Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-15
A SOUTHERN REPUBLIC.
Bankrupt Financially and Rotten Po1iti- cally-Where the Incas Once Dwelt.
 Especial Correspondence.1

| Bankrupt Financially and Rotten Po1iti- cally-Where the Incas Once Dwelt. Especial Correspondence.l
 CALLAo, Peru, Dec 21.-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 financially and rotten politically, still weak from her disastrous conflict with Chili and at best 8 land of only 2,500, ,000 to 5000, GOO inhabitants, more than one-tenth of whom are uncivilized h. dians and most of the remainder ignorant persons of Indian or mixed blood, her mim- icry of free institutions would be Imaginable 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 it all, and everybody is demanding with shrieks free ballot and a fair count.
 One interesting feature of the canvass is the seemingly endless succession of break lasts, dinners and receptions to the candi- dates. These give an opportunity for speech making, handshaking and much political manipulation. A breakfast 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. It is peculiarly suitable feast for ba of tha y1o1itioinn
 One sees here and there in Peru hint of what the country might be with an indus trious population living under 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 blos- sons in the irrigated districts is marvel ous. They grow as do wheat, corn and po- tatoes on well managed farm in the United States. They fairly carpet the ground. Without irrigation the land is desert. Remember, it bas not rained here in gen eration. No native talks about the weather, because it is unchanged the year round the same cloudless blue sky, the same even, moderate temperature. With q proper sys- tenn of irrigation the whole 5000 000 square miles of Peru, save so much as lies upon the mountain tops and perhaps an area of true desert on the coast, could be garden instead of the dreary waste it for the most part now is. In the days of the Incas, Peru bloomed clear to the snow line of her great mountains. The industrious Peruvians un- der that paternal socialism terraced and cultivated the mountain sides to the height of 10000 feet. So steep were some of the cultivated slopes that the terraces could be only three or four feet wide. Now sloth and indifference have left the land to it's natural condition of drought, and for miles one travels through seeming desert. Here and there a smiling garden shows what all might be.
 Curiously enough, several European coun- tries, notably Great Britain and France, think it worth while to maintain here trained diplomatic representatives. Great Britain has a baronet, who is also K. c. M. G, while France has an old diplomat who has seen service in several European countries and at Washington. His secre- tary of legation is a man of dozen years experience in diplomacy. The contrast be- tween the trained diplomats that represent Europe in Spanish American countries and the inexperienced ministers commonly sent out by the United States is a thing that astonishes travelling Americans.
 EDWARD HARRIS.