Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-01

kind, including the brutal killing of cd
men. women and children, detailing the
poisoning of the water and food, the blow
ing up of the soldiers quarters, the ArSen-
tines declared their independence. They
soon succeeded in establishing it. and they
then crossed the mountains 10 give freedom
to Chile.
Two South American Heroes.
The man who lead this revolution was
Gen. San Martin. He had the place in
lower South America that Bolivar had in
the north, and he was equally noble
character. Born in the Argentine, me was
educated in Europe. He served there in
the Spanish army and at the age of twenty
was fighting Moors in Africa. After he
returned to South America he became the
commander of the army and was in charge
of 1t on that march over the Andes to
Chile. This expedition was a greater one
than that of Napoleon over the Alps into
Italy. 1t was successful, although it lasted
for some time and included a number of
battles. Having freed Chile, San Martin
went north and aided in the freedom OF
Peru, himself and Bolivar meeting in ISL
at GCayaquil.
There is no doubt as to the honesty of
these two men. Either could have been
rich beyond the dreams of avarice, but each
died poor. Chile offered to make San Mar
tin Il presen, of 10000 ounces of gold,
about s2O0,OOo, but he refused it. After the
struggle was over he left the Argentine for
Europe. having with him only $1,000. He
died there after years of poverty and
neglect.
1t was through Bolivar that Bolivia be-
came an independent nation. The new coun-
try was called Bolivia after Bolivar. and it's
assembly voted him 81 900 900. Bolivar
cepted the gift only the condition that
the money should be used for the emancipa-
ton of the slaves of Bolivia. The congress
of Lima elected him perpetual dictator, and
he was later on made president of Colom-
bia. He serves several terms and then re-
signed from public life.
Notwithstanding his resignation, he was
Reelected, but the opposition party which
controlled congress voted to accept his res
ignation and to give him pension of 5000
| a year on condition that he would live
abroad. He started for Caracas with the
intention of going to England, but died be-
| fore he left Venezuela. He was much hurt
by this congressional action, and the slight
| is said to have fastened his death. His
last words were: My wishes are for the
happiness of the people. If my death should
unite them 1 will go to the tomb content
yes, to the tomb! The people send me
there, but 1 forgive them"
south American Politics.
I am often asked as to the honesty of
South American politics and whether It Is
true that the republics are republics only
in name. The questions are hard to an
swer. In most of the countries there Is no
political liberty such as We have and men
like Bolivar and San Martin are few
The families of the rich control the re-
public of Peru. The common people have
no rights that the politicians are bound to
stealing in high places In Chile about 200
families manage the politics and govern
ment. They practically own the country
| they control the elections and put up and
! put down whom they please. There are IL
Is true, two parties, but the leaders belong
| TO these families and the members of the
families get the fat Offices.
1t is not far different in the Argentine re-
public The ordinary citizen knows that it
would be foolish to go to the polls Buenos
Ayres Is a city of 100000 people. During nv
stay there there was an election and only
10000 votes were cast. There should have
been something like 200 900 The men who
Cwn the lands usually vote their employees
as they please, and managers of the cleo
tons decide how many votes each candi-
date is to have before the votes are put into
the ballot boxes.
II is the same In Uruguay and Paraguay
and not very much different in Brazil.
The President of Brazil.
During my stay in Rio I met the new
President of Brazil His name is Campo
Sales and he is man of much more than
ordinary ability He came into prominence
some years ago at the time they We're talk
J ing of the emancipation of slaves
| gradual liberation had been planned.
| but Campo Sales got up in the con-
vention and said that he thought the
slaves should be freed there and then
| and fOr him he proposed to liberate his
at once. The speech created sensation
| and resulted soon after in the emancipation
| OF the slaves. President Campo SALES is. |
| judge. about fifty years Of age. He is a
| brisht-eyed, dark-faced man of medium
| height and good appearance. He is well
| educated. has Travelled widely and Is a man
OF practical business judgment and ideas.
| l am told he is making a good president.
| Among the eXcitements of the average
| South American Fourth of July are the
F., revolutions. The people often choose the
anniversary of their Independence as the
| day for changing rulers and the opposition
| party captures the army and marches with
| II to the executive mansion and demands
| a change In the government. There is
often firing. and now and then a president
! Is killed. 1t was only a couple of years
! ago that President Borda of Uruguay was
| shot by an assassin when he was coming
out or the cathedral after such celebra-
| ton. There was an attempt to assassinate
| the former president. Moraes of Brazil and
| Alfaro, the president of Ecuador has been
assaulted several times by those who hoped
| to kill him.
| The man who is now president of Peru
got there through revolution. and the pres
1dent OF Uruguay holds to his position
largely through the Calling guns on his
roof. The night before a great holiday is
| always an unreStful one to a South Ameri-
can president. He knows that when day
! breaks the streets will be filled with ex-
cttabie people. and he does not know what
| the conspirators of the opposing party have
| planned for the occasion.
| What They Think OF Us.
| Since my return from South America I
| have been frequently asked how the South
Americans regard the people of the United
| States. My answer is that they both ad-
| mire and fear us. The war with Spain was
| a great eye-opener to them. They rather
| thought that the Spaniards were stronger
| than We. After the battle at Manila they
/ changed their expressions Of contempt to
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