The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-24
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Marronuin,. Mnr PrncInmntion.

apparently has learned how far he car
depend upon the moral or other support
Of the Washington Administration in
prosecuting his plot TO crush the spirit
Of liberty and the cause of Constitu-
uonaI government In Colombia and
Venezuela His first steps having been
disastrous. his best general in command
of column Of his most reliable troops
having invaded Venezuelan territory
and suffered defeat and rout. Mario
quin now resorts to cxtremities and is
sues a proclamation which is tanta-
mount TO declaration Of war. 1t
says:
"A new aspect Of the war which seems 10
hndie anew with the help Of foreigners who
threaten the frontier, places the Government nm
Ger ne necessity OF assuming a different attitude
from that maintained hitherto. and forces IL 90
proceedings which II las previously tried 20
avoid
payment Of all accounts for war materials pend
Ing and 10 limit the expenses 20 the payment Of
The armed force and administration
''Sccond-To proceed 20 eNVr5rriate all the
Necessary elements for the feeding. equipment.
and mobilization Of She army.
''IhIrd-To levy forced and voluntary loans au-
CordiDg Go circumstances. and Co impose war con-
tnbutlons IN order 90 meet the expenses Of each
Department without depending ON the national
capital
THE Governors are hereby amply authorized
20 proceed in these matters according 90 the re-
qurCmout Of circumstance without the need Of
approval from the Government. and each Coz
srnor must assume the responsibility in order
70 save the situation within hi, territory"
There are provisions in the dictator's
instructions TO his provincial Govern
ors. contained in the above. which will
not appeal favorably TO European Gov
ernmerts. Germans. for example. con-
troll the bulk Of whatever commercial
business there IS in Colombia and they
would be first TO suffer spoliation IN
der Marroquin's authorization Of forced
loans On the Isthmus, Germans. En-
glishnen. and Americans would be ex-
posed TO like eNtortions. The Admins
tration cannot support the dictator in
such high-handed measures without in
curing the condemnation Of every Eu-
rOpean commercial State The active
er nifty Of Europe would be a high price
10 pay for the chance Of crushing Presi-
dent Castro and the Liberal Govern
ment Of Venezuela. that the Asphalt
Trust might secure a monopoly Of the
Venezuelan asphaItum deposits.
II will be observed that the procla-
nation empowers every petty depart
ment governor 10 appropriate" what
ever supplies or property he may need.
or desire to seize, according 10 the re-
quiz ement Of circumstances" Of which
he is TO be the sole judge. II is easy 10
realize the state Of anarchy and ruin
which must follow at once upon the
application Of such war methods. We
doubt - tho No. Too,rrfvo 90 Il
stretched TO protect NarrOquin in en-
forcing the terms Of his proclamation
For one thing, he IS a UsUrper. and is
using his power TO foment revolution In
Venezuela, State in which there are
important foreign interests. II the
United states claims the right Of inter
ference to protect American interests
and property" and. incidentally. Mar
roquin, il Is possible that Germany NAV
consider that she has similar right
20 interfere FOR the protection Of Ger
man interests and property.
As matter Of fact. the position OF
the Administration in siding with Mar
roquin against Venezuela. unfortunate
" las the appearance Of insincerity
So it IS regarded generally by the press
bUrgh Vied0m0sti' said. The declara-
tons Of the Washington Cabinet mean
that the United States is siding with
Colombia against Venezuela" and the
'Berliner Tageblatt." said that Amer |
lean diplomatists have exhumed a
treaty dating from 1876 in order 10 give 1
possible intervention an outward sign
OF Justification"
Coincidently with the war declara-
ton Of Marroquin. we hear that Juan |
Pietri. who recently was arrested for |
conspiring against the Government Of |
Venezuela in the Asphalt Andrade in
terest. and generously was released by |
President Castro, has started an insur- /
rectioG in CarabObo. and at Guarico in
che State Of Miranda. So we see that |
the pot is boiling merrily. and that its |
steam has the odor to which people are |
accustomed when the Asphalt Trust is |
busy with it's paving operations.