The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-01-29


the claims Of nations that payment be
made set aside with the indifference
one might show tailor's bill.
The insulted Powers decided upon
great naval demonstration, and ac-
cordingly the ships of France, Ger
many, Great Britain and later Italy
appeared before the ports of La Quay
"a and, Puerto Cabello with great war
ships stripped for action They cap
tured and sank four gunboats, made
prizes of number of little native
sailboats and did as much bIockading
as there was to do. AS such a condi-
ton Gould hardly be termed war, this
was known as peaceful blockade"
until the United States objected to
the anomaly, Whereupon a state of
actual hostility was recognized, MAX
ing the situation thoroughly ludi-
crous.
Castro took advantage of the for
eign trouble to unite the internal fac
lions in an explosion of patriotism
against the common enemy At the
same time he settled his fOud with
Colombia by little personal diplo-
macy with President Reyes, thereby
opening up trade with that country.
Then he boycotted European goods
by dictatorial edict.
The great Powers very soon discov-
cred that they were killing their own
trade. The Germans, In particular,
could not help seeing that their block
ade would cost them more in few
months in trade to their merchants,
as well as in coal to the Government,
than the entire amount of their
claims.
It was evidently case of irresisti-
BILE force against immovable object.
Finally, however, through Herbert
w. Bowen, United States Minister,
protocols were signed agreeing to a
settlement at The Hague.
Castro came through the crisis with
a vast sense of his own Importance,
and with an estimation abroad that
ranged from respect to contempt. So
firmly was he now convinced that
Venezuela was Castro and Castro
Venezuela that he took his nations
foreign troubles to be a personal dis
pute between himself and the Euro
pean Powers. Therefore he felt 1t
his duty toward the peace and pros
perity of his country to resign, which
he did on March %, 1903. Very
soon, however, he returned to Office,
for more troubles awaited him.
AS absolute dictator of large
country Castro had been following the
precedent set by long succession of
dictators, of enriching himself at the
expense OF his country. He found 1t
an easy matter to impose heavy taxes,
confiscate valuable property for the
alleged support of the Government,
and, as is generally supposed, pile up
for himself riches in Paris. It was
this Independent method that brought
him into conflict with the United
States and his middle with France.
The trouble with the United States
was about the treatment OF the New
York and Bermudez Company, which
Castro asserted had given support to
the revolutionfsts under Matos. AS
the courts Of Venezuela are absolute
~ subject to the President, the United
States felt that intervention would
be necessary. This put Washington
in an embarrassing position, for while
foreign Powers were controlling Ven
ezuelan customs 1t would be difficult
to use force under new casus belli.
But. this trouble, like Frances the
previous winter, after a good deal of
excitement, was allowed to hang. Cas-
tro's courts proved TO his satisfaction
that the company had given extensive
brides to the insurgents. The matter
is, technically speaking, still unset
tied. 1t is questionable whether It
will ever be settled.
Castro's muddle with France was
over the French Gable Company. Cas-
tro began in his courts action to de-
prive the company of it's franchises
This company had openly favored
Matos, giving him large sums of
money and assisting him with its ca
bles. When the courts annulled the
concessions M. Taigny, the French
Charge d'Affafres, took up the matter
Castro refused to recognize Taisny.
and for while diplomatic relations
were sundered. Castro finally made
personal matter out of the quarrel
and M. Taigny was withdrawn. The
Powers saw only too clearly that
nothing could be done with a man
like Castro, Naval demonstrations
were futile, and an attempt to take
the crater town Of Caracas would
certainly have been disastrous.
Castro is small, squat man. NOT
over five feet in height, very dark