communal boards, all the municipal councils, the legislatures and the governments of the States, the press with its thousand organs of publicity, and with it a great majority of the legislative chambers of the last Constitutional Congress, have expressed themselves spontaneously. So that it may be asserted that there is no town or village in the republic where most solemn meetings have not been held petitioning for the revival of those sacred institutions of the country which cost five years of supreme struggles and bloody sacrifices. Beset and borne down, I nevertheless resisted the increasing pressure of the country as a faithful upholder of the constitution which I had sworn to defend. Furthermore, I desired to await the period fixed by the law for the election of a President of the republic and members of the National Congress; and, although the constitutional guarantees were carefully observed by the executive, no citizen presented himself to vote, as if the country had desired to ratify its pronunciamentos by abstaining from choosing the supreme national officers, who were to be inaugurated on the 20th of February, 1879. In presence of this attitude of the country, as firm as it is imposing; before its inexorable mandate; in view of the awful anarchy into which we would fall in awaiting the constitutional period; and fearing that the people, irritated as on other occasions, might seek by means of arms that which they could not obtain in peace, I have, compatriots, necessarily had to assume the tremendous responsibility of complying with your wish. You are now to choose your deputies in order that, united in constitutional assembly, on you may devolve the institutions of the Liberal cause, and I may be relieved from the oath which I took before Congress to execute and to cause to be executed the constitution of 1874, which is in force. Till then, I shall hold myself bound by my vows, and will defend this constitution with all the prestige of the government and with all the force of arms; for no human power can force me to prove false to my oaths. I recognize that the people are omnipotent in a republic and the sole arbiters of their destinies, and that they may do what they consider right in the exercise of their inherent sovereignty. I recognize that the people may make and unmake institutions and create and overthow governments. But the people thus great, powerful, invincible, cannot release me from my oaths, cannot absolve me from my vows except in two ways-either by force of arms, shedding all my blood upon the altar of my country, where I guard and safely preserve the book of her institutions, or by the irresistible force of public opinion, which conquers me and carries me captive before their legitimate representatives. And for the reason that I offer myself as a holocaust in order to facilitate to the people the mode of accomplishing in peace the transcendent and historical evolution of changing their institutions, the people should give me all their support in order to preserve me faithful to my oaths, and to proceed worthily of themselves and worthily of the liberal idea, that sublime religion of modern nations to which I have consecrated all the years of my existence. Fellow-citizens, I have remained alone defending the constitution of 1874. I declare myself your prisoner; have compassion on me, for I am the only one among you to whom it is not permitted, without the express order of the sovereign, to proclaim the force of that constitution, for which I shed my blood in the war of the federal cause. Fellow-citizens, your desires are satisfied. Be free and happy in the bosom of peace. The evolution which you are consummating has had no equal in the past. Neither in the Old World nor in the New have nations ever succeeded in changing their institutions without the disasters of civil war. It was reserved for this great people-for this virtuous people-the initiator of South American independence, to give now the surprising example of advancing along the road of progress and perfecting their institutions without shedding one drop of blood. I devoutly hope that the new generations may imitate you, and that the expedient of civil wars may remain buried in Venezuela and entombed forever. The decree being promulgated and submitted to your wish, it only remains for me to pray that you have proper elections worthy the civic cause which you have crowned with unstained victory. Fellow-citizens, the radiant sun of the 10th of December will illuminate with magnificent glory your meeting in National Constituent Assembly. That will be the day of my redemption; for on that day will devolve entirely upon you the power which overwhelms me, in order that you may commit it to whom you may believe most worthy. In the mean time, Venezuelans, I swear to you that I will preserve the peace, that I will cause your rights and guarantees to be respected, and that I will protect society in its interests and in its privileges. Caracas, 15th September, 