Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-03

to be disposed of at public auction, snd
among other goods and chattels enumerated
for sale to the highest bidder were 1S0 poems,
or Indian laborers.
THE MODERN SLAVERY.
The civilized Indians of this country, es-
pecially those located on the vast estates,
are slaves to all intents and purposes. az
much as were negroes in the United States
in ante-belium days. For constant and ardu-
GUS labor they receive the merest pittance,
barely enough to keep body and soul to-
gether, and II one of them has the temerity
to rebel, the whip is brought into requisi-
tion until he is thoroughly subdued. Most
of them were born to their present condition,
their parents and grandparents having got
ten into debt with the owner of the estate
and given himself, that is, the labor Of his
hands, as security for payment. Once In
debt there is no getting out OF 1t with the
scanty wages an Indian receives. SO he
takes the woman who would be his wife, if
he ever had money enough to pay the mar
riage fee, and goes to live in cane or adobe
hut near the scene of his labors. Their chill
dren grow up around them, in due time TAX
ing their places in the fields, the mines or as
houses servants, and all known as Senor So
and-so's poems. Thus it goes on from genera
tion to generation, neither debtor nor credi-
tor, master nor man, showing any desire to
change his relations toward one another.
This is no field for missionaries, though
in all Bolivia there is not a Protestant
church. The Jesuits, who have been ban
ished from nearly all civilized lands, are
welcomed here. They are now building
splendid monastery at La Paz, and one Of
their number is Cabinet Minister.
CAUSE OF THE LATE WAR.
L.. 81
pendence from Spain and the Republics
were being mapped out. Bolivia was given
a little strip of land between Chill and
Peru in order that she. being inland. might
have pathway to the sea. It was recog-
nized as belonging to Bolivia on ali the
maps of Chill, as we'll as those of other
countries. 1t was barren and waterless
desert, supposed to be worthless in every
respect, until some years ago rich deposits
of silver and nitrate of soda were discovered
therein. When this became known Chill
suddenly ascertained that under some an
cient grant this strip belonged to her, and
she kindly offered to divide 1t with Bolivia,
but in such way that all the silver and
nitrate were left on Ch1li's side. Or course
Bolivia resisted, and having a treaty of
offense and defense with Peru. she called
upon the latter nation to assist in the de-
This was the real cause of the late disas-
trous war, which took away all Bolivia's
sea coast and utterly ruined Peru. Chili's
ostensible excuse for her part in it was that
Bolivia charged too much export duty on
nitrate, 10 cents per hundred weight; but
now that Chill has secured the territory,
81 25 per hundred weight is charged for ex-
port duty at the same place. No treaty of
peace has vet been made between Chill and
Bolivia. 1t is believed by some that the |
former will restore the stolen territory if q
treaty is made; but it is more probable that |
the aggressive little Southern republic,
which has no back country" to boast of,
but extends long and narrow strip be- |
tween the mountains and the ,sea-will |
march up here some day and gobble all the |
rest of Bolivia.
As to Bolivia's credit, it is not to be won
dered at that her currency is below par and |
The country so poor, when we remember that |
President Arce owes to the National Bank |
>, 900, 900; his predecessor owes it another |
81 ,000, 900; and a number of the present |
Cabinet owe $500, 900 more.
FANNIE B. WARD.