The Lamar register., 1904-07-20
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| Republics Now in Harmony

Especial Correspondence

The traveller of to-day. as he crosses
the mountains between the Argentine
Republic and Chilli her neighbor on
the western slope of the Andes, be-
holds as he looks up beyond the road
on which he travels single statue of
the Christ, which towers from its
pedestal in the form of a globe SYM
bolical-this mass of bronze resting
on a pinnacle of a high mountain on
the old line of demarcation. What
does 1t signify? The simple testi-
m1ny to the whole world that two OF
the most progressive of the South
American republics have decided. after
many years of differences, regarding
first as to whom belonged the rights
of the land bordering on the straits OF
Magellan and again as to the true
limits of the boundary line between
the two countries, have become as
one nation. upholding the same insti-
fuSions. respecting the same laws and
promising to live up to the same
ideals. with feeling of justice
toward each other which brooks 40 in
reference.
For many years the old feuds OF
newed. and within the last six years
twice have these two sister republics
been on the verge of bloody conflict.
which only the most delicate diplo-
macy was able to avert. In the Ma
gellan affair and boundary lines with
Patagonia. the late Queen Victoria
was successful in arbitrating the ques-
ton satisfactorily; and in this last in
stance of strained relations King Ed
ward was the successful mediator.
Pitiful do we consider these feelings
of jealousy and greed. in the same way
that we deplore family differences:
the feeling which Chill should always
have preserved is that of gratitude
such as of the child toward the par
ent. of the benefited toward the bene-
factor. II was Gen. San Martin, the
great Argentine. a strong and honor
able officer. who had formerly taken
part in numerous battles against Ma
poleon's army. and who was governor
of Mendoza at the time of the arrival
of the Gillian Gen. O'Higgins at that
town to which he had fled after the
defeat at Rancagua QS16) in battle
with the Spaniards. who inspired the
almost discouraged Chilian liberator
to further action. In fact. 1t was
through the efforts of Gen. San Martin
that the Yorktown of Chilian inde-
pendence was fought on April ISIS,
on the field of Maipu. and Spanish au-
fhority in the colony overthrown.
The knowledge of all this made
what looked four years ago to be war
Inevitable all the more to be deplored
Nd fuh NJ n
pie of the two countries. But some
thing occurred about this time to
divert warlike intentions. and this also
at the very time when fratricidal
struggle seemed the only way of solv-
ing the difficulty; when the two coun-
tries seemed to harbor the bitterest
animosity, each arming itself to the
teeth with all the destructive inven-
tions of modern warfare. from record
breaking speed battleships TO rapid
firing field guns-a beautiful thread of
golden thought began to unwind itself
from the lips of that noble Argentine.
Monsenor Benavente. bishop of Cuyo.
This thread was caught up by another
fine soul. who for long time had un-
furled the banner of peace on the
western slopes of the Andes. Monsen-
or lara. bishop of Ancud-and what
seemed such slender little thread in
the beginning has been welded into
links in a chain which shall bind
these republics forever.
1t is barely one year ago that dur
ing the festivities in Buenos Ayres. a
large delegation. composed of the
mayor of the city, the heads of the
army and navy of both republics. and
members of the Christian Mothers
Association CMadres Christianas). the
latter headed by Sonora Gear de
Costa. wended its way to Locardaire
college. where in one of the court
yards the colossal bronze statue of
Christ the Redeemer. the work of the