Where Duty Called; or, In Honor Bound
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[1] Bolivar the "Liberator" was followed by others who managed theaffairs of Venezuela very satisfactorily, until in 1846 two politicalparties formed. These were styled the "Liberals" and the"Conservatives," and trouble increased swiftly. In 1859 Guzman Blancobecame the head of the stronger party, holding his sway until 1864,when he was succeeded by a rival. In less than ten years, however, hisson came to the front, and, more powerful than his father, he madehimself president, with all the prerogatives of a dictator. Thisoffice he held until 1884, when Crespo became president. Still thehold of Blanco was not broken, and two years later he reassumed thereins of government, but in 1890 his successor was defeated, and hesuffered a loss of his good name. In fact, a complete change of heartfor the family which had been dominant in affairs for over thirty yearsfollowed. His name was stripped from one of the States where it hadbeen placed, and the public statues he had caused to be erected weretorn down, and much of the really good work he had done was destroyed.But these radical denunciations could not remove the name of thepompous leader from the historic pages of Venezuela, and it is well tobe so, for with all his shortcomings he did much for the risingrepublic, though his stalwart figure is the landmark of a stormyperiod.--AUTHOR.