The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-22

Diario, Caracas, in which sentiments oi
 this character were indulged. wmle .s. sx-
 pressing gratitude over Venezueias cidentaf' protection. ,,o, many prominent Venezuelans appeared incensed over their proper represehta.lois, ,s at the stttings of the arbitration poaIu at Paris. Numerous caustic conrluhiea, tions appeared in the Caracas papers ana, for time, the political atmosphere was
 rather lurid. The situation was not re- ieved until the more pressing questloh Of the German debt shifted public atten- ton to that claim, which had just been
 readjusted by Minister Bruzual serra, These facts are here rehearsed Wltn no intention of criticizing Venezuela (whlcn was possibly sincere in conclusions | formed) but as Illustrating her nebuious views in regard to the Monroe doctrine. There Is little doubt that the German
 debt would have been satisfactorily ar l ranged at that time, if the idea had not prevailed that Germany could not en- force her claims. Though the debt mas some outrageous features, the obligation, and guarantee of the government nad been given and ratified by Congress, which makes it effectual and binding, In view of the special interest, whch the United States has taken In these ar fairs of Venezuela and the establishment | of important international criterions. a review of the political development and ! progress of that country, would not. at this time, seem out of place. It presents many instructive features to the states | man and is not without interest to the world at large, beyond the questions which have recently brought It into prominence.
 The development of new territory, rich in agricultural, mineral and commercial | possibilities. is the common patrimony | of civilization and should engage the mo- | ble rivalry of all the great powers of the world. It is the nature of civilization to | go forward, without any tendency to de- | cline on the spot that gave it birth. It | is therefore impious and illogical to con | slider the growth and the prosperity of any part of the new world as calamity | to its older settlements. Though this idea long prevailed in Europe, in regard
 to the growth and expansion of the wes-
 tern colonies, 1t has gradually disap- peared.
 The development and growth of Canada and Mexico are evidences of this fact yet. 1t Is doubtful If Venezuela. ever has derived any real substantial benefit from the achievement of her independence and
 the establishment of a republic. This is
 perhaps the unwilling conviction of every careful observer of the career of this as-
 piring democracy, while the reasons are
 apparent to all that the only hndrance
 to the progress of the country Is to be
 found in the people themselves.
 Aristotle, who devoted much careful
 study to the early republican institutions
 of Greece. while partial to their democ-
 racies, considered the primary stages of
 their career as outrageously fruitful of
 internal strife and revolutions This
 will express the condition of Venezuela
 today, as she never has passed the ln-
 cipient and crucial stages of incOhesive
 Independence. and her people are still os-
 cillating between some form of oligarchy
 and a pretended democracy. She has
 been continuously swayed by designing
 and interruptions leaders and her very
 existence regularly imperiled by the
 machinations and conspiracies of oppos-
 ing factions. This seems to have been the rule. with a few minor exceptions
 during the seventy-five years of her na- tional existence and the inevitable re-
 suit has been q tendency to retrogression and impoverishment.
 It Is only the wonderful resources and | natural advantages of the country that | have saved it's autonomy and preserved
 1t from disruption and national extinc- | tion. These facts are all sustained by | the statistics of population. which show | little or no increase during seven decades f the devastations of civil war. which hay, destroyed faster than wealth could ere ate: by the accumulation of public debts
 without application to public and inter
 nal Improvements; by insecurity to in vestments through an elastic judicfa system, and the inability of the govern
 ment to protect capital from robbery
 confiscation or spolaton; by the indubIt
 able fact that a country which coul, easily have an annual commerce of $500 100000 remaining almost practically as i ] stood fifty years ago.