1878. FRANCISCO L. ALCÁNTARA. No. 59.] No. 544. Mr. Baker to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Caracas, October 29, 1878. (Received November 18.) SIR: As tending to help toward the formation of an idea of the climatology of this country, it may be worth while to transmit a brief account of a notable rain-fall which occurred here on the afternoon of the 3d instant. I translate and incorporate the following extract from the report of the session of the 7th of the present month, of the Society for the Promotion of Physical and Natural Sciences (Sociedad de Ciencias fisicas y naturales), as the same appears in La Opinion Nacional of the 22d instant, premising that this part of the report is to be credited to Señor Ledo Aveledo. On the 3d of October, at half after 1 p. m., it commenced to rain without interruption, until 3 p. m.-105 millimeters (4.13 inches) having fallen in this time, which is about the eighth part of all the water that on an average falls annually in Caracas. From the 1st January, 1868, from which our observations date-the pluviometer has never gathered a greater quantity in an equal time. The fall in an hour and a half of one-eighth of the annual quantity of water brings to view a true tropical rain. This rain as I understand was quite local; it did considerable damage to streets, bridges, &c.; some houses were flooded, a few others were undermined; several persons were reported drowned, and the rain was accompanied for a short time with hail, a phenomenon which it appears from the same report previously took place at Caracas on the 16th of September, 1874. Apropos of the cause of hail, I think it worth while to also translate and incorporate the following observations from the same report, to be credited in like manner to Señor Ledo Aveledo: Concerning the hail which fell in Caracas on the 16th of September, 1874, we then wrote the following: As is known, hail has an electrical origin, since it never falls except during tempestuous storms. Facts tend to demonstrate that the phenomena of heat, light, electricity, and magnetism recognize one and the same cause, these phenomena being only different manifestations of the same agent. May it not be supposed that a part of the heat of the atmosphere is transformed into electricity, and that the absence of said heat occasions greater condensation of the vapor of water, causing an increase of rain, this being observed to increase immediately after flashes of lightning? Perhaps, then, the phenomenon of hail may be explained by supposing the strata of air which the rain traverses to have fallen to a temperature below zero, and to have congealed the drops of water. It is interesting to observe that we here have from a Venezuelan physicist an opinion concerning and an apparently plausible application of the new and very important theory of the "correlation and conservation of the physical forces." I understand, however, from Prof. A. Ernst, of the University of Caracas and president of the above-named society, that this application of the theory was previously propounded by Herr Baumgärtner, of Vienna. I have, &c., JEHU BAKER. No. 60.] No. 545. Mr. Baker to Mr. Evarts. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Caracas, October 30, 1878. (Received November 18.) SIR: Day before yesterday, the 28th of October, was the national festival of Venezuela in commemoration of Bolivar. This was not the birthday of the Liberator (Bolivar was born July 24, 1783), but, as I understand, the day of his patron saint, Saint Simon, and as such set apart in honor of the dead, conformably to the genius of the nation. The city was illuminated on the preceding evening, as also on the evening of the festival; flags were displayed in large numbers throughout the town, fireworks were set off on a considerable scale, and the Pantheon, an edifice in which the nation's eminent dead are gathered, was opened to those who desired to visit the tomb of the Liberator. The Plaza Bolivar was on this, as on other occasions, the center of public reunion and display. This plaza is situated in the immediate neighborhood of the Casa Amarilla, or the Yellow House, in which the President resides. It is interspersed with trees, shrubs, fountains, and lights, and is well supplied with seats for the accommodation of visitors. In the center of the plaza stands an equestrian statue of Bolivar, supported upon a pedestal of granite, surmounted by a beautifully wrought and polished superstructure of dark-colored syenite. This work, I understand, was done in Europe, and I suspect it may be superior, as a work of art, to anything of the sort we have in Washington. Our flag was, of course, displayed on the occasion, and I send herewith a copy of the note in the premises which I received on the 26th instant from the ministry of exterior relations, together with a translation of the same. I have, &c., JEHU BAKER. [Inclosure in No. 60.