CHAPTER XIV.

REBELLION.

THERE is not, I think, a more mischievous government than that of a republic. Utopia, perhaps, might safely be republican. Greece was never more at peace with herself than when she merged into the Macedonian Empire. For ignorance and vice, a despotic monarchy and a strong loyal army are best suited; for a millennial state, a republic may be harmless; but a constitutional monarchy with more or less stringency is best adapted to a people of mixed morals.

Republicanism, other than merely provisional, is especially unfortunate for a country that has fought for, and obtained its independence; for heroic patriotism can truly exist only while its liberties are at issue: but a republic presupposes a free country.

The curse of Venezuela is her form of govern

ment.

The approach of every quadrennial election of a president is the signal for political intrigues, ending invariably in bloodshed, and often in organised rebellion and civil war. And "civil wars," says Burke, "strike deepest of all into the manners of the people. They vitiate their politics; they corrupt their morals; they pervert even the natural taste and relish of Equity and Justice."

It appears, according to article 70 of the Constitution, that "the president cannot be elected for the period immediately following his term of office." But for a series of years the law was virtually disregarded. A president who determined to rule as long as he could, had two brothers whom, by the influence of his position, he successively placed in the presidential chair to keep it warm for him, he meanwhile manipulating the strings of government.

The time had now arrived for one of these elections. A powerful opposition had arisen to counteract this breach of the spirit of the law, and to frustrate the re-election of the triumvirate brothers.

But the star of the brothers, Monagas, was in the ascendant: they triumphed.

The two great parties were now about to try their strength in battle: the government, or Monagas party, the Colorados (red); and the Paez party, the Amarillos (yellow). Each had a specious plea of justice on its side. The government party asserted that the assumption of arms by the Amarillos constituted rebellion; while the Amarillos retorted that a government illegally constituted was but a faction of outlaws. It was evident, however, that although the spirit of the law had been violated by the reds (Colorados), they had kept to the letter. The assumption of arms for civil warfare is so serious an act, that suspicion rises against the faith and motives of those who strike the first blow.

"War is honourable

In those who do their native rights maintain;

In those whose swords an iron barrier are

Between the lawless spoiler and the weak;

But is in those who draw th' offensive blade

For added power or gain, sordid and despicable."

JOANNA BAILLIE.

Maturin, although rapidly increasing in wealth

I

and population, is only a second rate town, and its distance from the Federal District, of which Caracas is the capital, is about 250 miles as the crow flies. But Maturin was the very centre of Nueva Andalucia, and well adapted to be the headquarters of an insurgent army in that state.

Strangers began to drop in by dozens and halfdozens, and some of the principal men of the place secretly left. A Provisional Government was declared, the head of which for the State of New Andalucia was established at Cumaná. Trincheras or wide deep trenches were dug and barricades set up at the entrances to the town; and at the two principal entrances from the country, Punta Plata, and Punta Mosquito, they had cannon. There was one favourite cannon called "Bulli Negro," the frequent subject of their songs. The people of Maturin seemed to believe that as long as "Bulli Negro" remained in their possession, the city was impregnable and themselves quite safe.

of

On the third week we had quite a little army officers. There were a general, two or three

Citizen Soldiers.

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colonels, and several captains and subs, and a regiment or two of citizen soldiers. The Indians, who did not seem very fond of fighting, and probably were indifferent in their choice of sides and appreciation of the characters of their rulers, were forced to take arms; indeed they comprised the majority of the insurgent body.

While part of an Indian family was forced into the rebellious camp, the remaining members were hunted from their hiding places and made to fight against their own relations, without the impulsion of patriotism, esprit de corps, ambition, hatred, or revenge. They reminded one of the Persian slaves that had to be whipped to action, and watched lest they ran away.

Every morning the town was aroused by the sound of the reveillé; the soldiers were marched to La Plaza de Exercitacion to parade, their only uniformity being in their cross belts and muskets. Lilliput and Brobdingnag, shoes and no shoes, Glengarry caps and straw hats, all marched in the same company. They were well officered, if we could judge by the gilt lace defiant air.