New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-20
COLONBIA'S UNDOING.
Where the Responsibility for 1t
Rcally Belongs.

To the Editor OF Tbs Tribune
Sir: have Rad Mr. Raoul P6rez's letter 20 The
Tribune and also your editorial commenting on H.
Mr. Perez's opinions I do not for moment doubt.
have the merit OF the conviction and sincerity with
which they are expreased but lie seems 70 have
forgotten that countries. as rule, have the kind
OF government thsr deserve or, rather, that Iind
OF misgovernment they have brought upon them
selves through ignorance. political ambition OF
LEADERS, and many other reasons, among which the
desire OF making a profitable business out OF pol
tiles IS not by means tho weakest
In Colombia and IN Latin America. generally
speaking. ignorance ranks foremost among tbs
social evils civilization has 10 cope with II IS sup
posed-uo accurate census OF the population has
ever been n!ade-that there four million Colon
b!ans and vet II would De a high estimate n say
here that 10 per cent II the population know how
10 read and write The small town political boss
is all powerful in his district. and together with
HIS natural ally the curate OF the parish controls
and rules the herds OF T~dians though they were
so many sheep The live Is told bv the cUrste
that ne cast hts for the candidate OF the
Clerica!s for II he does not his soul shall go 70
he'll at his death The poor. ignorant Indian. al
though he may be possessed of some native cum
ming that tells him he is being imposed upon
according TO instruction given him by curste and
bose, the fanatcal sentiment - the strong
est in .is UHCultured mind
Tho political ambition OF the leaders knows no
bounds and respects nothing. Every looks
upon himself as a presidential possibility.
Politics has been in Latin America the best pay
ing business. and those who IN the ruling
circl9-shau I call It the System"?-get almost
crazy because they out OF IT, The SO called
steam roller policy Of Venezuela Is everybody's
policy in most Of tho Latin American countries
BY this II IS that II better to ride on yhe
steam roller than 10 be fisttsned by II.
4lr Pores as member OF the Colombian LIB
eral party. ought 70 know that his party gave it's
unconditional support TO President Reyes; that the
most prominent Liberals euthuslasticRllv gave him
warm welcome as the cOuntry's ruler; that from
the very beginning OF his government. and with
the Liberals approval. President Reyes placed
himself above the constitution, exiting those MEM
hers OF Congress who dared TO show some oppoSi-
to- -Yy-
the came methods employed by the Colombian ruI-
ers since Nuhez declared IN 1855 that tho cousritu-
ton did no longer exist and that there no
more law than his will
TomaN Cipriano do Mosquera had made the same
declaration IT 1867 but there dignity In Colon
e'a IN those days. and tho Liberals. headed by
Santiago Perez. uncle of Rnoul Perez and a
prominent statesman. who was later President OF
The republic, put MosGuera out or the Presidency
through very popular coup d'stat and although
President Reyes's picture IN graphically the picture
that Raoul Perez makes In his letter 10 The Trib-
une, tho Liberals continue giving him their uncOn-
ditiond support and comparing MIN with Wash
ington and Bolivar. because Reyes has given them
the great majority Of Mr. PSrez's party only
wished FOR chance TO participate In the trusts
that South American rulers orsanize unto them
selves and that President Reyes has SO skilfuIlv
established In Colombia
The Liberal party fought for three long years
for what that party called liberty pure suffrage
liberty OF conscience and honest handling OF public
revenues. but the very same leaders OF tho revou
ton. and the most prominent politicians. abdicated
I
cams Reyes's slaves because he distributed among
them great deal II that preferred and common
stock mentioned in Mr.. Perez's letter TO YOUR
paper, and II there ara some isolated Instances Of
men prominent in Colombian Liberal politics tina :
have kept aloot from Reyes. and just Il few who
have not received any favors from him because
they have not had chance 20 accept any. the
majority IS still with him and will stay true TO
him as long as he can satisfy their Kreediness
only last year Mr.. Mendoza. who had been in
trusted with very important mission before tho
Washington government. startled tho diplomatic
| " hyf nrYhi
friend and ally OF the day before-a traitor hts
country. And why? Because President Reyes
had Just recalled him. II no had not been re-
called Washington would be still counting him
among the ranks OF the foreign diplomats
Raoul Perez has given u brief sketch of Co
lombian history, only he did not say that which
under the circumstances Is most important, TO wit
that the Liberals put Reyes where he Is. and by
their unconditional support OF him and his policies
have brought upon the country at large and upon
themselves In particular the awful evils depicted in
Mr.. PereZ's communication 20 your paper: and
what Is still. the great responsibility In
Colombia's undoins. LUCAS GOMEZ
New York, July I5 1907.