The San Francisco call., 1903-01-06
CASTRO'S PLIGHT.

THE rapid succession OF events In Venezuela dis
closes the condition to which rich country
may be brought by misgovernment. Castro
rival Matos type OF the very small class in that
country who dare own property. He IS re-
puted TO be worth SC 100000. Like the few whom
ne represents he holds his wealth by hand strong
enough to resist robbery by the Government He
employs army equips, pays and leads It, 1t IS said
that his purpose establish integrity in the Gov
eminent and make life and property safe II this be
true he has views higher than those OF his relative
the Dictator Blanco in whose evil example the An
drades Crespos and Castros have hourished
In Venezuela we see modern instance OF the con-
ditions out OF which civilized government has slowly
lifted the people OF many nations Wherever prop
ery is not protected il is owned by the weak but
by the strong who defend it. These the feu
dal conditions The weak became merely the retain
ers OF the strong, ready for use by their masters
against a predatory and dishonest government So
Venezuela has army without patriotism and people
without property Whatever upright purpose Matos
may have will no doubt be strengthened by the pass
ing crisis in the fate OF his country 1t IS SURPRISINGLY
rich and in the development OF its varied resources
can yield wealth sufficient for all its people, make
them comfortable and sustain among them high
standard OF life. But this only be when life and
property are the safe possession OF the humbIest II
shall be respected by the Government. The last peso
OF the peon must be as safe as his millions.
Let none take a pessimistic view Of the future Of
Venezuela Her condition is not as low as that Of
Mexico when Diaz assumed control OF the destiny OF
that republic, and now Mexico holds up her head
crowned with honor and order and law in the ranks
Of the foremost nations. Ii Matos honestly set for
himself in his own country the task so we'll performed
by Daz his he Will have the approval, support and
encouragement OF the nations that have most repre-
hended the excesses and crimes Of his predecessors
It IS said that his revolution has been assisted by
Great Britain in the way OF supplies and munitions
That is probable, but the act is innocuous as far as
the United States is concerned Neither Great Brit
ain nor the Old World combined impair the
ereignty or the territory OF Venezuela It is notori
Gus that the revolution in Cuba against Spain would
have died in its shell except for the military and other
supplies sent to its leaders from this country and
with the distinct purpose OF ending the sovereignty
OF Spain over the island If Great Britain have
winked as we did at assistance given by her people
to overthrow the ooter and debauchee Castro and
estab';=h IN Venezuela better government that will
respect lie and property and constantly imperil
the peace OF the hemisphere from the standpoint OF
our Cuban experience Americans have no complaint
It IS said that Castro insists that he IS entitled
credit on the claims OF foreigners he has robbed to
the value OF the warshps seized by the allies This
claim IS untenable- He created situation which
made the blockade necessary to bring him to his
senses. His country must charge the resulting loss
20 him, not 10 those whom he compelled inIct it
He should readily recall the incidents OF the Boxer
revolution in China which compelled the Western
nations TO send their fleets and armies and inflict
large incidental loss China, which not
sidered as an Offset for the violation Of the personal
and property rights OF foreigners. With perhaps one
exception the captured warsips OF Venezuela in
tact and will probably be returned to that Govern
ment.
Americans can see IN every incident OF these last
days OF Castro the intoerable state to which he has
brought his country. Misgovernment has so para
yzed the energies OF the people that everything upon
which human society exists has been administered by
foreigners. The foreign business men dorniciled
there, Americans, Englishmen and Germans are in
this crisis able hold the national currency at dis
count OF only 20 per cent and to restrain run on the
national bank This foreign administration OF bust
ness and finance would not be necessary nor posi-
bic If just and honest government had made it safe
for Venezueans operate the business OF their coun
try and themselves develop its varied and valuable
resources
Americans may well be proud OF the fact that the
Monroe doctrine protects the soil and sovereignty
OF Venezuela and encourages the people to emerge
out Of the wreck OF misgovernment to a strong and
honorable national life.
The Monroe doctrine made in distracted and is
ordered Mexico field for the regenerating genius Of
Diaz. It will make similar field in Venezuela for
Matos whoever has the strength and the honesty
undertake the work OF rebuilding nation
The Archduke Leopold Ferdinand OF Austria has