The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-15
A SOUTHERN REPUBLIC.
bankrupt Financially and Rotten Politi-
cally-Whsro the Incas Once Dwelt.

cally-Whsre the Ineas Once Dwolt.
Especial Correspondenoel
CALLAo, Peru, Dec. 2l.-This republic Is
I'm the midst Of her canvass for the presi-
dency, an event that comes round here, NJ
al home, once In four years. The Peruvian
constitution Of 1852, amended In 1850, 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 Chill and at best q land Of
only 2.50O,000 TO 100000 inhabitants, more
than onetenth OF whom are uncivilized In
dians and most OF the remainder ignorant
persons Of Indian or mixed blood, her MIN
icry Of free institutions would be laughable
were IL not pitiful. DIR. Valcarcia and Gen
eral Caceres are the opposing candidates for
the presidency, aud the canvass Is hot. II
the NAMES could be changed, the whole can
vass might be transferred 20 the United
States. There are the same party cries, the
same professions Of fidelity 20 country and
principles, the same appeals 20 patriotism
and public split The newspapers are full
OF IL 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
fasts, dinners and receptions 20 the candi-
dates. These give an opportunity for speech
making, Handwriting 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. II Is "A peculiarly suitable feast
for the purposes Of the politician.
One sees here and there in Peru hint OF
what the country might be with an indus
trious population living under a settled and
well 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 as 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 desert.
Remember, IL bias not rained here in a gem
Grafton. No native talks about the weather.
because il is unchanged the year round
the same cloudless blue sky, the same even,
moderate temperature. With proper sys-
tenn of irrigation the whole 10000 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 a garden
instead Of the dreary waste it for the most
part now is. In the days Of the lncas, Peru
blOomed clear to the snow line Of her great
mountains The industrious Peruvians I'M
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 its natural
condition of drought, and for miles one
travels through a 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 10 maintain here
trained diplomatic representatives. Great
Britain has a baronet, who is also X. C..
NJ. 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 a 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.