Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-12-31
SmE lights on CASTRO
Keen Foresight Of the vene.
xuelan President.


sssAs ~ FAhaAelphia, Says HIS
Chief Has shown Much skiIl 1.
sfatesnanshAp and Conn ercisIisu.
what He Has Done For His Conn
try's Good.
Colonel J. I. Diaz Barcenas, consul
for Venezuela at Philadelphia, who
has written an article on his country
and its revolutions IN the December
Era, describes In an interesting man.
ner the characteristic attributes of Ci-
priano Castro. the president Of Vene.
zuela, who is now prominent figure
in international questions. He says:
The revolution led by Castro against
the political and civil iniquity Of An
drade's administration in 1893 was the
blow OF a patriotic, fearless nan
against a power that was draining the
healthy interests of the republic.
Straight from the Venezuelan frontier
he fought his way, thousand miles, to
the capital at Caracas. Out went An
drade. In went Castro. 1t all hap
pened In single night. Around Va
1encia were scattered the rebel forces
Of Manuel Hernandez, who had been a
candidate for the presidency. Herman
dez, swearing vengeance OH his sue
cessful opponent, excited the people to
revolt by fiamboyant speeches against
Andrade, who, he said, was selected
by fraud. Joaquin Crespo, who came
into prominence during the rebellion In
1892, was sent against him with 1900
men. Confident Of victory, he met the
rebel force Of 500 men at Carlneleras.
At the first wild fire Crespo fell for
ward on his face, killed by bullet in
his breast. Hundreds who had ridi-
culed Hernandez now applauded. His
army Increased fvefold. Crespo, as
dictator, had hold on the republic
that worried the people. They re-
1oiced at his end. But Hernandezs
military fame faded in day when
Ramon Guerra, Andrade's minister or
war. crushed his rebellion in single
battle. captured him and put him IN
nrison. Some of the routed forces
Joined Castro, and Andrade fed in dis
| may.
Assuming full power, Castro, with q
quick. unmistakable. mastery grip on
the tangled reins of government began
TO reform the country's crippled sys'
fem. One of his first acts was to re-
lease Hernandez from prison anu eie-
waite him to the department OF progress
nod commerce. The portfolio was ac'
cepted with much apparent gratAuue'
and the new minister acquiescad III the
Governments policy. But he had nag
cling ambition to become the countr!
chief executive. Suddenly he departed
from Caracas. taking l.500 of the men
| who had helped Castro to power. ES
nerience, he felt, had added sufhclenA'
tn his skill to enable him to overwheim
his ouondam chief With comparative
ease. :,
General Castro smiled. Schooled III
ana of the countfy's military acade-
mics he had made strategy his HOBBY
hernandez fought hard TOR nve
months, dashing out from the nihs anu
strikine at Castro's forces, then dodg
inc hack where it was dangerous u
follow him. But Castro planned oet'el
Than Hernandez fought. The reoel wa.
At hast taken by surprise, captured anu
e., the second time handed In prison.
In craftsmanship and commercia'sla
r...ro has Shown much skill. conn
Ssrce keeu foresight and an IRON sell
.cn+ro, are among his attributes. Fron
this man Venezuela has turned i.s c.'.
49,, ove on General Matos, instigatol
~ leader of the new rebellion. Aauo'
hos that dogged determination wnlcl
,,.,nreases men. As minister OF nnancs
no had gained prestige. AS los4nt
candidate for the presidency ~ m'
d., IN 1880 he attained notoriety' ~
:. a general by courtesy. HIS weani i
. md an imposing appearance attrac.et
LII without number ant
svayed the opinion Of many NOUS "s,r "a
,.cted the one thing he most oes .. ~
, executive power. He resolved - Be. . =.
matter how, and be MADE cnaIse !.
~ frand against the governnen. :,
General HIS knowledge OF 'ne . ", n,u
sene. sustem he declared, enabled mn
to learn that officials were '00''Ds '''
treasury. to mn other mai
.. r,eh. 50 imperious or SO a,,e' LA f.
70 MAJ Matos The homage people ps AZ =, !
:, Us wealth he took as tribute " - 70 cr ~
.,s The Christening roo o. ss,s
.s,s% had never been openly ao annnn
! .srsd to him. He became INC Inc n ae
.s.ed for ~ architecture ,,a.a ,estiv,
.sDee was the scene Of endless e., he as'. esr
esnee Under th. giant palms IN DIS s a..
-. H.tos met his sympa, pat, nS,tso,
~esa. BE would draw aoo'e'' ~
snnS venesOe'a up to him. BIZ T.. value i.
h aeo o "o0' but be had little ready m mon
s''' IT. nes,s, enough to :, carry Try On %,t'
~ .,rt,su. he sat talking N U nSa op
rsv ss followers On the veTan'a '''
night. ~. .ssh." he exclaimed