New-York tribune., 1908-12-23
REVOLUTION F0RESEEN
Continued from first page.

perate and orderly albeit denouncing Castro
| and his government and cheering for Come,
| Suddenly. some one called out to march 10 the
| of7ces of .EI Constitutional" the only daily
| morning paper which Castro has permitted III
Caracas and his personal organ. For years us
| editor has fawned on the dictator, ana WIN
the most abject sycophancy has applauoeo MS
every act and saluted him as the proud leaoer'
.unconouered hero" and peer of Caesar Napo-
leon and Washington. So false ana so iuisoiio
has this utterance become and apparent mas
been the motive for sef-enrchment Oh It's eu
itor. that every decent and intelligent man III
Caracas has been disgusted by it. AT the same
time il printed nothing but what was acceptdoie
to the government. and practically no caoie
news whatever. The antpathy 70 the paper
can therefore be readily understood
UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON CROWD
The crowd started In the direction of the
newspapers offices, and on reaching these founo
themselves looking into the muzzles or MduseI
rifles protruding from the windows III 'iio
next instant and utterly without provocatloh
the rifles blazed forth, and several young men
in the crowd were wounded, two or three Ia
tally squad of police came running up tile
street, firing voey in the air to scatter the
cro,xd The people ran in all directions. for
they were not, and had not BEEN animated oS
p mob spirit and the sudden onslaught from
the newspaper offices terrified them
Suddenly cheer rent the air as the carriage
of General Gomez discovered driving rap
idly UP the plaza toward the government mouse.
The general was standing and responding with
smiles and bows to the salutatons of the popu-
lace He hurried into the courtyard, eagerly
followed by q crowd of several hundred cheer-
ing citizens. Passing to the upper fioor' the
general came out on a balcony overlooking the
Of 10 cyr6nt
with rousing cheers, such as have not been heard
IN Caracas for many day. for Castro is greeted
only with an ominous silence. Immediately one
of the prominent citizens was hoisted to- the
seat Of a carriage in the midst of the crowd, and
on behalf of the people he addressed to the
listening general short speech, intensely ear
nest and incontestably revolutionary He was
followed by a representative OF the studehts
Both spoke to the same effect demanding free
dom from Castros tyrannical rule, liberty OF
speech and of the press liberation of the polt-
icaI prisoners hundreds OF whom Castro has
thrown into prison without either charge or
trial and finally demanding vengeance for the
outrageous attack upon the people at the office
of "El Constitutional"
DR. PAUL PROMISES RELIEF.
General Gomez with whom stood the Foreign
Minister Dr. Jose de Jesus Paul, and the Sec
retary General Sehor Leopoldo Baptista, lis
toned intently and at the close mottened TO the
Minister of Foreign Affairs to speak. DR.. Paul
began by referring to the attack by the Dutch
cruiser yesterday, but the crowd hooted at this
thev were not there to listen to talk about the
Dutch they were there to begin the revolution
against Castro and nothing else. 1t was not
until DR.. Paul begged the people-to unite in the
interest Of the fatherland. under the lead of
General Gomez, "the man for the hour and
o,,Tt tho+f he won 10
litical prisoners and that if the people would
only be patient every question. both foreign and
internal would be settled to their satisfaction,
that they would accord him hearing. But when,
in the moment that he ceased speaking, old
General Pietri sprang in front of him. in the
balcony. and swinging his hat over his head
shouted "Abajo trania! Muerte Castro."
("Down with tyranny! Death to Castro!') the
crowd went wild in its enthusiasm. And when.
few moments later, Gomez came out to his
riage, they cheered him to the echo.
DESTRUCTION OF CASTRO'S BUST.
Throughout the afternoon the people marched
through the streets When they reached the
Club Concordia, the leading club. they rushed
into it's broad patio and, entering the salon.
smashed to fragments the bust of Castro which
has long stood at the head of the room.
Later the acting President issued his decree
proclaiming state of war. by virtue of the acts
of the Dutch warshps, and assuming the
extraordinary powers granted by the constltu-
ton in time of war. But this is only a minor oc-
currence to-day. The significant event is the
public denunciation of the rule of Cipriano
Castro unchecked by the man who exercises ex-
ecutive authority in his absence. and who, un-
less all signs fail and the judgment of the most
intelligent men here is utterly at fault will very
speedily be ready and be required to head a
revolutionary movement, overthrowing the man
who has ruled Venezuela for nine years with an
iron sway There are rumors this evening that
the Governor, Cardenas has been won over and
if this is so it is most probable that the revoIu-
ton will he a bloodless one, a coup d'Etat and
that General Gomez will be the President
In that event il may be confidently expected
that the reorganized government will promptly
address itself to the task of restoring the rela-
tions with foreign powers which Castro's fool |
hardy and obstinate policy has ruptured and in |
bringing about a solution of the vexing problems
which now confront the nation. However that /
may be, the reign of Cipriano Castro. the AFRO |
CANT and insolent dictator, seems about to end |
md the events of to-day the most moment |
ous that have occurred for many years in the /
history of Venezuela.
POSSIBILITY OF CIVIL WAR.