The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-24
Troubles of Venezuela
 V.-Cipriano Castro. "7he InUincible'
By Frederic J. Haskin.

the foreign concessions which Castro has annulled were monopolistic and ought to have been abolished. dlsre- garding the contractural liability of the government which granted the con sessions.
 In the case of the French Cable Company which was busted from Venezuela. and the Bermudez Asphalt Company whoge property was virtual. ly confiscatei, 1t Is urged that Cas- tro had right to do with these con- cerns as he saw fit, since 1t has been proved that they were aiding and abet- ting revolution to overthrow him and the constituted government of the country. It must be admitted that Castro has made a better showing in his dealings with foreign powers than some of his critics are willing to con- feRs.
 One of the five American claims be- ing urged for Arbitration is the Ber- mudez Asphalt case. 1t appears in the testimony that this company contribut- ed $145,00O to the aid of the revolution headed by General Matos. The French Cable Company was caught with the goods" the original cable dispatches showing the complicity of the cable company in the revolution, and actual ly involving the French Foreign of flee as a supporter of General Matos. There Is no doubt but that the Amer ican claims are greatly weakened by ohalt company in the revolution. how ever that, concern may defend its action upon the ground that the money was paid under duress. The French nation has made no move since the ex- posture of the cable company's entan- glement.
 Finally. the apoloRists for Castro set l1a oIa fKr,f kof Ina ty to maintain friendly relations with other powers is not so much his fault as his misfortune. They say that other nations urge the claims of their citizens without regard to justice. and that Castro is not sufficiently skilled In diplomacy to be polite to a concern which is trying to accomplish his over throw.
 One of the foreigners who Is clos est to Castro. a man who has appear ed as his defender in more than one international dispute, said to the writ CT: "As long as President Castro per mitted his ministers to handle the de- tails of cases there were no serious antanglements with foreign powers But Castro is a man of such force of character. and of such clear insight, that he goes at once to the gist of a case and is wholly intolerant of the windinRs of legal and conventional paths Now that he manages his own cases. he gets into trouble more often by reason of his abrupt methods than because his case Is inherently weak"
 There Is no doubt that Castro is a man of force. There Is no doubt that he is a man of more than average Yn- tellect and ability. although unedu- cated and uncultured. Two of his most friendly apologists were bewailing the evident faults of their hero. One said: What Castro needs is 8 book on political economy" And the other sadly rejoined: "Yes, and a trip to Coney Island" Castro has not read and he has not travelled. He knows only Venezuela. Perhaps that is the strongest thing one may say in ex- tenuation of his faults.
 Copyright. 1908, by Frederic J. Has kin.)
 Tomorrow-Troubles of Venezuela.
 VI-The System of Despotism.