The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-08-03

q delusion here than in most republics.
That venerable document, which processes
10 be modelled after the constitution OF the
nlted States Of North America, also says
that to be eligible, presidential candidate
must be born in the country, but does OF
specify whether of Indian, Cholo, Spanish
or mongrel parentage, and il there are TWO
or three candidates in the field, wnose
claims cannot be decided by vox popull,
congress shall settle the matter by its vote.
The rnth is however, that should such an
emergency arise, the adherents of each
party would get up revelation against the
others, and the candidate who could CON-
mand the most money, and consequently
the most men, would seat bimself, whatever
congress might have say abous,it.
Since all things political are controlled
py the leading few, there is rarely but one
candidate in the field; his election is a fore
gone conclusion; and except by means OF
revolution, the people have no means OF
voice in the matter. A president is elected
Tor four years, and cannot legally serve
two consecutive terms; but in this part OF
the world, where might is right presi-
dent may succeed himself for an indefinite
period, as long as he can maintain control
of the army. On the other hand, it some
times occurs that two or three revolution
airy leaders make themselves presidents
during the term allotted to one man; and it
is not impossible that the president encum-
bent, VINO has yet more than half his term
TO serve, may soon be ousted by the rebel
leader, General Camacho, who is now
at arms against him. That was wise
president in the past who, having learned
| that his cabinet were conspiring with GER
tain reyolutionists for his overthrow, gave
a:grand state dinner, towhich they were all
invited, together with several leading
malcontents. In the midst of the banquet
! in stalked squad Of soldiers. aud at
given signal each shot his man so that on
the morrow new cabinet had 10 be APP
pointed.
No matter what congress may legislate,
nothing becomes a law without the presi-
dents signature. According to the revised
constitution, capital punishment has been
abolished except for two crimes -aSsassina-
| ton or rebellion against the government.
Though the barbarism of hanging up men
by the neck until they are dead is not per
petrated here, they are shot as traitors on
| the slightest pretext, If inclined to differ
with the powers that be. That blessed ia
BILE, the constitution, also says that there
can be no confscation of property for any
offense: that letters are inviolate, guaran-
tees civil liberty and equal rights to all and
invites the people of all nations to come to
Bolivia and be happy.
| There can be no such thing as equal
rights in country where three fourths of
the remainder. After the struggle of 1925
human slavery was abolished in all the
South American Republics; but that men
and women are bought and sold today may
be inferred from an advertisement in late
Bulgarian paper, to the effect that Gin
chona plantation was to be disposed of at
public auction, and among other goods and
chattels enumerated Tor sale to the highest
| bidder were $50 poems, or Indian laborerS.
| The civilized Indians of this country, es
pecially those located on the vast estates,
are slaves to all intents and purposes, as
much as were negroes in the United States
antil-bellum days. For constant and ardu-
GUS labor they receive the merest pittance,
barely enough to keep soul and body to-
gether, and If one of them has the temerity
to rebel, the whip is brought into requisi-
ton until he is thoroughly subdued Most
of them were born to their present condi-
| ton, their parents and grandparents hav-
ing gotten 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 it
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 marriage fee, and goes to live in cane
or adobe hut near the scene of his labors.
Their children grow up around them in due
time taking their places in the fields, the
mines or as house servants, and all are
known as Senior so-and-so's poems. Thus it
Igoes on from generation to generation,
neither debtor nor creditor, master nor
man, showing any desire to change his re-
lations towards one another.
There are some wise laws, as well as fool
ish ones in that constitution, and among
the former is one that prohibits interfer
ence with any useful industry; another
which gives to every inventor the exclusive
right to use his own invention, unless he
wishes to sell it, for a period of fifteen
years. Everybody who introduces new
machinery (for example, like the smelling
work and diamond drill of the young Bos
tonian who owns the "Empresa Titicaca, ~
gets the exclusive privilege of working
them from three to ten years, according to
the amount Of capital invested.
Whenever the Bolivian congress passes
a new law, or the president issues an edict
it is published in the official newspaper, al
though the vast majority of the populatiex
never sees it, and could not read it If they
J did. When there is occasion for specia
haste In the matter, a regiment of soldiers
is sent out, preceded by band, who STOP
at every street corner. where the command
ing officer proclaims the law in loud voice
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.
After South America gained her indie
pendence from Spain and the republics
were being mapped out, Bolivia was given
| little strip of land between Chill and PERI
| in order that she, being inland, might have
! a pathway to the sea. 1t lay between the
23d and 25th parallels, and was recognized
as belonging to Bolivia on all the maps Of
Chill, as well as those of other countries
{ 1t was a barren and waterless desert, sup
posed 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 Chilli suddenly
ascertained that under some ancient gran
l this strip of land belonged to her, and sht
kindly offered to divide it with Bolivia, Du
in such way that all the silver and nitrate
1 were left on Chili's side. OF cours,
9 Bolivia resisted and having treaty O
offence and defence with Peru, she callet
: upon the latter nation to assist in the de
{ fence of her rights. This was the rea
cause Of the late disastrous war, which
!, took away all Boliyias sea coast and utter
g ~ ruined Peru. Chili's ostensjble excus
g for her part in it was that Bolivia charge,
4 too mnch export duty on nitrate, 10 cent
:, per hundred weight; but now tina
: Chill has secured the TERRITORY
t $l.25 per hundred weight
a charged for export duty at the same place
), No treaty Of peace has yet been made be
r tween Chill and Bolivia. 1t is believed b
& some that the former will restore the stole
r territory if the treatyis made: but It's NOR
I probable that the aggressive little souther
:, republic, which has 70 ''back country, Il
: boast of, bat extends a long and narroy
n strip between the mountains and the sea-
n will march up here some day and gobple a
n the rest of Bolivia
n AS to Bolivia's credit, it is not to b
y wondered az that her currency is belo,