The morning call., 1893-07-31
PERU'S POLITICS.
Comprehensive Resume OF
the Situation.
THE APPROACHING ELECTION.
Ex-Miuister Hicks Tells of the Com
ing truggle-Peru's Financial
Condition.

Among the passengers by the Paclnc
Mail steamship Colima. which arrived
Yesterday, was John Hicks. until recently
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenl-
potsntiary to the. republic of Peru. Mr..
Hicks is accom- panied by his wife. and is
at the Palace. He will remain in San
Francisco until the end OF this week, when
he will start direct for Washington. After
closing his accounts and adjusting few
official details he will return to his home
in Oshkosh, Wis.
Minister hicks expected to leave Lima
June 1. but remained longer IN order to
introduce his successor, J. A. Mckenzie OF
Kentucky, who arrived the last week I'D
June. The departure of Mr.. Hicks was
made the occasion Of publicly demon
stratins the good feeling OF Peru toward
the United States in the way of banque;
10 honor Of the retiring official. which was
attended By al the members OF the Caol-
net and eminent Peruvians and their
wives TO the Dumber Of twenty-five. Inc
BANQUET also served tia purpose Of PTesl-
dent Bermuda TO introduce his wife 10
the public. The Peruvian President iol-
lowed the example or Grover Cleveland
and marrisd while in Office. Inc wed
ding took place June IL at the palace amid
great pomP, the nuptlal ceremony being
celebrated by the Arch bishop in the pres
ence of ali the high officials of the repub-
lie President BermudeZ, ike our own,
was a bachelor well toward 90. ana he
chose for his wife 4 seDorlta from Lima,
tie beauty of whose women IS noted
throughout the world.
The new Minister, Mr.. Mckenzie. Is
over six feet tall, handsome blonde with
flowing beard. and as he walked the
Of
trast ID stature end complexion between
themselves caused the dark-skinned, short
natives to stare a. him With undiSguised
wonder and amusement.
Mr.. Hicks granted a CALL man the
privilege Of chat concerning Peruvian
politics. Every few days the New ork
Herald has story about an impending
revolution, sent by their Panama or Val
parsiso correspondent" suggested the re-
porter Now, what are the facts?'
Mr., Hicks said the correspondents drew
largely on their imagination for alleged
news from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and
other northern States on the west coast
In many cases il is unreliable, because
those who send news are not at the scene,
and thew accent as truth statements which
are wildly distorted.
Active preparations are now going on
for the ouRdrennial election, which occurs
next April. President BermUdeZ and eX-
President Caceres are political friends and
allies. The former succeeded the latter
and vas his Nice-President. Under the
con stitution a President cannot be elected
for TWO succsss i've terms, but these men, it
appears. are trying to keep the Office be-
tween themselves. Gensr2l Caceres was
appointed Minister to France and England
by BsrmudeZ and has returned with the
well-6efined purpose of controlling Con-
gress This budy was to meet July IS, and
he supposition was that the opposition
party, known as the Civillsts, would have
a heavy u jorlty.
Congress Is the final judge of elections,
-a1d the party which controls Congress is
morally certain Of choosing the President t.,
even If tko majority of the populace had
voted otherwise.
General Caceres has fine record. He
was soldier in the Peruvian army that
the ChlieanS ten years ago could not de-
feat. Personally he IS brave and has
splendid Qualltie. as a political and mill
raIy leader. Hs rese from poverty to
wealth and he has a large person al follow
ing. He has the power to organize a
formidable movement. and in the present
weak financial condition Of the republic he
will De urged TO revolution if he IS not
elected himself. The leaders Of the Civil
ists are DR.. Rasa:. who was candidate
for President In 1890. DR.. Valcarcel, who
was Minister of Government, and Cau-
damo. President OF the Senate. If the
Civiiists via in The elections next spring
one OF these three IS likely to be chosen
President.
There is an undercurrent OF feeling that
General Caccres IS too powerful man TO
remain quiet, and if the elections 20
against him il is supposed he will 10 some
thing which may disturb the peace of the
republic.
With reference TO the provinces of Tacna
aud africa, which were ceded for ten years
TO Chile at the close of the last war. the
impression prevails that they will fall to
Chile. Under the peace treaty signed al
Aucon ia 1888 the residents of those
provinces we're to choose by ballot whether
they should remain attached to Chile OF
return TO Peru. Time for election is nea,
at hand. but no proclamation for holding
&c has yet been issued. The treaty pro-
vides that the nation to which possession
$4,000, 900. Tho impression prevails thai
Chile will secure the two provinces fol
several reasons. First, Chile will be able
10 pay the sun stipulated with ease. She
is receiving large revenue every month
from the nitrate beds ana her finances,
apart from this. STEADY increase. are III
good shape. Pere is poor and would find
home or abroad. Beaidas. Chilean capital
controls the Industries OF Tacna and
africa and large numbers of Chilean
labererE are employed there. SO, IL Chile
desires permanent possession of the prov
inGes it is in her way easily to secure them
and there appears no reason why she
should surrender the valuable territory.
This is about the way the Peruvians view
the situation.
Psrn's bad financial condition is due
primarily TO the mpoverishnent caused
by the war eleven years ago and her in
ability to recuperate rapidly. Her imports
exceed her exports and her people have not
the vig0r which charscterizes the residents
of her neighbors of the north and the
south. The climate is against her. Then,
too. the depression OF silver and the general
stagnation of trade has had its effect
Asked about the prospect Of successfully
establishing 4 steamship line between San
Francisco and Calia0. Mr.. Hicks said he
believed such an enterprise could not
stand up against the opposition which
would be offered by the English, the
French. the Germsn and the South Ameri-
can steamship lines. The entire west
coast is more than we'll supplied now and
freiohtS from Liverpool have gone down
TO IS ton tie past year. while IS to $40 is
regarded as Z fair rate. San Francisco
might in he end establish trade relations.
but 1t could do so only at loss at the
start. he believed under no circumstances.
could Peru grant subsidy, though some
arrangement might be made with the