Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-17
NO OFFICIAL ADVICES
TALKS OF PRESIDENT CAsTRo's
WISDOM AND COURAGE.
Not Trained Soldier, but Under
stands the Art Of War-some Of
His Characteristiea

| .ez-f.=
Events are transpiring so rapidly In
Venezuela" said Charge d,Affaires Angus
tus Pulido. Of the Venezuelan legation. at
the Cochran today. to q Star reporter. "that
one can hardly follow them intelligently.
At that I am totally without official ad-
vices from my government. and the little
obtain Of what is transpiring in Venezuela
Is by way of press dispatches. The Star
will readily understand what think of the
recent actions of England and Germany
without entering into details upon that
point. My official and Individual opinions
would not look well in print and would be
undiplomatic. l may safely say, however,
in this connection that believe that Pres
ident Castro has wisdom enough and cour-
age enough to do what Is right, and will
meet each emergency as 1t arises in hia
usual STRAIGHTFORWARD and just manner
president Castro does not lack backbone
His acts during the past few days demon
strate that and the manner he has dealt
with revolutions and revolutionists in the
past leaves no doubt on that point. know
the man. He studied statecraft under my
father, who was his colleague in the Ven
ezuelan legislature, and who as early as
1851 was minister to this country and
teen different and important missions.
first saw Castro when was boy, when
he was member OF the legislature. Even
at that early day he was looked upon as
something out Of Sthe common. and well
recollect hearing my father say to some Of
his colleagues: Keep your eyes on Castro;
some day he will cut no small figure In
public affairs The prophecy has been full
filed, for today all eyes are upon him and
wondering what he will do next. Rest as
sured he will do nothing rash.
An Interesting Personality.
Born In the state of the Andes about
forty-1ve years ago, Castro is an interest
ing personality. He Is below the medium
height, dark featured. as becomes Latin.
while his eyes are dark large and piercing
-veritable human; searchlights which seem
to read your .innermost thoughts. He Is
without fear, and to think, with him, IS to
act and take the consequences. His face 10
covered with q beard that is SO black that
1t almost looks blue ia the sunlight. He Is
firm, but not tyraut, and IL kind Of heart
when he Is not too much imposed upon.
His recent courtesy to Madame Baltazzi,
and his kind words for her husband. In spite
Of the present unpleasant condition of at
fairs show the mental balance Of the man
better than can picture him. ~
"a Castro never had, q military training
except such as he has gained In the field In
actual warfare. And yet he IL soldier OF
no mean ability, as his public career dem
onstrates. And here will add that all
Venezuelans are natural soldiers. Bolivar
school, az was the case OF his prototype,
Washington, but he knew enough Of the art
of war to win the Independence Of his peo-
pie from one of5the most powerful nations
Of Europe. and whose infantry was consid-
cred almost invinctble.. have said that all
Venezue3ans are1natural soldiers. The pro-
fession Of arInss b. with them d hereditary
trait. by reason OF the years their ances-
tors were engaged in wars with the Span
iards. This trait not only obtains among
the people of pure Spanish descent. but
among the Indians All take to arms as
naturally as child to Its mothers milk.
While they are not absolutely born with
arms In their hands they know at an early
age how to use them.
Difference In Methods.
from an Anglo-Saxon standpoint 1t Is
difficult to take the full measure Of a
Latin. The methods OF the. two races are
80 different. One achieves revolutions by
the ballot, the other by the musket. 1t may
be deplored, but such are the facts, and
we must allow much for environment, racial
differences and education. The Latin Is, to
a certain degree, an idealist. He Will go
to the stake or scaRold for an idea; and,
after all. the world has been lifted higher
by lofty ideals and sentiment than 1t has
from icy cold materfalism. Each race Is
working out its destiny in its own peculiar
way. and by ways best suited to each race.
There are three millions Of Venezuelans,
and they know how to fight, and are will
ting to fight to the last gasp in defense Of
the honor Of their country. It Is true that
they have not modern guns, but they know
how to use those they possess. and the ma
ton that thinks they will not use them.
and to advantage, will find when war 10
once declared that It Is mistaken. This IL
as far as I care to go in this direction.
The mixture Of the Spaniard with the ma
dves has produced some splendid men and
beautiful women in Venezuela Some OF
the meztizzos are members of the arisrocra-
cy. There Is little of race prejudice among
the people. and this fact makes the people
who inhabit the country homogeneous and
will always prove an element of safety to
the nation when its life Is assailed.
Rumor as to Castro.
Castro Is married but believe has no
children. His wife is one Of the most beau
tiful and charming women In the republic.
At this long range II is impossible to state
with any degree OF accuracy how much
truth there Is in the dispatch that Castro
has been asked to resign nor am able to
state how he will treat the invitation. !
might venture q guess. but The Star wants
facts and not guesses and the former /
cannot give It.
sIt may be Of some interest to Americans
friend and admirer Of Mr.. Webster, whom
he knew quite wen. During Mr.. Websters
public career he wrote many letters to my
father, who, during his lifetime. was minis
ter to all Of the principal capitals OF Eu-
rope. These letters are at my home In Vene-
zuela. and have thought OF bringing them
to this country, AS they are very interesting
lie men and the events Of his time"