The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-12-17
VENEZUELA.


world is at present conferred on this
South American republic, and all the
information that can be gained re-
garding it will naturally be of in
terst.
Venezuela is bounded on the north
by the Caribbean Sea, on the east by
British Guiana, south by Brazil and
Colombia, west by Colombia, and has
an area of 593. 943 square miles
Comparison with more familiar terri
tory will convey better idea of the
size of this country than the mere
statement in figures, and for this
purpose we may say that it contains
approximately as many square miles
as Idaho, Montana, Washington,
Oregon, Utah and Wyoming combin-
ed, and has population of 2, 500, 900
or nearly million more than the
states above mentioned; so it is by
no means an insignificant domain.
The agricultural resources are i'm
mense and the products of a most
varied character, cotton, sugar and
coffee being the principal articles of
export. 1t is also rich in mineral, gold
and copper, and the adjacent islands
contain vast deposits of phosphates;
coal is found in abundance of a
superior quality. The live stock
interests are immense and comprise
cattle, horses, goats, sheep and hogs.
The climate, tempered by the trade
winds, is agreeable and healthy.
In 1910 Venezuela revolted against
the Spanish government and a year
later issued declaration of independ-
ence, this was followed by war
lasting ten years, General Simon
Bolivar was the leading spirit in the
war. In 1916 the independence of
the republic was recognized by Spain
at the treaty of Madrid. In 1916 |
civil war broke out and continued |
with hardly any interruption for 2:
years, and as a matter of fact 1t might |
be truthfully said that the country
has never been free from insurrec-
ton of some character. A country
where every fancy pleases and only
man is vile, and if the energies of
the people had been directed in
proper channels, instead of being
wasted as they have been, in inter-
neclne strife, it would today he
among the influential and powerful
nations of the world. Another com
parison may give better idea of
of these possibilities. Venezuela
has three times the area of France,
and infinitely greater and more varied
resources. So it is plain that the
unnatural conditions that exist are
due solely to the character of the
population who seem to have inherited
species of political disease common
to all countries in the new world that
were ever under Spanish rule, and
shows the result of attempting to re-
place ignorance with superstition.
Without attempting to justify the
action of England or Germany, it can
be imagined how great good may
come out of apparent present evil,
and a specimen of Saxon severity
may suggest that the dlatory policy
common to Spanish diplomacy has
ceased to be the order. And so.
forcibly impressed with the fact that
modern methods have superseded
old customs, the country may drop
into line, arrange for the payment of
its national debts, enter on an era of
progress and bond the nation for
greater am cunts. No doubt the
capacity of the country as an
interest-payer has been fully consider
ed, and the present war is intended by
the interest-gatherers to bring it up
to the standard under proper regula-
tions. The Venezuelans are desperate
fighters, and, though their local wars
have not been heralded with great
prominence, some very sanguinary
struggles have occurred. President
Castro has just put down rebellion
lasting over two years and in which