New-York tribune., 1901-08-12
FOR "GREAT COLOMBIA
WHAT URIBETRIBE is FIGHTING FOR
SENIOR PEREZ OPPOSES IN
PREVENTION.

! a copy or a manifesto issued by General Rafael
! Orloe- Tribe. the active chief of the Colombian
rebels at Maracaibo has been received in this
/ city. The Importance of this document lies in
/ the statement made by General Uribe-Uribe in
/ ITS closing paragraph that he is fighting Eow for
/ the reunion OF Great Colombia" as the fedora
4 ton OF Venezuela Colombia and Ecuador was
4 known previous TO 1880. This" he adds was
the ambition of the liberator. General Simon
! 6ollVar In this manifesto is the explanation
OF the present trouble on the frontiers Of Vene-
zuela and Colombia. Two unsuccessful attempts
one on last Friday-have been made to invade
venezuela from Colombian territory by force
l OF something like six thousand men, said to be
! led by General Gonzalez Valencia, Governor of
the Department Of Santander A Venezuelan
said yesterday, 1T looks like war without
formal declaration"
The impression among Venezuelans here is
that the government Of Colombia has definite
Knowledge Of the understanding that is said 10
exist between President Castro of Venezuela,
President Alfaro of Ecuador and General Tribe
Tribe. to the effect that the forces Of the three
are to work together for the overthrow of the
conservative government in Colombia, which is
tn" only obstacle TO the establishment of
Great Colombia. Colombia. it is suggested, has
decided TO strike first. with the idea that many
Of the Liberals might be induced 10 help the
government against a foreign foe and in
spirit Of patriotism abandon the internal upris
ing.
General Urbe-U Tribe in his manifesto. men
tions the causes that induced him 10 return TO
the front after ne declared himself out OF the
rebellion He says.
The Bogota Government did not respond to
my sincere peace manifesto issued in April with
a single act of justice or what II calls elem
ency.' nor with one word of conciliation, nor
with the most Insignificant measure showing its
honest intention To substitute for the purely
military regime, on which II IS founded some
other having the sembanCe OF legitimacy. My
move for pacfcatiOn met only with sarcastic
words and hateful actions
The general recalls long list OF cruelties per
petrated by the government and adds:
Thus it is plain that they Ghe CIericals) want
TO add humiliation conquest and extermna-
tion 10 humiliation. So with cruelty and shame
on one side and death with honor on the other.
our choice is TO fight desperately and without
respite. Since our oppressors do not consent to
loose our chains. let us smash them to pieces
or perish in the attempt.
Sehor Raul Perez, who was one Of the Liberal
commission appointed 10 confer with Rear-Ad-
mral Jouett Of the North Atlantic Squadron
and Captain Reardsey of the Powhatan in the
insurrection Of 1855 gave out the following
statement last night regarding the possibility
Of the United States again taking hand in the
revolution as it did at that time:
1t seems to me that Senior Herran. secretary
OF the Colombian Legation at Washington, and
now acting as Charge 'Affaires. is a little hasty
when he talks as if he the country at large
ihere is no proud nation that could welcome
Ioreisn intervention in its private affairs All
CoIombians know how distastefu it is and that
theTe is no foundation in the treaty for IT,
Having been one Of the commissioners and the
interpreter at the meeting between the Liberal
chlefs and Captain Bcardsley, and later with
Rear-Admral Jouett / remember clearly All
VFb he
tertered in Colon and 10 a certain extent at
Cdrtagena. In those days the State Department
a. at Washington could not have been we'll in
oilleu as 10 the causes of the revolution and
as TO how a president of the country in order
10 succeed in becoming dictator for life. had
called on the Clericals who promised to submit
10 him Internationally.
Had it not been for the intervention of the
United States that occasion Dictator Nuhez
would not have succeeded in tyrannizing the
country until his death, leaving il prey for the
fanatics who have continued the work of dew
astatton. They have brought the rich and |
prosperous republic of Colombia to the present /
condition of ruin, with paper currency at 5 600 |
per cent, no public schools, no payment of the |
foreign debt since Nunez enthroned himself no |
securities guarantees of any kind for life or
property. Nothing but fanaticism and taxes
and tithes bribery and spoliatiOn, shame and
disorder in every branch of the so-called ad- |
mnstration.
The intervention of the United States in 1881
did not benefit any American interests. as every
American merchant who did business there can
testify. Only the Clericals proited by it, and
tHey natter themselves CnaG tney deceive /
the government at Washington a second time
and the most liberal government in the
world when in peril to protect them against the
people whom they abuse and exploit lust by
crying out that the traffic of the isthmus is
menaced by insurgents. Rear-AdmiraI Jouett
told me more than that had he known the
exact conditions when he went to Colon and
Cartagena he would have acted differently. If
he had the struggle would have been won for
progress and civilization over the conditions I
have already enumerated. The treaty between
the United States and Colombia is perfectly
clear. and il does not give the least opening for
the interpre tation that this country has to in
terfere in case of internal strife. Besides the
revolutionists will not interfere with the traffic
there, and soon they get the upper hand
they will protect that same traffic and the lives
and property of citizens and foreigners as they
have not been cared for during the last twenty
years
The government at Washington is to-day we'll
posted in regard to what each of the political
parties in Colombia represents, and the Colom-
bian officials mistaken when they believe
that the American navy and army are nstitu-
tions existing to support the Clerical oppressors
left maediction by the Spanish domina-
tion.
MORE FIGHTING on THE ISTHMUS.
Kingston. Jamaica. Aug. 11.-According to
mail advices received here to-day from Colon.
there was a series of engagements last week in
the neighborhood Of Panama and the govern