The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24

SCUM, . library. vs'l-paved stssets and beautiful
fountains; the people are described - hospitabie.
and the women as especially attractive The
next most important towns are Tipuani. well
known for its gold mines, Potosi, and Cochabamba,
which may be termed the granary Of Bolivia
The political organization Of the country IL unique:
II stin retains the impress Of the hberator from
whom IL takes its name Every ten citizens ap-
point an eloctor whose authority lasts for four
yoaIG tho electors elect three Chambora That the
tribunes chosen for four years, has tho exclusive
privilege Of logislatine on the imposts peace and
war; the Senate which lasts eight years, watches
over the judicial tribunals and religion; the Cham
Der Of Consors whose members hold their seats
for life. has q political and moral power which
bears q certain likeness TO that exercised by the
Aroopagus Of Athens and the Censors Of Rome;
II 10 the guardian Of the Constitution and Of
the fulhllmont Of public treatiea The executive
power lie vested In President, who 10 elected for
life by tho three Chambers meeting in Joint session;
he 10 aided by q Vioe-Prcsident whom he appoints
his successor ex-ofacio His constitutional privi-
loges arc restricted to the nomination Of civil and
military ofioors; administrative functions are
delegated wholly 70 the Ministry which 10 respon-
siblo 70 the Sonata The judicial department enjoys
perfect Independence the members composing IL
being proposed by the people and chosen by the
Legislature
Tho area Of the Republic Of Uruguay 10 "a
1876 square milee. little moro than that Of
the State Of Missouri It's present estimated
population 10 100, 900. Of whom 17b, 900 arc massed
In tho city Of Montovideo II 10 the smallest
independent State In South America. but by
no means tho least important from tho Viewpoint
Of lie commercial TRANSACTIONS Up TO q recent
date It's history, from the time Of the upridng
against Spanish rule. has been one lone record
OF foreign invasions and intrigues and Of polit
Gal folly and cnmee Originally. the Banda
Oriental. as the district lying east OF the River
Plato was called. protested against tho insur-
rcctonary movement Of the provinces on tho west
OF that great river and intended 10 remain loyal
10 the mother country. II was not until 1914
that II fell into the hands Of tho Argentinea In
1921 tho Banda Oriental was partly subdued
by Brazil and Il was not until 1928 thu. lie in
dependence was acknowledged by It's powerful
neighbor on tho north. Even snce then II has
been the object Of frequent pretensions the part
Of Brazil and Of Argentina Tho principal In
dustry Of Uruguay Is tho breeding Of sheep and
cattle; more than 90 per cent Of the exports con-
sists Of livestock and their produce. Since tho
beginning Of the nineteenth century the value
OF tho exports and the imports has increased
twenty-fold. Tho foreign trade Of Montevideo
Is very important and increases yearly. Be-
sides hides and wool. the exports include tobacco
and ostrich feathers, while the principal imports
flour, textile fabrics and beverages Tho
climate, although severe In winter and In sum
mer sudocatngly hot, il very healthy: the city
had never been attacked by epidemic until
1887. when the yellow fever made great ravages
The proportion Of whites in tho population Of
Uruguay Ia nearly 80 per cent. owing to tho largo
oyrat NJ ali apd
Germans In Montevideo tho proportion Of
whites exceeds AZ per cent Tho streots Of tho capt.
tai city are broad and straight with good side
walks; the houses generally have but one story,
but they arc very commodious and Of good ap-
pearance There Is q large square, in which arc
the most imposing edi6ces including conspicu
ously town house, a cathedral and a prison.
Montevideo contains a university, q school Of
medicine and Of anatomy and many other
scientific and literary institutions The
Republic Of Uruguay gives great attention
to education; there Is no town, however
unimportant that has not at least ono primary
school in which tho instruction Is eratutous
From q political viewpoint We may note that
Legislative functions are vested In General
Assembly consisting Of two Chambers. Tho SEN
ate has eighteen members, ono for each depart
ment the 81 Deputies Of tho Lower House are elect
ed annually and directly by the people. The ex-
ecutve power Is exercised by President, who 10
chosen by tho General Assembly.
vi.
No South American community has had Q
moro remarkable history than has Paraguay.
The annals Of this isolated republic from the civ
ilizaton OF the natives by the Jesuits up TO tbs
close Of the disastrous war against Brazil. Argen
tina and Uruguay. will DO found recounted in
different chapters Of the book before US In 1907.
the Josuits who had settled in Paraguay and had.
practically made Of il principally Of their own.
expelled from all the Spanish possessions,
as they had been from the Portuguese some years
before. and all their goods were confscated. The
territory occupied by their reduccfoneS parishes
in Paraguay. had been coded by Spain TO Portu-
gal in 1850, although the latter did not assume
control OF them until eleven years afterward.
1t is admitted by the author who is no friend OF
the Jesuts that in order 10 recruit the personnel
of their missions. and TO attract the wandering
tribes, they almost always avoided the employment
Of force and gained their converts by persuasion.
Subsequently. Paraguay fell again under tho
rule OF SPAIN but In 1911. Il declared its indie
pendence Five years later q Congress. COM
posed for the most part OF supplemented men,
proclaimed jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia
supreme and perpetual dictator This man was
to make Paraguay feel for a quarter OF a century
inc WelBnt OF ono OF tno mOet SlHR uldr tyTdnnlcs
recorded by history. tyranny exercised over a
population trained to obedience by tho Jesuits,
ignorant OF arts and industries and possessed OF
only a rudimentary knowledge Of agriculture
Rodriguez dc Francia was then SO years DID, OF
medium stature. lean and vigorous. with black
and penetrating Dyes. His father. who was Of
French origin, had married in Paraguay. Tho
son. Rodriguez. had been destined, originally,
for ecclesiastical career and finished his studies
in tho Argentine university Of Cordova, but after
taking the degree Of doctor in Canon Law and the
CHAIR of Theology. no renowned orders and be-
came an advocate Always ready to defend the
weak against the strong and the poor against tho
rich, he was succcssively elected member Of tho
municipality, mayor. secretary of tho supreme
committee, consul and dictator
He carried into public life the Same diainterestod
ness that no had shown private citizen Al
ways economical with the public funds. he would
accept no more than 5000 Of the %. 900 which
the congress had assigned for his household ex-
penditures At the beginning Of his dictatorship
he went to MAS ovory day, but he soon ceased to
appear at church. and diHmiasod his chaplain.