The Monte Vista journal., 1908-12-26
vEhEZUELA'S ABSENT DICTATOR
DEPOSED AND CHARGED
WITH CRIME.
new PRESIDENT RULES
DEFEATS INTERNAL PLOTS AND
WILL MAKE PEACE WITH
FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

of the rule in Venezuela of Cipriano
Castro has come. The dictator, who
has governed the republic with a rod
of iron ever since he took forcible pos.
session of the yellow house in Caracas
in 1899, is now openly charged with
conspiracy to compass the assassina.
ton of the man he left at the head of
the republic when he sailed away No.
vember 23rd for La Guaira, nominally
to secure skilled medical aid in Der
lin for a malady of long standing, and
is today thoroughly discredited
The Bank CT Venezuela has cabled
its correspon 1ents at Berlin and Paris
canceling the unlimited letter of cred.
1t given to President Castro when he
left Venezuela for Europe, and no one
in Caracas believes he will ever dare
return to the capital.
The Castro cabinet has been forced
to resign, and new and progressive
ministry has been appointed by Juan
Vicente Gomez, the acting president.
The attempt upon the life of Co
mez was frustrated by the GOODNESS
and courage and the daring act of the
President himself.
Alone and unsupported, he arrested
the ring leaders of the conspiracy
with his own hands, in the presence
of their armed adherents. and after
this action he issued n proclamation
saying that not only had he saved his
own life, but he had maintained the
highest ideals of the republic.
Already the new administration
shows signs of desire and intention
to settle the disputes between Venzu.
ella and foreign powers that have kept
the republic in light Of unenviablc
notoriety for several years past.
At a conference held Monday be-
tween Acting President Gomez and
Baron Won Seckendorff, German min
lister In charge of the interests OF Hol
land since the departure OF the Dutch
minister. NJ. De Reus. last summer, IL
was agreed to suspend the operation
OF the decree issued by President Cas-
tro prohibiting the trans shipment Of
goods destined for Venezuela.
Pending the signing OF the treaty be-
tween Holland and duly empowered
Venezuela commission the Dutch war.
ships that have been patrolling the
Venezuelan coast tor nearly three
weeks. will be withdrawn.
The attempt to assassinate Gomez
asd several OF the ministers was de.
Gomez heard of the plot and took the
personal stand that nippcd II In the
bud.
The men concerned In the consplr.
acy were President Castro's closest
friends. and best known adherents.
Secret cipher cablegrams have passed
between President Castro In Berlin
and his agents have since the popular
anti.Castro demonstration of Decem.
Der 18th and 18th. a prominent law.
yer has filed an accusation In the high
court charging President Castro with
completely in the plot to assassinate
Gomez. and proposing the impeach.
mcnt OF Castro.
The conspirntors decided upon n
coup d'etat. They determined to ms.
sass!nate Acting President Gomez. 10.
seph +. De Jesus Paul. foreign min.
isteV. Gen. leopold Baptista. and
other prominent men; seize the admin
istration OF the country. ana with the
army terrorize and overawc the popu.
lntIon
Torres Cardcnas. who was ut one
time minister Of the interior under
President Castro and later his per.
sonal secretary. was the active leader
OF the conspiracy. He lad ms lieuten.
ants the commanders OF three bat.
talions.
1ntimntion OF what was on foot
reached the ears OF Acting President
Gomez and he took immediate steps
TO Illustrate the attempt Early Sat
urday he went alone 10 tho barracks
In Caracas. where n mutinous regiment
under the command OF President Cas-.
trb's brother was Iuartcrcd. with
cool courage he entered the building
and placed the brother o; tho prcsi.
dent under arrest. The nerve OF
Gomez made Il possible to carry gu;
this dangerous mancuvcr successfully.
He then went to the executive man.
sion. where he had n brief interview
with Torres Cardcnns. Tho chief Of
tho conspirators denied tho existence
OF any plot. Gomez would not be de.
ceivcd by such assurances. He seized
Cardenas by the shoulder and said:
II have discovered your plot to ns.
sassinate me. You are my prisoner"
Torres Cardcnas tried to use his re-.
volvcr on the acting president. but