The Washington herald., 1908-07-13
An Apology to Venezuela.

Editor Tho Washington Herald;
Although Venezuela has not demanded
an apology, II is right that l apologize.
Notwithstanding the strained relations be-
tween her and America, and this is why.
l am in the wrong in my letter in The
Washington Herald this 9Th of July, in
which / criticize Venezuela for her failure
TO notice the death of President Cleve-
land. the great President who had given
her people signal service in invoking the
Monroe doctrine in her boundary dispute
with Great Britain. and in which l criti-
cize President Castro without sufficient
cause, and l desire 10 correct any error
as far as possible. In my said letter
after referring to Brazils noble tribute
10 the memory Of the ex-President and
the especial tribute OF Curacao's Dutch
governor in ordering the flying Of the
Dutch flag at half-mast, and the firing Of
a gun every half hour throughout the day,
l said, IN part. as follows;
Venezuela. you looked TO America cor
help in your dark days OF revolution Tor
independence and got IL, and 70 Presi-
dent Cleveland. who saved you from
Englands capaclous nav. Where is your
gratitude? Curacao's tribute would well
have been your own. Alas. for your alb
solute Castro. the ittlest President with
which ever country was hurdened. and
your incivility. But Venezuela. as bad
as is your case and cold your heart and
senses dead. II is not quite so bad as
with civic Washington. Here I'm the Cap
ital OF the nation. Venezuela. proud
Venezuela. and automatically uncivil
Castro. which may we'll take your heads
oGt Of shame. be e known that the great
Presidents funeral and burial hour went
Unnoticed. No bell tOlled in the nations
capital. no deep-toned gun sounded the
funeral hour and burial no memorial
service held, no Grafton had. or word In
meeting spoken in memory Of Cleveland.
| ICommercialism stalked high and patriot
/ ism was dead. Take heart then. Nene-
zela, and Castro. hold up your head a
! bit. for your silence was not as unciviI
as the nations and the citizens silence
/ here in Washington
! Having handed my said letter to The
Washington Herald June y, il was not
until July 5. that my attention was
drawn TO the fitting tribute of Vene-
zuela In expression Of her sorrow 70 Mrs.
/ Cleveland IN cablegram. and President
CaStrO's praise OF Mr.. Cleveland, i'm his
Representative newspaper organ, IS fol
/ lows.
Caracas. July President Castro has
/ sent the following cablegram 10 Mrs
/ Grover Cleveland:
"The death Of Mr.. Cleveland is a cause
! for mourning throughout the entire con
tinent Venezuela expresses its sorrow 10
you as the faithful representative of Mr.
/ Cleveland's public virtues
! Fl Constitutional. organ of the Presi-
dent. comments on this message In these
words.
! "In this manner does President Castro
/ bind With cordial bonds the Venezuelan
and American peoples, acting in mem
! ory Of the man who maintained these
bonds inviolate through all contingencies. ID
/ II is a worthy tribute OF Venezuela 70
/ her great benefactor's memory. which,
though little late. but with sufficient
reason, no doubt, the American naticn
must appreciate
] And il lifts Venezuela out OF the class
with Washington City and leaves the
National Capital in a class TO herself in
ther forgetfulness and non-observance of
the funeral and burial hour of the great
and respected President.
/ Venezuela is IN contempt of many ma
tions Her President Is Castro. and her
people are with him. Roosevelt is In con
tempt Of predatory plutocracy. but the
people are with him. Venezuela I'm dan
ger OF being despoiled. her peoples rights
! invaded. is protected by its President. and
the people are at his back. Castro. with
all the people with him. cannot be wholly
wrong The courts Of Venezuela hold for
Venezuela II the courts of Venezuela
are corrupt America cannot cure il. Our
Supreme Court settling n Venezuelan
claim against her would be held invio-
Hate by US though Venezuela cry corrup-
! ton. The courts Of our country are its
/ Ibulwark. The courts OF Venezuela are
hers Venezuela patterned after us, and
We are the first TO decry our system of
! judiciary through her pattern. II John
Bull stood in the same money-claim rela-
| ton to us. charging a corrupt national
Supreme Court as we stand for and
charge to Venezuela, there would be a
national outcry, and the people would be
at the back OF Uncle Sam in saying any
/ thing 20 John Bull. Now, Castro and the