A Fracas in South- America The Spanish Main is true
to its history in days -before the Presidency of James Monroe elsewhere, and showed its spirit last week. The Government of Venezuela, having lost its old President, who long ruled much as a dictator, has a vigorous Opposition, which is normally under arms, as we might expect. Its numbers are occasionally depleted by the prudent exodus of some members to a neighbour- ing island, which happens to be in Dutch territory. The Dutch are now a peaceful nation, who keep no strong military forces in their Colony of Guiana to deal with uninvited visitors. A strong body of Venezuelans seized a ship in port, and loaded a cargo of such arms as their friends at home needed for their better political success. Being careful of their own safety they took an unwilling companion as a fellow-voyager, no less a person than the Governor of the Colony. So far as we know he suffered no great -hardship on his trip, from which he was returned safely, but it must have been very disturb- ing to him to feel that Holland was, in his person, involved in this Venezuelan affair. ',The Dutch, we have no doubt, regard the matter with common sense as it deserves. * * *
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