The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1879-05-30
NO. H..
YistorieaL.
Simon Bolivar, the South Ameri-
can Liberator.

its new president, turned his attention to
the liberation of the other South Amer
lean nations. The work was conducted
with the most splendid ability. He re-
linquished all appearance of generalship,
in which he had before shown such in
capacity and pusilanimity, but left the
whole military task to Gen. Sucre, the
bravest and most honest of the revolu-
tionary generals except perhaps Paez.
Bolivar's skill as an organizer and in the
him, was marvellous, and was really
what led to the patriot victories. After
several hotly-fought campaigns the
Spaniards were driven out of Peru, mill
tary stores and succor were sent to the
struggling patriots of Chill, Beunos
Ayres, and before 1880 every vestige of
Spanish authority had been driven from
SoiGh America. Feb. 10th, 1888 the
congress at Lima declared him dictator
of Peru and at about the same time he
was reelected president of the united re-
public of New Grenada and Venezuela.
In the latter part of the previous year
he had led a campaign which resulted in
the incorporation of Quito. Paste and
Guayaquil into Columbia, He made
tour through Peru and was every where
received with the widest enthusiasm.
In 1926 the Southern part of Peru was
erected into separate state, and named
Bolivia in honor Of him, and ne was
chosen its president for life. He framed
a constitution for it which he proudly said
combined the political wisdom of all
ages and nations, and which was COM
pound of all possible lpolitical institu-
tions, ancient and modern, it provided
for legislature of three houses-tribunes
senators, and censors-all elective. This
legislature was to elect the president
and he to have the power of appointing
his successor, the vice president. This
constitution was probably the greatest
weakness of his life; it teemed with Wis
ionary crotchets; and its single sound
principle, that of religious liberation
was subsequently abandoned. But Bo-
livar clung to it with singular tenacity
and tried to get it adopted in Columbia,
after its impracticability had been de-
monstrated in Bolivia.
The president and liberator of Column
bia, the protector and dictator of Peru,
the godfather of Bolivia, he mad now
reached the climax of his renown, and
was giving scope to the widest dreams
of ambition. He contrived to assemble
a Congress at Panama of plenipotentia-
ries from Columbia, Brazil, La Plata Bo-
ivia. Mexico, Guatemala, and all the
chief nations of Central and south Amer
lca. for the purpose of establishing
new democratic international code. HIS
real purpose was the rather Utopian one
of forming all South America into one
federative republic. His enemies charged
that he wished to make himself emperor
over this vast dcmaln, though Bolvar's
whole life gives the lie to the accusation.
With all his faults and weaknesses he
was sincerely devoted to Republican in
stitutions; all the glory he sought to
attach to his name was the founding of
the greatest republic known to history
But his power was slipping rapidly from
his grasp; the convention adjourned In
wrangle; the Peruvians having elected
zen Lamar presioent, eJected rife-C'o-T
lumban troops from their soil in 1897,
and even waged victorio1 is war against
Columbia: Venezuela seeded from the
.epubic in 1929 Bolivia and Columbia
10Th discarded his constitution after con-
siderable fighting, while the latter coun-
nv was rent by the most violent political
actions; an attempt was made to assas-
innate him in his sleeping room at Bogota
n 1928. and he only escaped by leaplng
the dark from the balcony OF the
window and living concealed under a
bridge. Instructions breaking out on
+ap
claimed dictator anew, but the troubles
continuing he sent in his resignation as
president, for the sixth time In April
1870 This time 1t was accepted on
condition of his quitting the country.
Just as he was about to leave he died
at San Pecho, Dec. II, 1880.
About a month before his death he
wrote letter to Gen. Flores of Ecuador
in which he said:
II have been in power (yo he nedudad0)
for nearly twenty years. from which L
have gathered only few definite re-
sults:-
81. America, for us, is ungovernable.
2. He who dedicates his services to
revolution, plows the sea. 3. The only
thing that can be done in America, IS to
emigrate. 4. This country will lnevlta-
blv fall into the hands OF the unbrldled
rsbble. and little by little become prey
to petty tyrants OF all c1lors and races.
) Devoured as we shall be by all posi-
ble crimes, and ruined by our ferocious-
ness. the Europeans will not deem it
worth while to conquer us. g. Ii 1t were
possible for any part of the word to re-
tura to a state Of primitive chaos, that
would pe the last stage OF Spanish
America"
How fearfully have his predictions been
fulfilled. From the very date OF their
Independence these nations have been IN
a stale of chronic anarchy and intermin-
able convulsions. Ambitious generals
rapacious d, magogues, and violent en-
thusiasts, all Jealous and dlstrustful OF
each other, with an ignorant and im-
bruted people to support them, are to-day
driving the whole social fabric, OF Span
ish America, to ruin rs fast as 1t is pos
sible to do. When we consider his ma
terial and surroundings we must wonder
not that Bolivar failed in his efforts Tor
political reorganization. but that he had
the nerve or executive capacity to escape
ruin so long.
The following is the portrait given of
him by Docoudrey-Holstein: Simon
Bolivar is 5 feet inches in height his
visape is long. his cheeks hollow, his
complexion livid brown; his eyes are OF
a middle size, and sunk deep in his head
which is covered thinly with hair. HIS
moustaches give him dark and wild
aspect. particularly when he is In pas
sion. His whole body is thin and meagre.
He has the appearance OF man DO years
old. In walking, his arms are IN contin-
nal motion. He cannot walk long, but
becomes soon fatigued. He likes ms
hammock. where he sits or lolls. lie
gives way to sudden gusts of resentment
and becomes in a M ment mailman,
throws himself into his hammock, and
ntters curses and imprecations upon all
around him. He likes TO indulge In sir-
casms upon absent persons, reads only
LIGHT French literature. Is bold rider
and passionately fond of waltzlng. he
is fond of hearing himself talk and CIV
ing toasts. In adversely. and destitute OF
aid from without. he is perfectly free IRON
passion and violence Of temper. lie
then becomes mild, patient docile, and,
even submissive. In a great measure he
coneeals his faults under the pollteness c.
a man educated in the so-called beat
y,o0d,. possesses an almost Asiatic .@leni
for dissimulation. and understs.aus man.
kind better than the mass Of hls country
men,