The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-30
VAS LIKE Washington
Simon Bolivar the 0eliverer
of South America.
EVERYTHING FOR LIBERTY
And Nothing for Self--ShadoW
on His Name,
EVERYTHING FOR LIBERTY


Evening Post: During the past week, on
July "a, five of the South American re-
publics celebrated the anniversary of the
birth of Ell Liberator, Simon Bolivar. 1t
Is quite safe to warrant taking it for
granted that you are an American) that
even If you have heard the name before,
and even il you are cognizant Of the ex-
istence of the statue in Central park, you
know less Of that individuals history
than Of the least Of the heroes Of ancient
Greece or Rome.
hundred yards or so to the north of
the Eighty-first street entrance to the park
on the west side, at the very edge of the
reservation, there rises a beautifully
wooded knoll. on the top Of which. en-
circIed by a gravelled driveway, stands
the statue of Simon Bolivar. However
poor art 1t may or may not be, II is full
of action; and to one who knows the
story of the man II represents, 1t is not
difficult to conjure up in the minds eye
the small army which doubtless he is in
the act OF rallying some desperate deed.
He is heartles sand impatient checking
his eager horse an instant while with
outstretched sword he indicates duty to
some subordinate. He was no telescope"
general, this Bolivar, but one who al
ways set his followers an example of dar-
ing bravery. The inscriptions on the base
of the statue tell us that it is Bolivar,
and that it was presented to the city of
New York by the citizens of Venezuela
Simon Bolivar pronounced Bo-lee-var,
and not Bolivar. as the English tongue
usually makes iO has been termed the
Washington of South America; but he
did not need an example, though Wash
ington was the object of his reverent re-
gard and of his sincerest and greatest
admiration. The city Of Caracas has re-
membered and honored the regard the
LibeTator had for Washington. and in the
little Plaza Washington there stands a
statue Of the father of our country, which
IS annually adorned with flowers and
wreaths by the citizens of that capital
1t is a curious coincidence that in the
very year which saw the accomplishment
OF the independence of the North Ameri-
con colonies, and in which Washington
laid down the sword of victory, should
be born the man who was to take up and
WELD the libsrating blade for South
America. Simon Bolivar was born in the
city of Ca--cas IN Venezuela, July "a
1855, of parents possessed Of wealth an1
high social standing. His father, Don
Juan Vincente Bolivar, died in January,
1856. and his mother. Dona Maria de la
Conception Palacio y Solo. died when her
son had attained the age of 10.
In 1893 young Bolivar went to Madrid
to complete his education. visiting on his
10 "
in the Spanish capital but a short time
when he fell deeply and passionately in
love with Senorita Teresa Toro y Alayza;
and though at this time $500 he was but
II years of age, he obtained the permits
sion and sanction of the girls parents in
his suit. Then after paying short visit
II Paris. Bolivar returned to Madrid and
in the latter part of 1901 was married to
Teresa and embarked for La Guayra-
Ten month safer their arrival home In
Caracas. the young wife contracted yell
low fever and died. This early bereave-
ment in it's effects proved one of the most
important influences on the life OF the
future Ldberator. was wealthy land
81 had been his intention to settle down
quietly on his hacienda and devote him
self to the management of his patrimony
and the rearing Of a family. Instead, he
again took passage for Europe toward
the close of 1903, and after a short resi-
dence in Madrid went on to Paris. where
the lessons of the French and American
revolutions took root in his mind. Here,
also. he met one of the greatest travellers
America has ever known, Alexander Won
Humboldt. and the famous French scien-
fist. BonpIand. and the teachings of those
liberal-minded men found ready soil in
young Bolivar.
For the next few years he Travelled
about Europe. studying governments and
social conditions. In 1896 he returned TO
Caracas by way OF the United States,
visiting most of the important cities from
Boston to Charleston. s. c. BY the time
he reached home in Caracas. he was fully
and irrevocably convinced that liberty Is
the natural element OF man: and he did
not hesitate to sacrifice everything to the
rurthering &C this belief and for the Sc
ruring TO South America of independence.
Bolivar had inherited more than 100
slaves. and one Of his first acts on en-
tering public life was TO liberate them
ard embark his whole fortune In the
cause of independence. And be II said 10
his everlasting credit that when he died
he had not a peso OF public moneys In
his possession. though he had been at one
time and another the absolute ruler of all
The territory stretching from Caracas TO
Potosi.
Saace does not hermit the giving Of
even the raintest outline of the long years
of bloody struggling which swept over
South America during the first quarter
Of the present century-not always strus-
giles against the Spaniard. but devastat-
Ing civil strife as well-nor Of the deeds
Of heroissn which marked them. And.
through IL al. lin the northern provincesl,
Bolivar is found sJcadfastIy serving with
his great and varied talents the one abid-
lng cause-Iibcrty: either leading the pat
riot armies 10 victory or encouraging and
rallying them after defeat, or admins
srating affairs at the, heal % legislative
bodies with the greatest genius and pro-
bity
Perhaps one of the greatest trials that
zane to Bolivar was the result Of the
famous earthquake of March 6 1872. The
masses Of the people IN the Spanish col
paics were ignorant. bigOicd. highly
superstitious. and easily ruled by the
priesthood land when the earth swayed
and rocked and splt with those terrible
commissions on Holy Thursday, sending
The walls Of the buildings crashing down
upon them. so that more than z009 per-
sons persisted and Caracas and four other
cities lay In ruins. Il Gid not take the
loyallst priests long to see their oppor-
tInity and IN score their point. From
The pulpits they preached that the earth
quake was the sign Of the Lords anger
tnwaris q pennle who had sinned so