New-York tribune., 1901-11-12
@,xt = Skirmishes and raids across the from
Sc p OF daily or rather OF nightly occurrence.
sTRUGGLE BETWEEN PARTIES.


STRUGGLE BETWEEN PARTIES.
se eral Uribe- Tribe readily consented to
serFiew Speaking fiuently in French, he said:
As President Castro has but recently declared,
is is rot international war between Nenez-
.sla and Colombia, but a struggle between the
beral and Conservative parties OF both coun-
aes. Here in Venezuela we all serve under the
yellow standard of the Liberal party, as do our
friends in Ecuador. in Guatemala, in Nicaragua
ead IN the Liberal strongholdS OF the Colombian
GGejra We helped repei the recent attack on
ssn cristobal on the part Of the Colombian and
Venezuelan Conservatives under Garbiras, and
ZOE have undertaken to help guard the
Venezuelan frontier against foreign attacks. My
force is simply a part Of the Venezuelan line OF
defence, and, as its commander, L stand under
the orders of Generalissimo Cipriano Castro,
Just Ike the other Liberal generals on this side
Of the frontier. If 1 were TO engage in separate
operations l should run the risk OF interfering
with the dispositions of our fellow Liberals in
The field. and would probably lose General Cas-
tro's support especially if I compromised MS
cause. We not yet strong enough TO do
without the help OF our allies outside the con-
fines OF Colombia
+ II is absurd. on account of this 10 call me a
tzitor to my country L love my country with
al .-s heart, do all the Colombian gentle
msn % i~Fsiily and education who have left the
UnireTs!eg of Bogota TO come under the Liberal
standard The Conservatives say that l have
promised 10 repay General Castro for his aid by
Concessions Of Colombian territory after our
shall have triumphed- This Is q malicious
lie General Castro has done what he can for
overturned his Conservative enemies in NeneZ-
aela he did so with the aid OF the Colombian
Liberals. a number OF the men who are now
serving with me here followed his standard
from Cucuta TO Caracas. When General Castro
explained his dispositions TO me at Caracas not
word said about future concessions on
the part OF Colombia. Such a suggestion would
have been mortal insult II boundary dis
putes should arise in the future between Colom-
ha and Venezuela they will be settled in regu-
lar form by boundary commissions or by ar
{
PROMISES he WILL FULFIL
There are. however, some open promises and
engagements TO which / stand committed, to-
gsther with all my beloved countrymen in the
field, First OF all, We have engaged ourselves
in case OF success to do all in our power TO
change the money standard of Colombia from
lis present debased paper currency to stand
ard of silver and gold. We shall not repudiate
any national debt, but soon as il can be
effected the Wretched paper bills which are
nov being turned out in Bogota by the bushel
shall be withdrawn from circulation. Next we
shall Try 10 effect definite settlement of the
.starnus canal question and OF the penang IN
ternational negotiations. We shall stand by all
our national treaties as for instance. the treaty
with the United States Of 1916 guaranteeing the
neutrality Of the isthrnus railroad, but we shalI
Put definite stop 10 the present underhand
oiokeTing for our most Valua bic concessions to
tTopean countries Colombia's concessions TO
ttnce in regard 10 the isthmus, by the terms
q the last treaty, expire in 19p4- French capt.
aists have obtained an illegal extension OF
these concessions. Our congress- when ii last
net In 1898 refused to ratify these concessions.
myself, the only Liberal representative IN
t0ngress. voted against such ratification In
osnance Of the Colombian constitution, Presl-
cent San Clemente, after the dissolution OF the
Songress, arbitrarily granted the concessions 20
France Now the French company rs trying TO
sci these same concessions TO American capital
SIS for $4,000 600. How much better it would
. TO put this sum Of money into the conStruc-
san Of the canal. We have had enough or
Fsnama frauds We do not want the French
NEEDLE further with the canal. We know. as
en the world knows. that the Americans can
nssh the canal in half the time and for half
~ money. We want Americans to undertake
Nc eompletion Of the canal and we willingly
Irsf the protection Of the great North ATneri-
sa fpubiic at the isthmus, as we have already
re tn regard TO the transisthman railroad
-ssn az the present juncture we have no objec-
~ ~ 10 the landing Of American troops at the
rsanhus. Come what may between us and our
eshservative enemies, know that the Ameri-
sSns will content themselves with protecting the
te,lIoad. ] have implicit trust that they VIII
1a the balance true. Be IL remembered IN our
@sor that party was the only body of men
south America that syrnpathized with the
In'tn americans when they undertook the oe-
3eidhce Of Cuba from Spain, and that WAS
SPOKESMAN in our Congress
liner Ideals that hope to realize when cur
ih snail come in Colombia are the liberation
- cur political prisoners and Of the Inuzzied
Fsss' an honest administration OF a1al:s' the
+laerance of public works and a general trans
fbSuon Of the present despotie practlces Oh
s. -tirfloal government OF Bogota 10 the heaithy
CaaNuons CT e more democratic government
tr~ioia at present suffers from worse cen
r,as~atlon I, CT government powers than France
III Sa no longer be said that Colombia IS unoer
Nc slufno Of small clique at BogotaS Wheh
gS1ihe INTO our own" echo OF the famous
ogn oToS:'e . song. When Charlie Comes Into his