The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-12
REIGN OF CRIME.
Castro, the One-Time Mule Driver,
Now Supreme Dictator.

The inhabitants of the West Indies
and South America have recently
learned that the London press has at
last thought fit to occupy itself with
the situation in Venezuela 1t needs the
pen of a Defoe or a Dante to correctly
portray the atrocities which now take
place in all parts of Venezuela, writes
correspondent of the London Daily
Mail, practically under the sanction of
the United States, and by the cowardly
conniVance of Great Britain.
Since the time of the great Bolivar-a
name almost unknown in Great Britain
there has been no peace in all that
great territory which the liberator res
eued from the infamous rule of the
Spaniards. Coming down to later times
one finds systematic continuation of
bloodshed, rapine and every description
of criminality. Recently 1 asked an old
Venezuelan how many years had elapsed
since there had been representation In
Venezuela according to the constitution
OF the country. and he replied: "Sir.
there has been no legitimate representa-
ton in Venezuela for the last 40 years.
l remember when it was suppressed at
the point of the bayonet."
The constitution of Venezuela says,
inter ALA, 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: I am the presi-
dent? Yet that is exactly what the
present president of Venezuela did
Castro simply hunted his predecessor
out of office and took possession by
force of arms.
CASTRO, THE MULE DRIVER.
Castro originally came from small
hamlet in the Andes where he probably
drove mules or carried sacks of coffee
for living The situation became tedi-
seize the presidency. The thought bred
the action. From that point we see him
in the high road to the presidency.
Starting with some seventy followers
(some of whom in a civilized country
would have been convicts according to
the criminal law). he continued an al
most unbroken career of victory, which
eliminated a Tocuyito, where the victor
left over $500 dead and wounded for
five days on the field of battle. the
wounded suffering with gangrene and
dying of hunger and exposure for want
OF attenda nee.
of victory until he arrived within strik-
ing distance of Caracas. Then he sent
word to the existing President Andrade
to gear out. and Andrade cleared out
accordingly. incidentally, he left only
few cents in the treasury, but that is
only a detail
Castro then took possession and issued
glorious manifesto, announcing new
men, new ideas. new everything; yet
within "a hours he started the old in
fanny of failing without trial or sentence
every man whose conduct displeased
him. From that time began the n1iseries
which now curse Venezuela. Castro
brought into Caracas a ruffian crowd of
Andiros Gas the inhabitants of the An
DIES are called and installed himself lii
the government offices. His officers and
soldiers staggered about the public
parks ard streets with knives and re-
volvers stuck in their belts: shot civil
ians on the slightest pretext: ordered
drinks and never paid for them in he-
tells; called for meals in restaurants,
and pulled out their daggers or revol-
vers Wien the owners asked for pay
ment; i@sulted ladies in the street. and
all. be it remembered. without the