The times., 1898-04-24

his bdth y Juntd OF the leaQlQG Cltl-
zens of the capital was summoned. and
the post of supreme dictator of Chile
was offered him. He declined it. and
nominated Bernardo O'Higgins, a native
of Chile and highly esteemed, not only
for his own merits. but by reason of the
popularity of his father.
1t cannot be said that San Martin ac-
complished the liberation of Chile by the
capture of Santiago for the Spaniards
held Naidivia, much stronger place
for three years longer. until indeed it
was captured by Lord Cochrane in the
first week OF February, 1920 but the pos
session of the capital city by the insur-
gents was vast moral advantage At
the time of San Martins victory Bolivar
IN Venezuela was in hourishing circum-
stances Guiana had been converted to
the side of independence by man of
color named Piar. and on the very day
of San Martins entrance into Santiago
Bolivar defeated Merillo at Barcelona,
and provincial council was held ar An
gostura, which acted on the theory that
the Spaniards would not longer cumber
the state
In Peru, however, the foreigner was
still dominant, and the reader will re-
member that at the beginning of this
century Peru was more important
division of South America than Chile
and Lima, greater city than Valparai-
so. San Martin felt that his task was
only half accomplished so long as Peru
remained in Spanish hands. 1t was OBJ
vious TO him that the possession of Lima
and of its seaport. Callao, would depend
on control of the sea. and he bestirred
himself to create a navy for the ChiIeans.
He induced them TO buy the old East
lndiamen, which were converted into
fighting ships, an old English corvette
and three brigs. Besides Lord Cochraue.
who was chief admiral he secured the
services of Capt. Martin Guise. late of
the British navy; Capt. Forster, also
an Englishmau; Major Miller. an English
marine. and Capt. Norster, an American.
The admiral hoisted his flag on the
o'Higgins, and the squadron sailed for
Callao in January, 1918
The Spanish fleet. which lay under the
guns of Callao Castle. consisted of the
Esmeralda, a forty-four-gun frigate; the
Venganza and the Sebastiana. smaller
frigates; three brigs, six armed mer-
chantmen and a few gunboats After
several Intellectual attacks Lord COch-
rane resolved to cut out the Esmeralda
and on the dark night of November 3
1876 he moved against her with $50 blue
jackets and 100 marines in fourteen
boats. The attack was perfectly sue
cessful- Cochrane boarded the Span
lard on one side. Guise on the other and
made themselves masters of the vessel
with a loss of only fifty men. They
took her out of the harbor and added
her to their squadron. In the meantime
San Martin who had pressed several
transports into service, landed n body
of infantry and horse seventy miles
north of Lima. and threatened the city
from that side.
The Spanish General Vezuela had un-
der his orders an army of $4,000 men,
|.
co, Callao, Arequipa and Carsca- But
his officers We're disafected. They
questioned his ability. and after much
quarrel they insisted on his resignation
His successor had no disposition to con-
tinue the struggle, and, without firing a
shot, San Martin entered Lima on July
2S. 1921, nine weeks before Iturbide pro
claimed the independence of Mexico and
a few months before Bolivar obtained
the assent of the Colombian congress to
an expedition against Quito. He has
tened to proclaim the independence of
Peru. and accepted the title of protector
But all of San Martin was pure patrioe.
He discerned distinctly that the Spanish
colonies must make common cause
against the common enemy and that
there was not room for himself and Boil
var in the same sphere of action. One of
them must retire, and he resolved to be
Guayaquil, after a decisive victory at
Quito. San Martin hastened to meet him
there. What passed between the two
generals has never transpired. But BoIi-
var remained at the head of the army,
while San Martin returned TO Lima and
issued a farewell address.
On San Martins departure, Bolivar was
chosen dictator of Peru. A new state,
comprising the upper provinces of Peru.
was created under the name of Bolivia
and he was made perpetual protector of
that He was also preident of Colombia,
and the congress of that state refused to
accept his resignation. The administra-
tion of Venezuela was in the hands of
Vice President PaeZ. but he took his or
ders from Bolivar. Thus all the northern
portion of South America was under the
control of one man, and the control was
despotic. Such an arrangement was GER
tain to lead to intrigues and uprisings.
/ Occasionally the fermentation led 10
armed collisions; but Bolivar generally
met his enemies with offers of resigna-
ton, which the various congresses de-
clined to accept. This anomalous con-