Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02

Ne ~. C.. SAIUhDA1.
populi, congress shall settle the matter by its
vote. The truth ia, however, that should such
an emergency arise, the adherents Of each
party would get up a revolution against the
others; and the candidate who would command
the most money, and consequently the most
men, would seat himself, whatever congress
might have to say about il.
ELECTION.
Since all things political are controlled by
the leading few there is rarely but one candi-
date in the field; his election il foregone con-
cIusion; and except by means of revolution the
people have no means Of voice in the matter
A president is elected for four years, and can
not legally serve two consecutive terms; but in
this part of the world where might is right, a
president may succeed himself for an indefinite
period as long as he can maintain control Of
the army. On the other hand it sometimes &C.
ours that two or three revolutionary leaders
make themselves presidents during the term
allotted to one man; and it is not impossible
that the present incumbent, who has yet more
than half his term to serve, may soon be ousted
by the rebel leader, Gen. Camacho who is now
at arms against him. That was wise president
in the past who, having learned that his cabi-
net were conspiring with certain revolutionists
for his overthrow, gave grand state dinner, to
which they were all invited, together with sew
banquet in stalked a squad of soldiers, and at
a given signal each shot his man; SO that on
the morrow a new cabinet had to be appointed.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
No matter what congress may legislate,
nothing becomes law without the presidents
signature. According to the revised constitu-
ton capital punishment has been abolished ex-
cept for two crimes, assassination or rebellion
against the government. Though the barbarism
of hanging up men by the neck until they are
dead is not perpetrated here they are shot as
traitors on the slightest pretext if inclined to
differ with the powers that be. That blessed
fable, the constitution. also says that there can
be no confiscation of property for any offense;
that letters are inviolate, guarantees civil lib
erty 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 e-fourths of the popula-
ton are kept in subsection by 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
TO-DAY may be inferred from an advertisement
in late Bollylan paper, to the effect that
chlncona plantation was to be disposed of at
public auction and among other goods and
chatteis enumerated for sale to the highest
Dluder were loO poems or Indian laborers.
THE CIVILIZED INDIANS
vast estates, are slaves to all intents and pur-
poses, as much as were negroes in the United
States in ante-bellum days. For constant and
arduous labor they receive the merest pittance,
barely enough to keep body and soul together,
and II one of them has the temerity to rebel
the whip ls brought into requisition until he
is thoroughly subdued. Most of them we're
born to their present condition, their parents
and grandparents having gotten into debt with
md civ ms hat
is, the labor of his hands. as security for pay
ment 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,
II he ever had money enough to pay the mar
rlage fee, and goes to live in a cane or adobe
hut near the scene of his labors Their chill
dren 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-
SOS poems. Thus it goes on from generation to
generation, neither debter nor creditor, master
nor man showing any desire to change his re-
lations toward one another.
WISE LAWS.
There are some wise laws as well as foolish
ones in that constitution, and among the for
mer is one that prohibits interference with
any useful industry; another, which gives to
every inventor the exclusive right to use his
own inventions, unless he wishes to sell it, for a
period OF fifteen years. Everybody who in
PRODUCES new machinery (for example, like
the smelling work and diamond drill of the
young Bostonlan who owns the Empress Tit
caca, gets the exclusive privilege Of working
them from three to ten years, according to the
amount of capital invested.
Whenever the Bolivian congress passes
new law or the president issues an edict it is
published in the official newspaper, although
the vast majority of the population never sees
it, and could not read 1t if they did When
there is occasion for especial haste in the
matter regiment Of soldiers is sent out, pre-
ceded by band, who stop at every street cor
ner, where the commanding officer proclaims
the law in a loud voice.
CHILL AND BOLIVIA
After South America gained her independ-
ence 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.
1t lay between the Esd 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 barren and waterless desert,
supposed to be worthless in every respect un-
til some years ago rich deposits of silver and
nitrate of soda were discovered therein. When
this became known Chill suddenly ascertained
that under some ancient grant this strip of land
belonged to her, and she kindly offered to
divide 1T with Bolivia, bnt in such a way that
all the silver and nitrate we're left on Chilis
side. OF course Bolivia resisted, and having a
treaty of offense and defense with Peru. she
called upon the latter nation to assist in the
defense of her rights. This was the real
cause OF the late disastrous war, which took
away all Bolivias 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. rs per hundredweight is charged
for export duty at the same place. No treaty
of peace has yet been made between Chill and
Bolivia 1t is believed by some that the former
will restore the stolen territory if a treaty is
made; but it is more probable that the agrees
sive little southern republic, which has no
''back country" to boast Of, but extends, long
and narrow strip, between the mountains and
the sea, will march up here some day and COB
BILE all the rest Of Bolivia.
As to Bolivia's credit, it 10 not to be wondered
at that her currency is below par and the coun-
try SO poor when we remember that President
Arce owes to the national bank 81 900 900, his
predecessor owes it another million and num-
Der Of the present cabinet owe half q million
more. FANNIE B. WARD.
A BAPTISM IN HELlGOLAND.
The Graveyard is Where the Soil is the
Deepest
From the Pail Mall Gazette.
After service ON Suudays when an infant in