Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-09
Argentina to Celebrate HeI
Centennial Anniversary.
GIANT STRIDES AS NATION
Progress and Development Second
Only to the United States.
THREE GREAT ExP0SITI0Ns
Statue to Be Erected at Buenos
Aires Will Welcome ALI Men to
Peace and Liberty.
BY WILLIAM T.. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The most important events connected
with the independence of the Argentine
Republic occurred OH the 18th of May.
1919 and the 9th of July 1916 The CEN
tennial anniversary of the former is to
be appropriately celebrated at Buenos
Aires next year by series of exposi
items. a meeting of the fourth internation-
al American conference, which was prev
iously held in Washington. Mexico and
Rio de Janeiro. and the dedication of
several monuments. The president of the
republic has recommended a statue of
liberty to stand at the entrance of the
new port of Buenos Aires with the fol-
lowing inscription
Peace and Liberty to All Men Who
Wish to Inhabit Argentine Soil
There will be commemorative monu-
ment erected in the principal park and
statues OF several heroes vho were iden-
titled with the movement for independence.
1t is proposed also to erect an artificial
mound, composed of earth from battle
fields where Argentine blood has been
spilled. to be crowned by an allegory OF
the patriotic army sowing the seeds of
liberty and harvesting the fruits of glory.
The president has also recommended the
erection of a national pantheon for the
reception of the ashes of the great men
Of the country.
Two of the eXpositions are to be inter
national, the third national, all in the
same district. held simultaneously, and
they will constitute the most important
features of the celebration of the CEN
tenary.
The international railway and land
transport exposition will be devoted en-
tirely. TO that branch Of industry and
| a1,,1A Isvarx nf,,s,,
motion from a bicycle or a burro to
great competition of airships.
The second exposition will be for agri-
culture and live stock, and exhibits are
coming from all over the world.
The third exposition Is to be devoted
to an illustration of the industrial prog
ress of the country during the first 100
years of its independent existence.
The Declaration of Independence.
About one hundred years ago a French
brig arrived at Buenos Aires. having on
board an envoy from Napoleon Bonaparte
bearing dispatches to the Spanish viceroy
announcing his subjugation of Spain and
assuming authority over the Spanish
American colonies The viceroy was in
clined TO support the pretensions of Bona
parte. but, knowing that the people would
never permit the transfer of their col
ony to France, reminded them in a proc
lamatiOn of the Indifference they had
shown in the war for the succession TO
the crown of Spain. assured them of the
high opinion Napoleon entertained for
them, and exhorted them to preserve pub
lie tranquility until they could see what
the future would bring forth.
While the masses showed only a slight
interest in the situation. a group of pa
triOts distinguished for their intelligence
and ability perceived that the time had
arrived to break the chains that had SO
long enslaved their country. Secret
meetings were held at the ranch of Senior
Casteli, one OF the leading lawyers of
the country. and when the Spanish vice
roy. Cisneros. minated a doubt as TO his
cwn authority the junta acted promptly
and took possession of the government.
Provisional officials assumed the respOn-
siolity until popular elections were held,
and a congress of delegates from the La
Plata provinces, as the Argentine territory
was then known, was called. In due time
this congress met in the city of Tucuman
and on the 9th OF July 1916 issued
declaration of independence from Spain.
Nine years later that declaration became
fact.
The 18th of May. 1910. will be celebrates
as the birthday of the republic as the
one-hundredth anniversary of the date
when the patriots of Buenos Aires COM
PEELED the las; of the Spanish viceroys to
resign. and established the first republican
Independent government.
There has been as much progress COM
paratively speaking, in the Argentine Re-
public during the century that has passed
as there was during the similar period in
the history of the United States. / have
little volume. published i'm 1926 the year
after independence was finally achieved.
giving THE History and Present State of
the United Provinces OF Rio de la Plata"
which may be profitably read in connec-
ton with the late message Of Presi-
dent Aicorta. in which he describes pres
ent conditions and the prosperity of his
people.
Early Resources Described.
This little book, after describing the