The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-23

n portrait OF Generni john @tue.t ~ SS'N
inrltlge. Mr. Isreekinrldge was born near
lexington KY January 81. 1921, and died
near the place OF his birth on May II,
1876. lie came of the distinguished fam
lily OF that name. his grandfather being
John Breckinridge, United States senator
in Congress and Attorney General 1Nt
tho outbreak Of the war with Mexico IN
1s47 he was elected major In q regiment
or Kentucky soldiers, and rendered GAL
liant service In Mexico. On his return he
went into politics, and In 1851 was elected
10 Congress.
In the presidential election Of 1856 he
was chosen Vice-presdent of the United
states with MIR. Buchanan as President.
In 1860 he was candidate for the presi-
tlcncy, being nominated by the Southern
delegates or the Democratic Convention,
who separated from those supporting
stephen "A. Douglas. III the electoral col
lcgc he received 70 votes against $50 Tor
Lincoln, 80 for Bell and u for Douglas
except Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and
Missouri. Iii the same year he was elect
cd United States ser1atorin Congress, ana
took his sent in, March, 1861. But when
the war between the States broke out, he
entered the Confederate service and for
the act was expelled from the Senate
He was appointed major general in the
Confederate army. and was leader IN u
number of spirited engagements. III jan
unry, 1866, no entered President Davlss
manned there until the surrender Of Gem
eral Joseph u. Johnston. lie left Rich
mond for Charlotte with Mr.. Davis and
tho other officers or the Confederate gov-
eminent and as II was decided to abandon
the contest, left the party a. Washing
ton. Ga, made his escape to- Florida
Keys, thence embarked for Cuba and sail
ed from Havana for Europe. 83
He was fine citizen and a gallant
soldier, and Richmond Confederates will
DO proud to- receive Ills portrait and to
do honor TO his memory.
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The South American Nuisance.
Tho Venezuelan trouble IS an in
definite term, There Is almost every year
q venezuelan trouble" President Cas-
$tro seems to like it. In 1902 he had a row
with Great Britain. France and the
United States. which, except for the good
sense and conservatism Of the nations of.
this generation. would almost surely have.
caused serious pllcatlons among the
several powers involved. France ar
ranged for the settlement Of her claim
and the United States declined to. act as
collector OF bad debts for her spccula tive
citizens. But Great Britain and Ger,
many, wlthEItaly rs a side partner. deter
mined to prosecute their claims and.
after assuring President Roosevelt that
they had no intention Of violating the
Monroe doctrine, with the consent Of the
United States they Llockaded the ports
OF Venezuela and brought Castro to
terms. The question was finally referred
to The Hague for settlement.
1t was contended by this paper at the
time. and President Roosevelt has since
taken the position. that so5tlong as the
Monroe doctrine is in force the United
States government is. in a sense, re spon-
sible for the conduct or South American
republics, 10 the extent lat leastthat they
must not be permitted to dodge behind
the Monroe doctrine in order to 4 cvade
their Just debts. But In this latest
trouble the United States government
itself has a grievance against; President
Castro. II seems that the, Venezuelan.
high court recently rendered decision
against the New York and Bermudcz
Company. which had obtained asphalt
concessions, and Acknowledgement Moody
tho decision amounted toea denial of jus
tice Consequently the Venezuelan gov
eminent was informed that our govern
mcnt would reserve the right to review
the final decision. Inthc meantime Min
lister Bowen cndeavorcd to secure from
Castro an agreement to submit the as.
iphat controversy ito arbitration. but
Castro's assent was given under condi-.
tons which our government regarded as
arbitrary and unfair. This was several
months ago. and before n final settle
mcnt was reached Castro left Caracas,
and since then diplomatic relations have
been very much strained.
Venezuela is practically bankrupt, it's
Indebtedness on January ], 1905, amount
ing to nearly s4o,ooo,ooO Several European
nations still have claims against the gov
ernmcnt. and 1t is reported that Castro
has recently resortcd to very shrewd
trick. by which he will play one class
Of creditors against another According
to the report Of Minister Bowen, Castro
| has made an arrangement with certain
/ English and German bondholders to pay
off these bonds, which had never been
considered as worth the paper on which
| they are printed. by the segregation Of
30 per cent Of the custom receipts from
1 all Venezuelan ports, except Puerto Ca-