The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-28
VENEZUELA. THE COUNTRY.

(0od and Federaion.) II Is not necessary
10 say that the land hardly lives up to It's
professed national principles.
The country was discovered by Columbus
on his third voyage, on Aug l, 1925. SPANS
effort 10 colonizs the land, q few years later
resulted IN forty years OF conflict with the
aboriglnes In 1867 Spanish power became
supreme and the land was declared colo
nial possession The nile OF Spain lasted
until 1900, when Gen. Miranda organized
rebellion. On July s, 1911, the establish
ment Of a republic was proclaimed at Cara
cas- A bloody war followed, and during the
strife there appeared Simon Bolivar, the
| great South American liberatoT He was
q native Venezuelan, born at Caracas. He
conceived the idea Of establishing a 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 history. Yet on his death
bed he wrote. Il have ploughed in the sea.
His New Spain became a group OF so-called
republics whose history Is one Of warfare,
domestic and international.
Venezuela separated. In 1880, from the
Greater Colombia established by Bolivar.
A constitution was proclaimed on Sept. 20
Of that year. She has had eight others since
that time. In his history OF South America
Mr.. @. r. Akers says that 'since 1880 no
fewer than hfty-one revolutionary move
ments have swept over the country, and OF
these eleven overturned the Government
Of the day and obtained control Of public
| affairs" II might he inferred that the
Venezuelans revolt as they 60 TO the theatre
for recreation and excitement. The greater
number OF these uprisings have occurred
as a result OF individual ambition for the
highest ONCE in the gift Of the citizens Of
republic, actively stimulated by the oppor-
tunity for Official loot. A few years Of II
have usually satisfied the most ambitious
and greedy
| Venezuela's strongest man was, undoubt-
edly, 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 a 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 il very largely his legacy which has now
| involved the United States in the tolls Of
Venezuelan finance He granted railway
concessions to enterpnsing foreigners,
and gathered financial plums all along
| the line. He improved the system Of in
terror transportation, improved harbors,
and granted, in 1883. the asphalt concession
which Ia now the subject Of dispute between
! the trust which afterward purchased il and
the Government OF Venezuela.
He cut a wide social swath In Paris, from
which alluring city be often directed the
affairs Of his country. Efforts to break his
hold proved failures. When he loosened
that hold, In 1889, 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 on the man who had secured fortune
by making the Yenezuelans behave them
selves fairly well for twenty years.
Since the Guzman Blanco period, Vene-
zuela has been ruled by Rojss Paul. Palaoio.
| Crespo, Andrade and Castro. Gen. Crespo
was a man Of no little force Of character,
and his death during fight with insurgents
was a serious loss to Venezuela. Cipriano
| Castro came into prominence during a revolt
against AndTade, and became Provisional
| President In October, 1900. He was elected
President in October, 1901. On April 81,
| 1904, a new constitution was promulgated.
Keeping in mind the Government as il is,
there is interest in the declaration OF Article
| XVI. Of that instrument that THE Govern
ment OF the Union is and shall always be
republican, federal, democratic, elective,
| representative. alternative and response
ble.' IL Is quite possible that Venezuela's
domestic unrest Is caused by the efforts Of
It's citizens TO live up TO Article XVI.
The area OF Venezuela is 594 900 square
| miles, after deducting the 1900 square
miles awarded to Great Britain by the ar
bitration proceedings in 1899. This Is APP
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. Its capital Caracas, is a city Of
| about 5000 people, Raoially, the people
| Of the country are a mixture. The native
/ Indian population exceeds 800 900. For
| eigners are estimated at a little less than
| 50 OOO about one-quarter SpaniArds, one
| fifth Colombians. one-elghth British, with
1850 TO 1000 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 sur
| face. II is land Of fertile soil, vast and
virgin forests and, probably, endless min
eral wealth. Between 1884 and 1850 the
Callao gold mines alone yielded t1s 900 900.
The country divides itself naturally into
three parts-the north coast strip, the val
| leys Of the Orinoco and its continents, and
the southwark projecting area Of Amaze
mas Territory, lying between the equator
and the fifth parallel Of north latitude.
| The 0rinoco River, / 800 miles in length, is
nAvigable for 200 miles from its mouth.
II Is fed by $50 streams and rivers some
Of which are navigable for light draft YES
sells. The immediate coast line Is hot and
unhealthy, but this strip IL narrow, and
behind II are attitudes where the climate
| il almost perpetuGny vernAl. The hills
I are a white mans country It il most
| doubtful II the Orinoco Valley and the
! pampas Of southern and southwestern
! Venezuela ever will be.
Yet in the valleys the pampas and tn q
vast forests there lie the possibilities Of
endless wealth for those who value money
more than life and comfort The develop
ment OF this region is prevented by po-
htical conditions quite as eject vely "a IL
| Il hv nhyciCal % ndiHCna II mot