, 1880. Bolivar sent
engineers to the Isthmus of Panama IN
make surveys for a canal. Before they
reached the scene of their labors. however
the great hberator died and the federation
dissolved. Bolivar was the father Of tba
ldea or an lsthmian canal, as he was of the
idea of South American unity and II &c
perhaps, a natural coincidence that in tbe
year which VIII in all probability sc The
canal taken up, not to be again abandoned
until the waterway is complete. sees aIso
the revival OF the scheme of a Colon.
bian union. M
n