The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-02-01
The Peruvian Way of Electing Presi"
dent.

minister Richard Gibbs Letter to Secretary Fish.
[ have the honor to inform you that
the election for President of the Repub-
lie commenced on Sunday, the 18th of
October, and, by law, supposed to con-
tinue for eight days, is virtually over,
Gen. Mariana Ignacio Prado being the
successful candidate. LIT is difficult to
understand the politics of the country,
except by long residence there does
not appear to be any particular princi-
pies at stake, nor, as in our country
party platform, but merely personal
ambition. The two candidates were
Gen. Mariana Ig1acio Prado, who had
filled the Presidential chair previously
during the years 1866'67, being placed
in power by a revolution in December,
1866, and ousted by another in january,
1868, and Rear Admiral Lizardo Mon
tero. Mr.. Prado is supposed to have
been sustained by the party in power
to-day, Rear Admiral Lizardo Montero
being the candidate of the opposition.
From what could observe during my
short residence here since my arrival. I
should judge that the adherents of Prado
were more numerous in the higher
classes, and composed of the more re-
spectacle part of the population. To
an American citizen, the elections are
decided more by force than by suffrage.
The tables or polling-booths are placed
in open spaces or squares, one in each
parish, and the party who takes the
booth and holds it is the successful one.
1t is we'll known that both parties had
been arming for some time past con-
ficts had been numerous and frequent
between the clubs of the rival candi-
dates, causing bloodshed and death. AS
the day of the taking of the
booths approached, fears were en-
tertained of a bloody strife, and
great alarm existed among all classes.
On the afternoon of the 10Th, all stores
were closed, and the streets nearly de-
serted, the various clubs were formed,
earned, and placed in buildings near the
polling tables, to begin the strife during
the night, SO as to have them by day
light. About midnight firing could be
heard in various parts of the city, which
lasted until about 6 in the morning, ex-
cept in the parish of Santa AQa, where
the contest lasted until 10 a. m. the adj
herents of Prado had taken all the poll
ing-tables, and by this act he was
declared the successful candidate. By
kilograms from various parts of the
Republic up to this date, it appears that
the same result was attained in the great
majority of provinces heard from. In
Lima the number of deaths officially
given is twenty five, and wounded some
sixty or more. The military and police
arrangements of the Government to
preserve order were most admirably
carried out; if they had not been, the
loss of life would have been immense,
and the strife would have lasted many
days. All establishments, banks, hotels
and stores were closed great parts of
the inhabitants were in their houses
with closed doors, and the city had the
appearance of place afflicted and
abandoned during two days, the 18th
and 18th. Yesterday all was going on
as usual. No attacks on persons or
persons or property have taken place;
the bloodshed was only between the po-
Iitical clubs of either candidate.