The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24
SOME NEW BOOKS.
South America.

work compiled from the original sources OF author.
ity By an anonymous Spanish-Amorcan, and
purporting TO set forth The H1torv Of South Am
erica from It, Dttcoperv to the Present TINE (Mao-
millans). Tho title IL misleading 70 this extent
thattho narrative carries only TO the early seven
ties. and. therefore tells nothing about the
war between Chill and Peru about tho substitution
Of republic for monarchy in Brazil. about tho
civil war In Chill. or about any OF tho revolutions
which have taken place In other South American
Countries during Che last quarter OF q century.
On the other hand. the story of Spanish conquest
and settlement In South America has been better
reoounted In tho pages Of Robertson and Pres
colt With regard. however TO the six decades
succeeding tho hrst attempts to gain doliveIanoe
from Spanish rule. this book meets q want which,
90 far we know, Is not supplied by any other
Engiish publication Especially interesting will
DO found tho chapters dealing with tho United
states Of Colombia. with the United States Of
venezuola. with tho Republic Of Ecuador and
with Bolivia and Paraguay.
i.
In the chapter on Colombia, attention Ia direct
Cd 70 the remarkable strategic and commercial
advantages OF this confederation, which has
an extended coast both on the Caribbean Sea
and ON the Pacific Ocean. Only a network OF
railways connecting tho two coasts with each
other and with tho interior is needed to develop
che ysst resources of the county. Few Amori-
cans ere alive TO the prospective significance
Of tho fact that although at present Colombia
contains only about three million inhabitants
IL area exceeds Eve hundred thousand square
miles. OF, In other words. Is moro than double
that OF Spain and Portugal The greater part
Of this territory possesses a healthy climate and
. we'll watered and fertile SOIL In which at
tho elevations respectively suited TO them. all
kinds Of cereals fruits, roots, plants and vcge-
tables grow spontaneously or can be cultivated
Cacao, indigo, cotton, vanilla, tobacco and sugar
are gathered In abundance; tho woods most do
sired for cabinet work. and even dyewoods bal
sams resins and caoutchouc are plentiful In its
virgin forests, while the shores 70 be found
pearls, mother OF pearl and shells From tho
Cordillera Of the Andes, which Families tho
whole region. are TO be procured gold, platinum.
silver. lead iron. copper porphyry, marble grind
stones coal. salt and precious stonea The State
OF Cundinamarca, whose capital Bogota, Is also
that Of the confederation yields the largest amount
OF gold Near the village OF Muzo is one Of tho
richest emerald mines known; the stones from
these mines known all over the world under
tho commercial name OF Peruvian emeralds"
Bogota, situated on the left bank OF the river Of
the Same name. is described by the author OF this
book as q beautiful and spacious city contain
ing not far from 100000 inhabitants. All OF
It's squares are adorned with fountains there
many magnificent houses and five fine bridges
there arc. also. remarkable cathedral
Economical observatory. the most elevated in
existence, and the first to be erected in inter tro-
pical regions a museum Of natural history. a
school Of medicine botanical garden. library
OF more than 10. 900 volumes, academy model
led on that Of Madrid, three colleges for men and
ono for women seminary, four hospitals, thea
ire, mint and parliament house. built in 1871.
Cartagena, the chief fortress OF Colombia. is the
ordinary station Of the confederacy's war vessels
Tho trade OF the city is considerable. especially
In all kinds OF metals The town. however, with
Its wide and straight but sombre streets, its
tonsivo ooonnades, supported by low. heavy
columns and the fiat roofs that project over tho
fronts Of the houses have something of the gloomy
aspect Of a oloister. The inhabitants. flying from
tho excessive heat and the sickness that prevails
during tho summer, take refuge in Turbaco. an
Indian town situated in the interior OF the country
II Is noteworthy that more than third OF the pop
ulation Of tho United States of Colombia white
and that at least sixth are civilized Indians or
half-broods Almost all the rest arc uncivilized
Indians, the number of negroes being relatively
small According TO our author, the Colombans
arc extremely affable hospitable. dsinterested
and courageous Their love Of liberty Is intense:
to conquer and preserve it, they have shown them
were compelled to struggle for the space OF fifty
years to attain the order of things that they now
enjoy. and to overcome what long seemed the
insuperable distractions TO civil and religious
freedom raised by despotism and superstition.
Tho contest between the clergy and the civil power
In this confederacy was supposed to be ended In
1874. whom the Archbishop OF Bogota forbade
eccesiastics to interfere with politics. The present
political institutions are liberal and phanthropic.
Tho Colomblans have abolished the penalty OF
death and imprisonment for crime never xceeds ten
years. The organization Of their penitcntiary esab
hshments aims at the moral and material improve
ment Of the prisoners No titles of nobility and
no distinctions not based upon merit are recog-
niled. Industry has been relieved from all tram
mels and impediments. Tho right OF public
meeting Is unlimited and the press is really free.
Slavery has been long abolished and is not toler-
atod under any guise. which cannot be said OF
certain other Spanish American countries The
converts have been suppressed. and the State has
taken their property Education is secular and
grotuitous Passports are abolished We OBJ
servo finally, that under the Constitution. tho
small standing army can be recruited only by
voluntary enlistment There seems to be. in a
word. no doubt that Colombia 10 TO DO called upon
TO al al distant date one OF the first positions
among ths nations OF South America.
II.
The United States OF Venezuela constitute an
other example OF a confederation Tho Federal
Constitution is modelled on the Constitution Of
Switzerland rather than on that OF tho United
States Of North America Tho legislative author
tty 10 vested In Congress OF two houses first Sen
alto Of "a members each Of the eight State Legisla-
lures electing 3; and secondly. Chamber Of Depu-
ties ono being chosen for every So 600
and ono more for an excess Of Is, 900. The execu-