The evening times., 1899-11-04
FROM EXILE TO PRESIDENT.
How Colonel PandO Overthrow tn,
Government of Bolivia.
iFrom the New York Tribune.)

(From the New York Tribune.)
Col. Jose Manuel Pando, who has just
been elected President of Bolivia, won his
way to this office after having spent a con-
siderable part of his life in exile. Pando
is colonel of engineers by profession, but
a fighter by instinct He has been mixed
up in every revolution Bolivia has passed
through for yeaTs, and there have been
more than a few He was usually defeated,
but that appears to have had no depressing
effect upon his future career. He always
fought so long as his army held together
and when it became evident that he could
not hold out any longer he made his way
to the coast and escaped. As an exile he
has lived in Panama. Valparaiso. and Bue-
nos Ayres In all three of these cities there
are little colonies of exiles, so he did not
lack for company.
The excuse for the recent revolution.
which resulted in the complete defeat OF
the conservative party and Pando's elec-
tion to the Presidency, was supposed to be
a dispute regarding the location of the
seat of government; but as matter Of
fact was chiefly in the interest of the
insurgent leader.
In the days of the Spanish occupation
the capital Of the country was Sucre. an
old fashioned town away hack in the in
terror, which can be reached only afteS
nine days ride on muleback from La Paz.
The progressive element Of the country.
who are largely members OF the Liberal
party, objected to having the capital in
such remote part of the country. and, as
a result of their efforts some years ago a
law was passed permitting the President
and his ministers to reside elsewhere, and
authorizing the President to convoke Con-
gress wherever in his judgment was most
convenient.
Under this provisions the seat of govern
ment was moved to La Paz, although Sucre
is still the legitimate capital. Last winter
the conservative element, fearing the in
vasion, passed law requiring the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet to maintain the seat
of government permanently at Sucre.
DR.. AlonZo. the President, being a Con-
servative Immediately made preparations
to remove. the seat of government. Pando's
supporters, who had been waiting for q
cause to rise used this as an excuse to in
cite rebellion. The department of La
Paz was United in the opposition, and when
Pando took command of the insurgene
forces the liberal element throughout the
entire country rallied to his support. The
revoIutionists even took advantage of the
discomfort among the Indians to arm them
with rifles. There was considerable plum
dering and guerrilla warfare by both ar
mics, and the most horrible atrocities were
committed by the Indian allies Of the in
surgents- One man, Dane, superintend-
ent of mine, shot himself and his wife
and daughters rather than rely on the mer-
cy Of the Indians. To Pando's credit, It
may be said, when he heard Of these mas
sacres. he ordered thirty-fve Of the ring
leaders shot. The revolution ended in April
by a decisive battle near Oruro, Pando
with desperate courage and bold manoeuv-
ring, pluckfng victory out of defeat.
DIR. Bridgman. United States Minister to
Bolivia, who recently returned to his post
after vacation spent in New York. be-
lieves Colonel Pando will make strong
President.