Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-14
WILDCAT GOVERNM ENTS
AN ENGLISH VIEW OF THE sotTH
AMERICAN REPUBLICS.
Discussion OF the Present Ven~saeIa-
Colon bfa-Ecuador Dis
turbauces.

ton and play at the deadly game of war
in constant guerrilla campaigns. When
travelling about the United States discoy-
cred a universal conviction among the peo-
pie that at no distant date the whole OF
the South American continent must be-
come one OF their exclusive spheres OF in
fuence. This is never a subject Of argu-
ment; 1t is quietly assumed as a disagree
able but Inevitable contingency. No Amer
lean wants his government TO interfere with
Colombia, Venezuela or Ecuador. but these
farcicai republics regarded utterly
incapable OF becoming anything better than
vast enssngufned cockpits without some de-
gree OF foreign control
So far as situation Is concerned, Caracas,
Bogota or Quito are the most enchanting
cities on earth. They are the capitals OF
Nenezuela. Colombia and Ecuador. respect
lively: Quito. the highest capital city In the
world Is perched on a glorious plateau
right against the equator. Bogota is the
fairy city OF South America. Caracas,
which our great Sir Francis Drake once
captured is the gem city OF the Caribbean
sea These three spots OF peerless beauty
are the head centers OF the most cruel con-
spiractes against International law and or
der concocted In this age: while. apart from
the International view. they are also nests
where internectne plots tire incubated
every day. Each Of these republics is con-
stantly at feud with the other two while
each is at the same time evermore engaged
IN civil war within its own borders.
Carniyals of Carnage.
Humanity would be staggered indeed IL
the truth were generally known about the
reciprocal ferocity displayed In these con-
fficts year after year. especially between
Venozue and Colombia, the two most in
fiammable OF the three states. Last year
and the year before Gen. Cribe-Uribe. the
notorious leader of the Colombian revolu-
tionary party. managed TO keep the field in
a guerrilla campaign month after month.
Between 20.0O0 and 10000 men were killed
and wounded in those two years. Sporadic
fights took place all over Venezuela and
Colombia, but chiefly among the great
mountain ranges. the tortuous spurs OF the
northern Andes. The whole region Is won
derfully adapted for such warfare. In this
respect 1t even excels South Africa. There
are thousands of fierce spirits in these re-
pubics whose thirst for fighting is un-
quenchable. The idiosyncrasy comes OF the
mixture of Spanish and Indian blood. Large
numbers of the population are also descend
ants Of the old buccaneers and pirates. No
race OF people on earth can fight more
bravely. Nd people are so incapable OF
self-government.
Last January Lord Ernest Hamilton sent
TO London special letter from Panama. in
which he gave appalling figures OF CASUAL
ties In the lighting that had been intermit-
tently proceeding for two years between
Venezuelans and Colombians. People here
generally imagined that he was retailing
some decisions circulated on the Central
only too correct, lurid though they were
as recoros OF slaughter.
Turbulent spirtta-
Five turbulent spirits are responsible for
the chaos that now reigns in these regions.
They are Cypriano Castro. president OF
Venezuela; Senior Jose de Marroquin, vice
president and acting chief Of executive in
Colombia (Which is at present without a
presidenp: General Afaro, president OF
Ecuador; General Uribe-Uribe, the Colom-
bian insurgent chief who is encouraged by
President Castro, and General Rangel Gal
bros, the Venezuelan revolutionist, who has
taken refuge in Colombia and is the ally
of Senior de Marroquin. 1t will at once tie
seen how inextricably complicated L. tie
position. Venezuela and Colombia have
each Internal revolution In progress.
which might be considered sufficient
trouble: but each is forever virtually at
war with its neighbor. though war Is not
actually declared There is no need to de-
clare it. 1t goes on automatically. But
why?
The cause of the curse is the same which
is beginning so impressively to strike the
European consciousness in connection with
the anti-clericaf movement in South Eu-
rope. All through Latin Christendom the
priests have been going too far. They have
interfered vastly too much in politics. IL
we keep constantly in view the fact L
have Just mentioned, the situation is all
the time ineligible. The two leading fac
tons in both Venezuela and Colombia are
the liberals, or anti-cleEicals, and the cier-
icals The real cause of the chronic war
fare between these two provinces is the
sympathy of the anti-clericals in Venezuela
with the corresponding party in Colombia,
who now comprise the insurgent element
led by Uribe-Uribe.
The why and wherefore.
One thing is certain. that President Cas-
tro has been all the time backing this CO.
lombian revolutionist: hence the wrath OF
als-1 ~
very natural retaliation of Marroquin in
the shape Of active help extended to Gen
Galbiros, the rebel. against Castro and tie
Venezuelan government Each government
has very nice little casus belli. Indeed. II
is never without one.
President Castro has an army of a little
over 10000 men encamped in formidable
mountain stronghold at San Cristobal.
close to the middle of the boundary he
tween the two countries. Many hot fights
have taken place near this spot, and many
more will happen An element of real i'm
perialism enters into this COMPLICATION OF
South American politics. Geh Iribe-Cribe
is known as Great Colombian" Ills am
bition is to unite the S.0o0.ooO people of the
three republics under one ,rernment- This
Is no mere dream, for the three states were
born i'm 1880 by the splitting UP 90 the origi-
nal immense Colombia at the death of the
illustrious Bolivar the ''emancipator. who,
by his heroism and genius, finally sIuas SIZED
the Spanish domination. In the United
States Uribe-Crfbe Is a great favorite. He
is well known In New York, where he lived
In exile. and formed his plans for the revo-
luton which he is now conducting.
Danger of Foreign Interference.
The difficulty OF pacifying these South
American states. IL a foreign power at
tempted the task. would be far greater than
that which We are experiencing In South
Africa The enormous extent of country
To be covered Is only realized by those who
give attention to the subject. Venezuela
alone is rather more than twice the size OF
Texas, that biggest OF all the sections OF
the United States, which is larger than
France and Germany together. Venezuela
has an area of So. $50 square miles; Texas
has only De-. go Colombia is not much
smaller than Venezuela, having 10000
square miles Even Ecuador. with its no.
600 square miles, is twice the size OF Eng
land and Wales.
Now, here are magnificent geographical
opportunities for exercise of guerrilla expe-
ditions, especially in a gloriously tangled
mass Of mountains and valleys. This colos-
sal revolutionary cauldron will never cease
to seethe until severe attention is paid to IL
from without by some superior and peremp-