Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-23

revolution, headed by General Jose
Manuel Hernandez. has started, at least
on paper. The proclamation calling the
Venezuelans to arms is dated in Trinidad
on May 22nd, and was published in the
principal newspapers of Caracas on this
same date by order of the government.
Never before has the Government taken
upon itself the task of distributing revo-
.lutionary literature. DIR. Marquee Bus
tillos, provisional president of Venezuela,
has evidently done this to show that the
Government is not afraid OF General
Hernandez and that he Is very willing
that everybody should know what the
revolutionists have to say against the
present regime. The proclamation closes
with these words:
Companions: Victory will be with us,
due 10 the justice of our cause, our
bravery decision and energy God will
bless our army because it will mean the
Salvation of a noble and innocent people
who have been sacrificed by the ferocity
of Ubiquitous oppressors. Now or never.
/ am sure that all of you will fise to the
height of honor and duty as good pa
triots, worthy citizens and disciplined
soldiers. The fate of the fatherland Is
in your hands; remember that you will
have TO give an accounting to God, to the
world and to history"
General Hernandez has been the leader
of several unsuccessful revolts in the
past. He was expatiated during the lat
ter years of the presidency of General
Cipriano Castro, but returned when Cen
eral Gomez became president five years
ago and served the Gomez government
for several years as a member of the
Federal Council. Feigning illness he
went to Europe two years ago and short
" afterwards announced his intention OF
leading revolution to overthrow the
Gomez regime. The principal expatriat-
ed Venezuelan generals who are sup
posed to be in league with General Her.
nandez are: General Cipriano Castro,
whose revolution of last August failed
from the very start, General leopold
Baptista late member OF the Federal
Council who vanished secretly from Ven
ezuela year ago, and General Regulo
oiivares recently Governor of the State
of Tachira.
The call to arms is based on the al
legged usurpation Of power by General
Gomez on the expiration. of the presiden-
tial period on April 10, when his Min
lister OF War was elected Provisional
President and he himself COMMANDMENT
chief of the army, as the Constitution
prohibited two successive terms as Presi-
dent. General Hernandez says:
1.-The nation has been supporting, with
heroic patience, the yoke of extcrtions
and scandalous thieving, to which II mas
been subjected by this man General
Gomez because il expected that the last
remains of decency or of hypocriticai
circumspection on the part of the ty-
rants would have put an end 10 its long
suffering without the necessity of tax
ing up arms: but Gomez and his ad-
visors, mistook patience for cewardiee;
prudence for weakness; offers of adhe-
sion obtained by threats of torture and
dungeons, for loyalty; love OF peace Tor
implicit approval of his despotic regime,
and the servile applause of few specu-
lators for the free vote of the people
They began TO believe themselves the ab-
solute owners of Venezuela, and in the
blind fury of an ambition and avarice
without bounds they decided to consum-
mate the most scandalous stroke, fe-
rocious and absolute crime; the breaking
down of the institutions and the execu-
ton of the fatherland without even the
3retense of q trial. In Venezuelan his
tory. with all the unhappiness which
darkens its pages, there never has been
ANYTHING quite so grotesque. so open
faced and audacious, as this shameful
plan by which Gomez and his hangers
on have attempted to continue the most
barbarous despotism that has been seen
on the whole American continent from
the day of its discovery
The proclamation then goes on TO
enumerate the successive steps which,
beginning with the Castro revolution OF
last year, led up to the suspension OIL
the Constitution and the election of Dr.
Marouez Bustillos as Provisional Pres-
dent:
"-they Gomez and his friends)
wove a ridiculous farce of revolution
with the phantom of Castro at the heao'
raised large army, conferred unlimited
despotic faculties on the President oil
the Republic which made him irrespon-
sible. suspended all the constitutional
guarantees, and declared martial law
which is still in force; all with the object
of preventing the people from electing
Congressmen through the ballot, when
Congress should have elected the sue