Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-09

/ West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky
Tennessee North Carolina and Georgia,
with total known population not
much In excess OF greater New YORK
Such an immense territory so sparsely
populated and employing the most
primitive methods OF communication
naturally offers unbounded opportuni-
ties TO the revolutionary. Then the
people are politically apathetic. They
have inherited the carefree. joyous dis
position of the Latin, mixed with the
quiet content and Indifference OF the
aberinigal South American. Theirs Is
essentially home life. with tendency
almost patriarchal In It's strong family
associations. its slight interest in the
outside world "Strenuousness' Is un-
known 10 the Colombian. But the
northerner who has tasted the hospital
ity OF Colombian household IS i'm
pressed instead by the simplicity he
finds there, the genuine friendliness,
the easy refinement and absence OF
worry or lrritabillty that characterize
the domestic relations. A Colombian
may never hustle He may never at
tempt 10 transact IN day business that
might occupy him for week, but he
has a great capacity for quiet enjoy
ment. His social circle Is his world.
The interests that absorb him are con-
tanned In his home. II he steps out
side the bounds OF these interests IL Is
to take part In some fiesta or church
festival Indeed, the church forms an
essential feature In any political os
social sketch Of the Colombian republic.
II Is present in almost every public on
private consideration in a way that
would be difficult for MS 10 measure or
understand. A revolution is always
OF the NEST vital importance to the well
fare of the churah In Colombia.
IL ~ singular that people so peculi-
arly peace lovint and amicable, almost
pastoral, In character should be so har-
assed with continued military upheay-
ais. The effect OF the latter on the
c0untrys development Is obvious. Co
lombla although settled the flrst Is
probably known the least OF any coun-
try on the American continent Her
retarded growth Ia due 10 no lack of
advantages offered to the investor. On
the contrary, the mineral and agri-
cultural wealth OF the republic Is In
exhaustible, while commercially, owing
to ts geographical position. Colombia
should hold a commanding place In
South and Central America. In the
time Of the Spanish occupancy this was
realized; but today the reverse Is true.
Colombia IL being outstrlpped by all
her neighbors In the business OF the
world. Her mines are idle. her fertile
fields yield barren harvest, her huge
waterways are unruflled by the keels OF
commerce, her spacious ports are open
only TO a plgmy trade: and the reason
for IL all Is found In one word-War
IL Is hard TO remember a time when
there has not been revolution or the
fear OF one In Colombia. When one
party Is In power the other party is
scheming to dislodge ii, and that can
be done only through a military revo-
luton. While the majority Of the peo-
pie are absorbed In their agricultural
pursuits or enjoying their fiestas, for
getting all about the intricaces and
woes OF government, handful OF rest
less statesmen" the unquenchable
minority, start guerilla warfare in
some mountain fastness OF the republic.
They meet with q series OF successes,
the government Is alarmed. troops are
called out. steamboats, and railroads
are appropriated for their service, there
is marching and countermarchlng all
over the country. poems are drafted In
to the army, rich planters are reused
from their arcadian reyeries and asked
TO supply the "sinews Of war; for
eigners and merchants gather up their
belongings and look wistfully seward
land behold, there Is revolution II
seems TO be a perfectly natural state OF
things The wonder is when there is
not revolution.
But this time the trouble appears to
have oyerstepped the bounds OF the or
binary revolution. There are rumors
and predictions Of a bitter internatIon-
al conflict, In which the United States
may finally be compelled to take a
hand. The trouble seems to be that
Castro. the successful leader OF an In
surgent outbreak In his own country.
is apparently looking for other worlds
to conquer. He has taken up the