The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-26
The Truth About Colombia.

In view of the persistent efforts of the
Administration press to make it appear
| that President Castro is the aggressor
| in the difficulty between Venezuela and
Colombia. and the dictator Marroquin
the innocent victim, we are glad to
learn that the former has decided to
make a clear statement of the facts of
the controversy to the State Depart
ment at Washington. 1t is true that
the facts are well enough known in
that quarter already, and for some pur-
pose are ignored. 1t is probable also,
that General Castro entertains little
| hope of being able to overcome the hos
tility of the Administration by means
| of any representations he could make.
But his proposed official statement viii
be timely, and at least will have the eff
| feet Of putting the world on notice in
| respect of his position and that of his
country. 1t may even result in the
creation of such an opinion among the
Cabinets of Europe as might render it
unsafe for the Administration to ven
ture upon an Intervention the bona
fdes of which could not be claimed
under the principles of international
law, or of common justice
The Isthrnian and South American
situation is being SO persistently mis-
represented in this country by a Sec
ton Of the press, and, as it may reason
ably be suspected, in the interests of a
great financial and Industrial combi-
nation. it is highly desirable that the
truth should be presented to the public
~, 10 nd to
place the official and private influences
which. openly or secretly. are backing
the dictator Marroquin in his con-
spiracy to overthrow the liberal gov
eminent of Venezuela, in their true |
light. In his address to the American
Department of State, General Castro |
no doubt viii show, as he is amply
able to, that the recent invasion of his |
country from the Colombian frontier |
was effected by twenty-five battalions |
of Marroquin's army, commanded by !
the Colombian General Valencia, for |
merly the dictators Minister of War.
He will assert and be able to prove that |
he has not answered invasion by in
vasion. and has no idea of SO doing.
Only last Saturday, through his Secre-
Nrtutldl ttGtdEtu THAT
Venezuelan army on the frontier was
for defence alone. 1t is notorious that.
after the invaders under Valencia were
routed and driven back over the border,
Castro's forces contented themselves
with securing it against further attack,
and since have conducted themselves
strictly on the defensive.
BY some Administration journals it is
counted terrible offence on the part Of
President Castro that he sympathiZes
with the party Of liberty in Colombia
On the other hand, Marroquin, the die
tator, is lauded for aiding the conspir-
of Venezuela. The reason for this in
consistency is not far TO seek, and it is
fourd deep at the root of the whole
South American embroglio. The tri-
umph of Castro over his enemies would
settle the fate of the Asphalt Trust
claims to a monopoly of the Venezue-
Ian asphaltum deposits, to the extent
that they would have to be finally ad-
Indicated on their merits. under the
laws Of the country. Were Andrade ,
however, to succeed in overturning the
Government, with the aid of Marroquin,
there is a widespread impression that
different results might be reached. So |
Castro is a villain for sympathizing
with the struggling victims of tyranny
in Colombia. and MarrOquin is a pa
triot for conspiring to suppress liberal
institutions in Venezuela, and to there
set up a personal despotism like his
own.
1t all comes to this: But for the as
phalt war in Venezuela, and the atti-
tude Of the Washington Administration .
the present South American :
difficulty would not exist Its point and
purpose from the beginning has been
and still is the destruction Of General ,
Castro and his Liberal Government at .
Caracas. To promote that object Mar
roquin has been praised and encour-
aged. and Andrade supplied with
money, arms, ammunition. and perhaps {
officers and men from the United
States. If. finally. Intervention shall be a
resorted to, the American people will d,
find it perfectly easy to make the prop j
ar deductions.
|
Expensive BENEFITS.
The Governor of Oregon seems to be t
IN unusually sensible man. Some time l