The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-14

urged against him by the people at
large is on account OF his ambition to
be the chief executive OF the greater
Colombia" which was 20 be formed by
the union of Venezuela. Colombia and
Ecuador in pursuance OF the idea orig
inally exploited by the great liberator
Bolivar. IL was as a Liberal fghting
for this idea that General Tribe Tribe
turned against his own government
in Colombia and became a virtual ad-
herent OF Castro. supported by Yene-
zuelan arms and prestige. 1t was as a
discredited renegade that he later
turned to Castro for aid at time when
the latter's hold on his own position
was weakening and victorious revolu-
tionists were assailing the very gates
OF Caracas and holding up railroad
trains between La Guayra and the cap
ital.
To name all the revolutionists OF
prominence who have appeared in this
latest rebellion against self constituted
authority would be next 10 impossible.
for opposed TO Castro are nearly all the
high officials who were at first. at least
ostensibly. his friends. and those who
have not been Jailed have taken their
turns fighting him i'm the field. The
most successful OF these has been Cen
eral Manuel A. Matos, formerly min
lister OF the treasury under Andrade
who was imprisoned by Castro because
he would not loot the national treasury
for him. He organized an expedition at
Antwerp last fall, with a large quantity
Of arms and ammunition, and set out
In an armed steamer for the Venezue-
Ian coast. At the same time there was
great focking Venezuelaward OF ex-
lied officials. Ex-President Andrade
and many others assembled at that
neutral Dutch port. Curacao. which is
within easy striking distance OF the
Venezuelan coast; insurgents from the
English island of Trinidad captured
towns I'm the state of Bermudez; a ris-
ing occurred in remote Bolivar on the
Orinoco; General Montilla headed a
small army at Barquisimeto. General
Castillo another in the peninsula of
Coro, and an indecisive battle between
government troops and insurgents was
fought near Barcelona. During the
past six months the revolutionary SER
pent has dragged it's length across the
country i'm every direction. By means
OF conscriptions that in certain districts
included all males between the ages of
SiAtetU slAty castro Kept
up the semblance Of an army, which
was devoted 10 him in proportion as it's
pay was kept up or withheld. In order
to supply himself with funds Castro
resorted TO forced loans TO the govern
ment and by an exquisite irony levied a
loan Of 81 000. 900 upon the widow OF his
greatest predecessor I'm the art OF plum
dering, the late GuZman Blanco. All
this could not be done without becom-
ing involved with outside governments
and Castro aroused the ire of France
and Germany by imprisoning citizens
of both nationalities and sequestrating
their properties. Several times during
the past two years there has been a
scurrying of foreign war vessels TO
! Venezuelan ports and claims pressed
home that made poor Castro squirn1.
He realized long before the latest out
breaks al La Guayra and around Ca
racas that IL was no pleasant thing to
be president of Venezuela. yet he made
his boast. so IL is said. that he would
not go out of his capital except in his
coffin.
JOHN MERRILL JAMESON. =