The Republican journal., 1892-03-17

for little improvement. As it is, ships a
anchor in the roadstead just outside the
cerro are entirely without protection from
the frequent pamperos, or strong winds
that correspond to ''northers'' on the Pa
citic side Here, near its estuary, the
''River of Silver broadens out $50 miles
but its average depth is not more than sc
feet, and there are so many rocks and
shoals that to reach Montevideo from the
sea, ship must pass clear across its
mouth in north easterly direction, and
then turn about, due west, at the point
where the river abruptly narrows one
diminished five feet within the last fifty
years, and does not now exceed fifteen
feet. At that rate, it does not require an
oracle to foretell the time when ships can
no longer approach.
Mr., Theodore Child. who recently visit
ed Uruguay, declares that the Rio de la
Plata is by no means the ideal river that
many believe, Says he: "After every
strong pampero you may count wrecks
and ships aground literally by the score
For want of Il port or protection of any
kind, all business is interrupted while the
pampero is blowing. communication be
ing Impossible between the shore and
ships anchored in the road The necessi-
~ III loading and unloading by means of
tugs and lighters renders the operation
exceedingly expensive so that in many
cases the cost of landing goods at Monte
vidcn is equivalent To the freight on the
goods from Havrc, Hamburg or Liverpool
one costly projects We're submitted to the
Department of Public " orks but the
well-informed considered that none of
them were likely to be accepted. Two
-tirst the enormous cost, and second the
fact that all the projects We're based on
the gaining of land as a principal object,
of course with view to lucrative specula-
tions, after the example of the harbor and
dock works at Buenos Ayres"
Fully two-t thirds of Uruguay $ revenue
is derived from Custom's dues: the rest
from trade-licenses, stamps and taxes on
property. Since the beginning of the
present century the value OF both exports
and imports has increased twenty fold and
the former have always been largely in
excess of the latter. \ few years ago
Uruguay S commerce was practically CON
Iolled by England, the imports from that
Kingdom alone amounting to nearly one
half of the whole. and about one-third of
ali the exports went to England. But now
days much of the produce that was sent
formerly to British markets. goes to
Havre, Hamburg, Antwerp and Bremen:
and the time is not distant when the nit
ed States will receive res pectable amount
of it, in spite OF the local miSreprcsenta-
tions of our Jealous English cousins
Though ruguay's Constitution was
patterned after that ot the L. S. it neces-
sarily differs from it in some essential par
ticulars, because-W whatever sentimental
ISIS may say to the contlarN-the fact re
mains, proven again and again by sad eN-
peIience. that the more volatile I.atins
and especially those with preponderance
of spanish blood are not capable of self
%o>ernment. and therefore Nepublicism,
pure and simple does not meet their re
quirementS.
The government Of Uruguay is divided
into The usual three departments-eNe
tive, judicial and legislative. The Presi-
dent is elected by a ma ority of the Gen
eral Assembly. lor four wears, and is not
eligible to two consecutive terms. The
five Ministers composing the Cabinet are
appointed by the President and are re
sponsble to him alone: 4 Minister of
rior; OF War and Marine: of Justice Ed
ucaton and Public Works.
The little Republic is divided into nine
teen Departments, which answer for the
States in ours: and each Department sends
one Senator to the Upper House of the
General Assembly. The Lower House
has % members. who are elected every
year directly by the people, proportioned
according to the number of voters in each
Department. Thus Montevideo, the most
thickly settled portion, has twelve repre-
sentatives, while all the other Depart
ments but one have only two each. The
Constitution regulates the annual session
OF the Legislature from January to June,
but renders that wise regulation practical
ly null by providing for extra sessions, :
greatly to the disgust of the country mem
bers, who are kept at the gay capital near
ly the year around by the majority resid :
ing in Montevideo. and find living there so
expensive that none but rich men dare as
pire to the office.
Judging from the few sessions | have
attended, the Uruguayan Congress seems
to conduct its routine business on about
the same plan as that at Washington. In
deed, looking down from the gallery ul-
on the rows of shiny bald heads and lis
tening to the spread eagle flights of rhet-
oric called forth on slightest provocation