The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-05-16
BANKRUPT NATION.

and too common expression 1t II
often meaningless and applies fre-
Quently to anyone. who by untiring
efforts is endeavoring to secure COM
petency for himself To hear some Of
the Astoria FOUNDERS talk, every man
IN the city and county is a CRATER
except themselves and they are the
personification OF all that Is pure and
holy. AS a rule a man who is con-
stanpy talking about grating is not
to be trusted. that is. he win bear
watching. What really is meant by
grating is a man who holds pub
lie trust and diverts the funds of the
people to his own use. There is no
such word as graft" in THE diction-
airy with the application usually meant
or II. An Illustration Of q CRATER Is
Castro, the dictator of Venezuela.
Though the world has been aston
ished at the arrogance and supreme
impudence of the half-caste who for
the moment is the most picturesque
individual In a land of political sur
prises, little is known Of his ante
cedents, the life and character of the
president Of the Venezuelan repub-
lie. A Mestizo of mixed Indian and
negro blood: a common frontier store
keeper and cattleman Is years ago:
follower Of Andueza Palacio in the
revolution of 1892, fugitive In 1884
a deputy by appointment from Presi-
dent Andrade In 1898. the leader OF a
revolution against Andrade in 1889. In
October, 1899, victor and self-pro-
claimed dictator OF Venezuela. and
since then the most successful and un-
scrupulous Of political leaders. This In
brief is the history of Castro.
During his six years Of successes ne
has enriched himself while his coun'
try has become impoverished in It's
treasury. While Venezuela has been
passing through bankruptcy. Castro
has been taking over concessions from
himself as the government to himself
as Costro. the individual. He has
amassed money, though Venezuela has
been unable to pay her just debts. BY
teh acts of his own creatures In con-
gress he has amended the constitutioF
os that he is perpetuated in power. Ht
has driven out foreign capital from hi'
own country. and wherever he coul,
he has ursuped the foreigners conces'
sions, works and vested rights.
With his treatment of Venezuela anC
the venezuelians, the world has NJ
concern. His dictatorship, 80 far a
it pertains to his own country. Is
mere scandal; a matter that concern
Zenezuela and not the world. His as
sumption that Castro Is the state vii
sooner or later be contested BY som
other leader Of ambitions. and settle
as such matters have always been set
lied in South America But he wi
not much longer infringe upon tn
common law Of nations, nortres
nor treat with arrogance the right
of other powers. II he continues o
his present course, It is plain that a
win be called to account. His person
ality has contributed to the gayety
nations to some extent But he take
himself seriously. thinks that he is
strategist of high order. as great
Caesar, Napoleon, Moltke and the 81
perior Of washington It Is the est
mate that he places upon himself tn
makes him dangerous, for By son
overt act he may endanger intern'
tional peace. To this country partic'
Iarly is Castro vex.ng problem. 1t
plain that he will have to brought
terms, and It is evident that Pres
dent Roosevelt is the man that W
accomplish 1t.