The times., 1899-09-03
Latin America.


deals with the struggle for freedom which
took place in these lands nearly a hundred
years ago. The full title Of the book is
South America: a Popular Illustrated
History OF the Struggle for Liberty in the
Andean Republics and Cuba" The au-
thor is well known as a writer Of historical
works more or less adapted to children,
and some of his books are certainly worth
the attention of older people.
Mr.. Butterworth is Of the opinion that
South America has a future. OF late it
has been tacitly understood that when any
one talked about "America" he did not
mean anything outside the United States
There was q time when South Americans
were better known in England and on the
Continent than were the inhabitants OF this
country, and some amusing mistakes were
made by well-meaning entertainers OF
globe-trotters in consequence Of this i'm
preston But later the American OF the
United States pushed his way to the front,
and nowadays when one speaks OF the
American character in England, it is gen.
orally supposed TO be that variety OF the
Anglo Saxon, tempered with an admiXture
of the Celt and the Gaul, which has de-
Neloped the resources Of our own country
and made il what it is.
Be that as il may, there is no real reason
why. in the coming years, South America
should not become far more important than
II is now This is what the author OF the
history now under consideration has 10
say about it:
Al English poet Of prophetic gifts is recorded
as saving that in the progressive development
OF America, South America, or the iabie-iand
Of the Andes was not unlikely 10 become the
theatre Of great achievements, an opinion also
shared by the author Of Social Evolution Ii
Is objected 10 this that much Of South America
Is tropical and that the lands Of the sun are
the degrlOumeut Of the virtues
and arts Of peace. But ont OF nearly such con-
dtions OF mingled temperate and tropical climates
came the poems OF Job and Homer, the arts OF
Egypt, and the sacred literature whose prlncl-
piles govern the conscience Of the world
He might have added that the ancient
Inhabitants of Peru and Mexico had civil
ization and a mechanical aptitude which
are not TO be despised. The author further
says:
The immigration Of the Eastern World 10 South
America is becoming great that already this
eastern movement across the placid seas Of the
equator is laying the foundation Of new Latin
under the peaks Of Tupungato, Aconcsgua,
Iliimani, and ChimboTazo. The purple empire
that England lost resourceful Argentina, ex-
tends her ports and ultiplies her cities, in which
float the flags OF Italy, Germany, England, and
the East. BueBos Ayres has now population OF
nearly seven hundred thousand souls. and may
number nearly q million al the close Of the cen
tury.
There Is an immense amount of literary
material for the historian IN the records
OF the growth of South American ciyiliza-
tion. AT the beginning all of South Amer
lea was, according TO this account,
viceroyalty Of Spain. there being one
viceroy, who dwelt in Lima. II was dis
covered by PinZon, an explorer in the SER
vice of Columbus, just four hundred years
ago. A year later a Portuguese captain
took possession of the land in the name OF
his king; Rio Janeiro was founded in 1867,
and though the Spanish made attempts to
claim the country, the Portuguese seem TO
have held TO their colony without much
difficulty.
MI Butterworth sketches the history OF
Tupac Amaru, the Inca reyolutionist and
tells some picturesque stories OF the do
minion OF the Incas. From his account
the ancient Peruvian government would
seem TO have been, like that OF the ancient
Hsndus, remarkably weli-arranged just
and benefcent one. The country was rich,
and ii was so managed that all should en-
joy its natural resources. Every one
knows the story Of the Spanish dominion.
From the time Of PiZarro the Spanish
American colonies were made simply mines
TO be worked for the advantage of their
owners, and Peru and two or three other
South American countries, being particu-
larly rich, suffered even more than the
rest. This sort OF thing naturally created
revolutionists. The first was Tupac
Amaru. and he was tortured to death in
the public square Of CuZco, having first
Witnessed the torture of his uncle, his wife,
and his son. This was in 17s1 and the
story Of the torture reads like an incident
OF the Inquisition.
The second knight errant Of liberty in
souk America was Francisco Miranda
(1g56-ISl6} He was rich, and gave his
property 10 the cause OF liberty; he wan
dered over Europe, working always for one
thing-South American independence. He
was one OF those who can plan, but not ex-
ecute, and he met death by hanging, in
Cartagena.
The next chapter deals with the rule OF
Joseph BOnaparte, made King Of Spain
and The Indies for brief period. Then
comes the record Of the Washington of
South America, Simon Bolivar. The char
acter OF Bolivar is that Of a hero, but q
Latin hero-eXtravagant In language
sometimes hasty IN action, not too reluc-
liant 20 quarrel with those who had been
his comrades. The death of the old rev.
olUtionist and general, Miranda, was due
20 one Of these disagreements, each be-
lieFing the other to be a traitor. For all
that, the South American leader is heroic
figure, and his life as here recorded is fun
OF picturesque incidents. One OF the most
Characteristic occurred in Caracas, shortly
after the great earthquake, In which ten
thousand lives were lost. This calamity
fell upon the people while Bolivar's lead
ership was not yet entirely secure, and his
enemies sought TO convince the ignorant
and easily excited populace that II had
come as q judgment on them for support
ing the revolutionary party. At this criti-
cal point Bolivar showed the power OF his
personality. He was foremost IN the wo k
OF rescue. He was found in the Church Of
San Jacinto in the early evening OF the
day OF the earthquake, directing those who
were engaged IN this task, and this is what
he had 10 say:
II nature opposes herself, we viii wrestIe with
her and compel her 10 obey.
These are brave words TO have been
spoken ia Latin country, among a people
half wild with fear and superstitious
frenzy, more than seventy-fVe years ago.
Still more impressive are his words, ad-
dressed just after a victory, to the PEOPLE
Of Colombia:
This war shall not be war Of death. or even
Of rigor; IL snail be a sanctided crusade We
SHAH fight 10 cisann, not 10 exterminate our
enemy.
II is characteristic Of the Latin Ameri-
can, as OF the Latin, TO 20 TO extremes.
II be is patriotic, his life is a sort of pas
sion OF patriotism. If he is a traitor, no
considerations hold him back Boliyars
devotion to the cause OF his country arose,
IL lis said, from the death of his wife.
HIS ardent nature felt the need OF some
thing which should claim his whole being.
and be says OF himself that had he not
met with this affection, he would probably
have lived the ordinary commonplace life.
San Martin. The liberator OF Argentina and
the Ande2n Republics, shows this absolute