The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-03

Of the Pan-Ameriean congresses. We
know very well that we are like that boy
who is a nuisance to the school, spoiled
child, un enfant terrible There is only
one nation, in regard to the Monroe doc
trine, that can do something against our
country: the United States of America
But, you know, the different claims of
American citizens, who have investments
In cur country, are not so very sound as
they say! I am not sure that these
eiaims, coming before an international
court of arbitration. would show profit
fer the American companies
las for the suggestion that America
join in the Venezuelan affair, our country
is as large as Germany, France. Belgium
and the Netherlands together Its strate-
gic situation is extraordinarily difficult,
first on account of the bad harbors, and
secondly on account of its mountain
ranges. The roads are all between high
mountains, and generally in a bad condi-
ton. 1t would be difficult to move an
army. Then you have Ill ainds of dis
cases broaeht ON by a dangerous climate
end foul drinking water Yellow fever
and malaria would spread through the
RI nks of invading troops.
~ GU ought to take trip through orr
country" the officer said, ito convince
yourself. Take the railroad from Caracas
-Valencla-Porto Cabello, and you will
find that, even to a well-trained army,
1t would be a most hazardous enterprise
to try to conquer this country against
the excellent native marksmen. A guer-
r.lla war would be disastrous. Our ma
tiyes are as quick as channels, accustomed
to the climate, and savage They can
run In the burning sun at any time of
the day. In their mountains they know
every refuge and every point of vantage.
But" he added, smiling, sit might be
possible, that an American army would
find friends in the place of enemies, help
from the natives instead of rifle shots.
perhaps there would be a levee en-
masse' to throw of the yoke of our dear
president and his cronies!''
Minister'S Home.
l had the good luck to be introduced to
the foreign ministers. One day | asked
one of them who had furnished his ex-
travagant house.
I'VE did not fit up these rooms" he
said They look like upholsterers' stores.
The proprietors of our houses generally
live in foreign countries. Paris is the
Dorado for this people, after being ex-
PEELED by the present government, or else
wrathful because the same government
might oblige them to return the money
they stole from the state treasury. They
are waiting for better days. new gov
eminent, or another president They like
best to rent their houses to foreign min
listers or big merchants, being sure that
they are In good hands, and that nobody
would touch the property when thus oc-
cupied."
None of the foreign ministers was salts
fled with the present situation in Vene-
zuela. They talked frankly about the in
justices to foreigners, their different let
tiers of protest and their unsuccessful
friendly negotiations. j. de ]. Paul, the
Venezuelan minister of foreign affairs
was clay, said one In the hands of Cas-
tro. His tongue was well Oiled but he
never had the courage to oppose the
will of the dictator The foreign minis
tiers would bring forth the claims of their
countries The minister of the largest, as
well as the representative of the smallest
country, he added, was obliged to wait
till it suited Castro to give him a re-
ception.
The opinion of foreign powers or of
foreign newspapers has concerned Cas-
tro little. The chief editor of Ell Con-
stitucional iatters. with his adherents
In the other towns, lie Goberno Re-
staurador." Castro, and the president
has seemed to be fond of 1t. FL Con-
stitutcional is the only paper in Ca
racas, and all 1t prints is controlled
by Castro. "Letat c'est moi''-Castro
has been well able to say. His cour-
age, his generosity toward old friends,
and the way he has treated foreign
ministers, foreign companies-all this
has made Castro grand" in the eyes
of a poor. undeveloped people. They
have cried: I'll Gobierno Restaurador Is
not to be trified with, He is stronger
than they are altogether. Hurrah for
Castro!-he is our petit caporal.