The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
A SOUTHERN REPUBLIC.
Bankrupt Financially and Rotten Politi
cally-Where the Incas Once Dwelt.

Especial Correspondence
| CALLAo. Peru, Dec 2l.-This republic Is
| in the midst of her canvass for the presi-
dency, an event that comes round here, as
at home, once in four years. The Peruvian
constitution of 1856 amended in 1860, is in
| considerable part modelled upon that of the
United States. Peru. however, chooses two
vice presidents, and the method of electing
the houses OF congress differs from that of
the United States When one remembers
that Peru is bankrupt finan ally and rotten
politically, still weak from her disastrous
conflict with Chill and at best land of
only $500, 600 to 5000, GOO inhabitants, more
than onetenth of whom are unciyiiized In
dians and most of the remainder ignorant
persons of Indian or mixed blood, her MIN
icry of free institutions would be laughable
were it not pitiful. DR.. Valcarcia and Gen
eral Caceres are the opposing candidates for
the presidency, and the canvass Is hot. If
the names could be changed, the whole can
vasS might be transferred TO the United
States. There are the same party cries, the
same professions of fidelity TO country and
principles, the same appeals to patriotism
and public spirit. The newspapers are full
of IL all. and everybody is demanding with
shrieks free ballot and fair count
One interesting feature of the e-canvass is
the seemingly endless succession of break
fasts. dinners and receptions to the candi-
dates. These give an opportunity for speech
making handshaking and much political
manipulation. A break fast in Lima, as in
most considerable South American cities,
is an affair Of moment-a thing for which
business is suspended perhaps for hours at
midday. 1t is peculiarly suitable feast
for the purposes of the politician.
One sees here and there in Peru a hint Of
what the country might be with an indus
tTious population living under u settled and
we'll ordered government. The land is poor
beyond belief, but wherever water is sup
piled there the earth bursts into millions OF
flowers. The abundance OF brilliant bios
SONS in the irrigated districts is marvel
Gus. They grow a. do wheat, corn and po-
tatoes on a well managed farm IN the United
States. They fairly carpet the ground.
Without irrigation the land Is a desert.
Remember il has not rained here in a gen
Grafton. No native talks about the weather.
because it is unchanged the year round
the same cloudless blue sky the same even,
moderate temperature. With a proper sys-
TEN of irrigation the whole 500 go square
miles Of Peru save 80 much a. lies upon
the mountain tops and perhaps an area OF
true desert on the coast. could be a garden
instead Of the dreary waste IL for the most
part now is. In the days of the Incss Peru
bioomed clear to the snow line OF her great
mountains. The industrious PsTnyians IN
der that paternsi socialism terTaced and
cultivated the mountain sides to the height
Of 10oJo feet so steep were some Of the
cultivated slopes that the terraces could be
only three or four feet wide. Now Eloth and
indifference have left the land 20 its natural
condition Of drought. and for miles che
travels through a seeming desert. Here aud
there smiling garden SHOWS what ali
might be.
Curiously enough. several European coun-
tries, notably Great Britain and France,
think it worth while 70 maintain here
trained diplomatic representative. Great
Britain has narOnet. who is also q h. G.
VI. g. while France has an old diplomat
who has seen service IN several Europesn
countries and al Washington His secfe-
tary Of legation is A mar Of dozen years
IN diplomacy. The contrast be
tween the trained diplomats that represent
Europe in Spanisb-Ameficau countries aud /,
the inexperienced ministers commonly seut I
cut by the United state IS thing taas /
astonishes travelling Americans
EDwkgD HAEgTs