THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1891.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8488, 12 February 1891, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1891.

The numerous telegrams about rebellions and revolutions in the South Americaft Republics are likely to give the ordinary reader the idea that something unusual is going on in that part of the world. But this would be a mistaken notion* tor some reason or other, probably because the great financial house o£ Baring has so narrowly escaped ruin from its dealings in bonds of the Argentine Republic, the attention of, the British public has been aroused to the political movements of the South American and Central American Republics. The consequence of this is that there have been more frequent telegrams respecting the condition of these States. • i

Life in the tropics has its charms, but it is undeniably "slow," if we may be permitted the use of a word which in this acceptation is slang. The climate is enervating for white people ; and although Europeans retain for years some of the energy which they derived from their birthplace they gradually succumb to climatic influences, and sink into a mode of life which in the Northern countries of Europe would undoubtedly be called indolent. But their descendants, naturally enough, take up with the mode of life which they see prevailing around them, and the most indolent and apathetic European is energy itself compared with his children. To lounge in a rocking chair, smoking and drinking iced drinks, is about as much as anyone voluntarily undertakes between ten a.m. and four p.m. From half-past six until ten the business people transact, in an easy-going way, what business they have to do. This, except when the mail from Europe or New\York comes in or goes out, is not much, and is conducted in a way which drives a new arrival nearly frantic. To relieve the monotony of existence, gambling is carried on to a terrific extent, especially amongst the young people. The forms of society do not admit of that association of the opposite sexes which makes so much of the charm of life to young people in Britain and the British colonies. Marriages are arranged between the elders, and are unaccompanied by any of the romance of love. They are generally very happy, and one hears next to nothing of matrimonial I quarrels or scandals. One reason of this perhaps is that in the Spanish colonies, not only is duelling in full force, but much prompter methods are adopted for punishing the seducer than are in vogue in Europe. The injured husband for a few dollars can have his rival assassinated with perfect security and impunity.

In such a state of society politics are the salt of life. Everybody is a politician. But politics are not a game that is played exclusively in the Representative Assemblies or the Senates of these Republics. An adverse vote does not turn out a Ministry there; the people in power, if by some mistake (or treason as they would call it) an opposition majority is returned, will not relinquish power without a struggle and a fight. Much depends on the character of the President. If he is a determined and able man, with some military genius, he will not only fight but conquer, and with every fresh rebellion consolidate his power. Such a man was Guzman Blanco, for several years President of the United States of Venezuela; such a man was Santa Anna, for years the Dictator of Mexico. Men like these stand no nonsense; .when they conquer they don't show any weak-kneed tenderness 'for the vanquished—with them it is indeed Fee victis ! In some of these republics, if not in all, the law forbids the punishment of death for political offences; the'consequence is that prisoners of rank are not brought to trial. But some line morning the jailer receives a written order to deliver up his prisoner to an armed force. They march off to some shady spot a few miles from the town, so as to have no scandal and no disturbance; the prisoner is allowed a short interview with a priest; his eyes are bandaged, and a firing party soon gives him his quietus People whisper the news about, but nobody makes any disturbance, and for very good reasons. The affair is soon forgotten, except by the immediate friends and relatives of the victim, but as these are usually numerous, and their memory is long, when the President's turn comes to be the weaker lie either shares the same fate or has to take refuge on board a foreign man-of-war. Rebellions are continual and revolutions very frequent in these South and Central American republics. No stranger, unless he have been residing a long time in the country, can understand for what the opposing parties are fighting, although, after the manner of the Latin races everywhere, they proclaim the loftiest principles, and profess to be actuated by the noblest self-devo-tion to the interests of their country. In reality, one side wants to keep, and the other to get, the Customs revenue. Direct taxation is impracticable in tliesc semi-savage and thinly-peopled countries, and the Customs and stamps are the main sources of revenue, supplemented by forced loans and requisitions when the party in power is strong enough. Sometimes the rebellion begins by a popular general assembling a mob of ragamuffins, whom he arms with rifles smuggled into the country. _ If he and his friends have a fair _supply of money to procure ammunition, and can succeed in defeating the first _ armed force sent against them, or in taking any important town, particularly a seaport, his forces will increase in number. They never require, or at any rate never get, any regular pay. What they want they takehorses or mules, bread, cattle and sheep for food, wine, brandy— arms and ammunition of course. If a town is captured, all the members of the opposing party who have any money are mulcted by a " forced loan,'" as it is _ euphemistically called. Of course it is a loan without interest, and which will never be repaid, unless those who contract it are defeated, when the friends of the Government may get something in paper money. As the rebellious general gathers strength, and becomes more and more successful, he presses men into his service, and approaches the capital. Then if defeat seems inevitable, the President and his immediate followers send all they can lay their hands 011 into foreign steamers, put themselves on board a foreign man-of-war, or, if one is not available, take passage in any foreign steamer that carries a flag which the rebels will respect. The rebellious general then marches in at the head of his troops, and is a rebel no longer. He proclaims himself President. Perhaps there is a fight for it, and the rebel general may be driven back for a time, or taken prisoner and "disposed of in the way we have hinted at. Then the lawful President comes down on all who have supported the rebellion, and they have a bad time of it. The part to be played by the fleet is always important. - One j

Presidjfit of YenezuelaJ^T^ 5 ! 55 secure/the fleet of the fWIW tn «»Jof three steamer/ and „ ',' * with /hem to a foreign port lled off raadefe very good bargai^ h \S h* cessoMfor their delivery hls %. ~.T hH \ disturbances give a • Me. -.lithe larger Republics ft 1/1 Venezuela, ?ome little reSl Gh generalising on somewhere on' « and, as torn bad roads - an d ei " obstacles to the march of tronn, " atQr may elapsi before an exnor];fL ; rn ° r 't!,, sent to th 4 scene of rebellion • Can 1)11 cient force to subdue the riJ! 1 su ®- ups and towns of political i¥ th numerous, land pleasind'v e at e Foreigners tend these little f]Varie<ibroils ratheiinconvenient an f ! °? estic new chums, may grumble'loud'?„ v , er a visit from the Chief of Pnf ' ut generally mike a considerable 0? in, their deiieanour, and a rf .'„ • . a,l ?e for all their Moveable by bills on allYeasury which is I f ° moment in p ssession of the othe! l ' ! - is politely hi ted at as the consm * of any activk measures of om„v 11S( As on the {hole, they are jj 1 ® 11 ; as business hen, they find it hold their Ungues, and wait tili i° storm blows iver. 1 'he