Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-19
STORY OF VENEZUELA
COUNTRY DOES NOT LIVE UP TO
ITS GLORIOUS MOTTO.
Spanish Rule After Crushing the Abor
igines--Miranda's Revolt Against
CASTLE.
From the New York Sun.

Upon a scroll which forms part of the
coat of arms of the Venezuelan republic
there appear in the form Of notices, these
words NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. y
Federation God and federation). 1t is
not necessary to say that the land hardy
lives up to its professed national princi-
plies.
The country was discovered by Columbus.
on his third voyage, on August l. l49e.
Spain's effort to colonize the land few
years later resulted in forty years Of con-
fict with the aborigines. In 1867 Spanish
power became supreme, and the land was
declared a colonial possession The rule
Of Spain lasted until 1906, when Gen, Mi
randa organized a rebellion. On July 5.
1911, the establishment of republic was
proclaimed at Caracas. A bloody war fol-
lowed, and during the strife there appeared
Simon Bolivar, the great South American
liberator. He was native venezuelan,
born at Caracas He conceived the idea OF
establishing new Spain in the western
hemisphere. He did create a new South
America, and he must always remain the
great central figure In South American his
tory. Yet on his deathbed he wrote, Il
have ploughed in the sea-" His new Spain
became group of so-called republics
whose history is one of warfare, domestic
and international.
Secession Of Venezuela.
Venezuela separated, in 1880, from the
greater Colombia established by Bolivar. A
constitution was proclaimed on September
% Of that year. She has had eight others
since that time. In his history Of South
America Mr.. c. E. Akers says that 'since
1880 no fewer than fifty-one revolutionary
movements have swept over the country,
and of these eleven overturned the govern
ment Of the day and obtained control OF
public affairs 1t might be inferred that
ha 70 he
theater-for recreation and excitement. The
greater number of these uprisings have oc-
Cured as a result Of individual ambition
for the highest office in the gift of the citi-
gems Of republic, actively stimulated by
the opportunity for official loot A few
years of 1t have usually satisfied the most
ambitious and greedy.
Venezuelas strongest man was, undoubt-
eddy, GuZman Blanco. Personally or by
deputy he maintained a rule which was
really a dictatorship from 1870 until 1889,
although his formal resignation occurred in
1885. From richly remunerative official
seat. he gave his beloved people a liberal
dose of the iron hand, very much, however.
to their general advantage, although they
are not yet done paying for their benefits.
1t is very largely his legacy which has now
involved the United States in the tolls of
Venezuelan finance. He granted railway
concessions to enterprising foreigners, and
gathered financial plums all along the line.
He improved the system of interior trans
portation, improved harbors and granted,
in 1883, the asphalt concession which is now
the subject of dispute between the trust
which afterward purchased 1t and the gov
eminent Of Venezuela.
He cut a wide social swath in Paris, from
which alluring city he often directed the
affairs of his country. Efforts to break his
that hold. in 1880, the people drove out the
man whom he had seated as his successor
destroyed him in the form of statues and
pictures which he had set up in his own
honor in public places, and heaped every
possible insult the man who had Sc
cured fortune by making the VenezueIans
behave themselves fairly well for twenty
years.
Rise of Castro.
Since the Guzman Blanco period Vene-
zuela has been ruled by Rojas- Paul, Palacio
Crespo. Andrade and Castro. Gen. Crespo
was man of no little force of character,
and his death during fight with insurgents
was serious loss to Venezuela. Cipriano
Castro came into prominence during re-
volt against Andrade, and became provis-
ional president in October, 1900. He was
elected president in October. 1901 On April
81 1904, new constitution was promul-
gated Keeping In mind the government as
1t Is, there is interest in the declaration of
article XVI of that instrument that 1.-The
government of the union is and shall al
ways be republican. federal, democratic,
elective. representative, alternative and
| sponsible." 1t is quite possible that Vene-
zuela's domestic unrest is caused by the
efforts of its citizens to live up to article
| XVI.
The area of Venezuela is $4,000 square
miles, after deducting the 10000 square
miles awarded to Great Britain by the ar
| bitration proceedings in 1899. This Is ap-
proximately twice the area of Texas and
considerably more than ten times that of
the state of New York. Its population, not
accurately known, approximates $500. 600.
| It's capital. Caracas. is city of about
| Is. COO people. Raclally, the people of the
country are mixture. The native Indian
population exceeds 100000, Foreigners are
estimated at little less than $4,000, about
one-quarter Spaniar6s, one-ffth Colon
bans. one-eighth British. with $500 to 1900
each of Dutch, Italians and French. This
| misgoverned medley of white, brown. black
and Indian occupies one Of the richest areas
OF the earth's surface. It Is q land of fer
tile soil. vast and virgin forests and. prob