The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-16
MAN IN THE CENTER OF
VENEZUELA STAGE
Character and Stormy Career of Presi.
dent cipriano Castro.

10 " bG TGckOn6Q OF some
Importance for the moment. Presi-
dent Castro has accomplished this. and
much besides that will make him re-
membered. He has provoked one more
of the numerous Venezuelan reyoIu-
lions. He antecedently led a successful
instruction himself and SO leaned into
power. He has allied himself with the
rebels in Colombia, has irritated France
and has troubled America not a little.
His conspicuous exploits have all been
performed in remarkably brief per-
iod. Five years ago no one outside
of his own country paid any attention
to his name, and few were familiar
with it.
But Cipriano is one of the most am
bilious of living men. His aims are
far reaching and his abilities are emf
nent. Were he an official in a greater
country, he would become one of the
most famous men of the time. Castro
has his own convictions, and he cher
ishes them with such tenacity and ex-
presses them with such determination
that at every point of his career he
has raised about him devoted friends
and uncompromising foes. He is at
once passionately loved and bitterly
hated in his own land. His partisans
fairly worship their leader; his OBJ
ponents regard him as a tyrannical
Caesar in minature-and, indeed, by
force of circumstances. favoring the
exercise of his iron will that is about
what his has become.
One early chapter in his action prov
ed his wonderful combination Of en-
ergy and patience. It was under the
government of President Palacio that
Castro had begun to display his full
abilities. That government, unfortu-
nately, lasted only two years, but 1t
was then that the people learned to
know the superior mind and unf1inch-
ing courage of Castro. In Venezuela
the administration of Palacio was
known as the "goldenC age" and Cas-
tro believed in 1t. / Accordingly, when
the famous CreSpO began his successful
campaign against Palacio Castro was
the last to leave the field. Crespo, who
oVercame every other antagonist, could
subdue but not conquer Castro; and the
latter, knowing the struggle to be I'M
equal and for the time being helpless,
retired to his plantation on the boun-
dairy line at San Antonio. For six
years he remained there, waiting for
the time when opportunity should be
ripe, meanwhile formulating plans that
should revolutiOnize the affairs of his
country. The opportunity came in
1899, during the presidency of Andrade
and since that date Castro has been
ever in the forefront.
OOdquIu CI0SpO ndu come INTO pow
er by the revolution Of 1892 From
that time the history Of Venezuela has
been one of plot and counterpart, such
chronic unSettlement being exactly
calculated to develop dictatorship,
which Castro'S own rule has undoubt-
edly become. When Crespos term of
office was out he was not allowed, by
the constitutional law, to seek re-elec-
ton, and he therefore used his inf1u-
tn Of I,o L.
of his friend Andrade. But Gen. Her
nandez, who had made revolutions a
special business for thirty years, pre-
sented himself as a rival. Being de-
feated, he took the field with an as
sortment of rebels. Andrade turned
the army over to the ex-president, and
Crespo, with 1000 men, went to crush
the revolt. He was anbushed by Her
nandez and fell shot through the heart.
The news Of Crespo's death startled all
Caracas. CrespO had played the die
tator to such degree that in the cap
ttal at least he had become intensely
unpopular, but the people were APP
palled at the chances of civil war that
threa tened the land. But Hernandez
did not long enjoy his triumph. He
was defeated and captured by Ramon
Guerra, the minister Of war.
President Andrade soon degenerated
into petty despOt, and the Venezuela
ans generally were sore at heart and
hot to rise in mutiny. Then came for
ward the man for the hour. Cipriano
Castro, living on his remote plantation.
part Of which is in Colombia, was able
to assemble in a remarkably brief
space of time a considerable force.
There were large numbers of men on
both sides of the frontier belonging to
each of the turbulent republic, waiting
for military occupation. Hernandez
had scarcely been flung into his prison
cell at Caracas when Castro took the
field in Los Andes. He made a march
that became famous, fighting with
brilliant success along the whole route
of thousand miles till he reached the
capital.
Hernandez had revired the major
part of his support from the Conserva-
tives, while Castro was a Liberal, or
anti Clerical. But, at Valencia, the
Conservatives who fought under Her
nandez saw in the advent of this new
liberator their friend and ally. An
drade had disappointed and disguised
them, and, seeing the desperate nature
of the crisis, the president fed the
country.
Castro adopted no half measures.
Disdaining the ballot box, he proclaim
ed himself dictator. But some singular
complications ensued, for after he had
not only released Hernandez from jail
but had made him minister of COM
merce, that adventurer-With whom it
must be the presidency or nothing
decamped from the capital, taking With
him $500 men. Castro sent out after
him a force Of 1000 soldiers.
A running fight of five months en-
sued. The end of it was that Her
nandez was caught and once more in
generated. Then Castro summoned a
convention to decide on a future con-
stitution for the country. That assem-
bly, entrenched him in power. He did
not solicit his nomination to the presi-
dency, for there was no need. He had
by his energy, courage and tact quick
ly drawn to his side every influential
man of every shade of opinion.
But there was a serpent in the path.
one mortal enemy in the person of Gen.
on mortal enemy in the person of Gen.
Garbiras. When he raised in a distant
province the standard of revolt, Ran
gel Gabiras was his friend, pledged to
give his effective aid. The lieutenant
proved to be irresolute and slow, and
Castro proceeded to victory without
troubling himself about his help. The
consequences We're critical. Venezue-
la before long had to face civil war
born of the resentment of a neglected
leader. There has not been a week Of
tranquility since.
Castro organized and drilled his army
on his own plantation. His determi-
nation was illustrated by the device
which at his direction each soldier bore
on his hat: from San Antonio to
Caracas" 1t meant that march Of L.
600 miles which was deemed impossf-
bic. But Castrosawas no idle boast.
He followed the same path which was
pursued by Bolivar, the iberator Of
Venezuela, Ecuador and Columbia
from the Spanish yoke.-New York