-Translation.] Note from the ministry of exterior relations, The minister of foreign relations of the United States of Venezuela has the honor to inform the honorable minister resident of the United States, that Monday, the 28th instant, is the day of the national festival commemorative of the liberator, and that for this reason the flag of the republic will then he displayed at the federal palace. Caracas, October 26, 1878. Hon. JEHU BAKER, Minister Resident, &c., &c., &c. ALPHABETICAL INDEX. NOTE. The page number refers to the page upon which the dispatch or paper begins in which the A. Acapulco: The firing upon Consul Sutter's flag; regret expressed by Mexico; officer in command of fort at time to be tried by court-martial........... The Netherlands: adoption of system; basis for reciprocal acceptance of Treasury reply: no change in regulations necessary to insure reciprocal Netherlands decree exempting American vessels from readmeasurement.. Spain: adoption of Moorsom system... certificates of, to be accepted if total tonnage be expressed; readmeasure- temporary arrangement as to acceptance of certificates in Cuba.. [See Moorsom system and tonnage tax.] Alaska and British Columbia: conditional boundary line in valley of the Alfonso XII: approaching marriage announced... Page. 580 083 703 706 707 708 764 774 787 768 768 768 339 conditionally accepted by the United States. 346 conditionally accepted by Canada 347 773, 808 account of his marriage with the Princess Mercedes.. 780 attempted assassination of the King by a socialist.... receives General Grant at Vitoria; military review upon the battle-field. 803 791, 792, 817, 818 801, 819 Switzerland: right of expatriation not recognized.. Allegiance: Italy; inalienability of; still held by; illustrated in case of Largomar- Germany: naturalization cases. 458, 459, 460, 461-464 841 Americans, destitute in foreign countries: appropriation in aid of, asked by Mr. Bingham..... 481 American fishermen: outrage upon, on coast of Newfoundland..346, 349, 284, 308, 314, 323 Ammunition: trade of Montana Indians with British provinces in.. 349 7 Andrassy, Count: announces policy of Austria to be the protection of Austrian 24 Arbitration: Argentine and Paraguay boundary question submitted to the President 16,709 award in favor of Paraguay. 18, 711 Argentine and Chili boundary question to be submitted to the King of the 86 Areola: leader of Mexican raiders from Ximenes : 612, 622 Argentine Republic: army and navy, strength of; commercial marine boundary question with Paraguay submitted to arbitration of the Presi- dent of the United States to enter postal union under treaty of Berne revolutionary movements in San Juan and Corientes 16 18 6 11 5,10 949 Argentine Republic-Continued. revolutionists of 1874 amnestied: officers restored to army; reconcilia- Sandy Point mutineers: surrender to Chili refused.. Armenia military operations in; fall of Kars; retreat of Moukhtar Pacha condition of, and of its people, after the war; report of Mr. R. M. Cole... Athens: stock of flour and grain on hand............. Page. 849 894 443 360 362 the funeral of Mr. Ogle; emotion respecting the massacres of Macrinitza. war riot; houses of ministers attacked; mob fire upon troops; they re- monks of; stipulations concerning; article 22, treaty of San Stefano 835 658 Aube, Captain: French Navy; thanks of the President to be given to him for 165 d'Audiffret Pasquier, Duke: interview with President of France; Senate will 164 66 Auersperg, Prince: ministry of, embarrassed by disagreement between the effect of dual organization; questions of taxation; influence of the empire Count Andrassy explains policy of empire taxation disagreeement between Austria and Hungary debt of the Empire, and of Austria and Hungary. adjustment of relations reached... 44 disastrous effect upon Austrian industry of free trade-treaty with Germany; 19 Aymeri, A. respecting the Chinese famine. 118 B. Baden: cases of naturalized citizens; naturalization discussed; Ganzenmuller 216, 229, 232 Bacz: President of San Domingo; able to maintain himself against revolu- 414 Bamiah cotton-plant: seeds sent from Egypt ... Bandinel, T.: vice-consul at New Chwang; as to circulation of trade-dollar Barrera and Dominguez: extradition cases; opinion of Señors Vallarta, 560 Baumer: case of; may return to Germany under two years-clause of treaty.. 210, 228 560 while under arrest under extradition treaty 668 Beaconsfield, Lord: effect of speech in Berlin congress. Beira Alta Railway: aid granted by Portugal Beiram, Feast of: observed with less spirit than usual in Turkey Belgium: Eastern question; grant of credit; prepared for eventualities. Berlin celebration of the Emperor's birthday. text of treaty of San Stefano text of treaty of Berlin.... Mr. Taylor's dispatch respecting the congress and its results Mr. Kasson's dispatch respecting the congress and its results. Mr. Marsh's dispatch respecting the congress and its results. 221 744 487 55 general election; ministry defeated; liberal ministry formed.... 56, 57 54,56 205 221 865 894 227 50 475 865, 894 |