The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-30
STARTLING VIEW
OF CONDITIONS NOW EXISTING
 IN VENEZUELA.
Castro, the Mule Driver. Began His Infamous Career With e Small Band of Cutthroats and As- sembled Under His Banner All that was Vicious and
 Criminal.

A writer in an English paper takes so ne unusual views or anairs in Vene- zueia. and discusses in comparative way the conditions of life in that trou- bled land under United States and Brit ish sanction.
 It needs the pen of a Defoe or a Dante. he says. to correctly portray the atroci. ties which now take place In all parts or Venezuela, practically under the sanction of the United States. and by the cowardiy connivance of Gre4t Britain.
 Since the time of the great Boliyar-G name almost unknown In Great Britain there has been no peace in all that great terEtory which the Liberator rescued from the infamous rule of the Spaniards. Coming down to later times. one nnds a systematic continuation of bloodshed, rapine, and every description of crimi- nality. Recently I asked an old Vene- zuelan how many years had elapsed since there had been representation Tn Vene- zuela according to the Constitution Of the country, and he replied: Sir there has been no legitimate representation in Venezuela for the last forty years. l re- member when 1t was suppressed at the point of the bayonet."
 The Constitution of Venezuela says, inter alia, that the President must be elected by the people. That IS very reasonable proposal. But what are we to say when a highway robber comes into the capital at the head of a horde Of bandits and says: "T am the President? Yet that Is exactly what the present President of Venezuela did. Castro simp- ly hunted his predecessor out Of of1ce and took possession bv force of arms.
 Castro, the Mule Driver.
 Castro originally came from a small hamlet in the Andes where he probably drove mules or carried sacks Of coree Tor a living. The situation became tedious to him and it occurred to him to seize the Presidency. The thought bred the action From that point we see him on the high road to the Presidency. Starting With
 af NHTan n in a civilized country would have been convicts according to the criminal laW), he continued an almost unbroken career of victory, which eliminated at Iocuplto. wounded for five days on the field of battle, the wounded rotting with gan grene and dying of hunger and exposure for want of attendance.
 Meanwhile Castro continued course of victory until he arrived within strik- ing distance of Caracas. Then he sent word to the existing President Andraae to clear out, and Andrade cleared out few cents ln the treasury. but that IS ohiy a detail.
 Beginning of Misery.
 Castro then took possession and issued q glorious manifesto announcing new men. rev ideas. new everytnlng; yee old infamy of gaoling without trial or sentence every man whose conduct ais pleased him. From that time began the misertes which now curse Venezuela.
 Castro brought into Caracas ruffian crowd of Andinos (as the inhabitants Of the Andes are called). and installed hlm- self in the Government offices. Ills otn- cers and soldiers swaggered about the plIblic parks and streets with knives and reyolvers stuck in their belts; shot ciVli- ians on the slightest pretext: ordered drinks and never paid for them in hotels; called for meals in the restaurants ana pulled out their daggers or revoiVefs when the owners asked Tor pay mehl' 4ll- suited ladies h the street, and all. be II remembered without toe slightest Iea: of arrest, because they be!onged to Gas
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