The Washington herald., 1909-04-18

There used to be a joke on the vaude-
VILE stage that seldom failed 10 bring a
laugh. Two men are making bet.
Who'll hold the money! asks one.
Let the orchestra leader hold TT
Yes: but who will hold him?"
That's the way il is with the South
American republics. It Is confessed. even
by those who hate dictatorship, that the
authority must rest in the hands Of a
strong man, The question is, Who viii
mold this strong man?'
Venezuela needed Ia man who could
whip the insurgent spirits into obedience.
and crush armed rebellion. The man was
found in Cipriano Castro, Castro. the
nountalneer. with only his steel nerve
and self-confidence. and a handful OF
men who adored him. created a dictator
ship out OF chaos. Alasi there was no
body to hold Castro, says 2 writer in the
New York Post.
So whether Castro spends his last days.
riding in the B0is de Boulogne and sit
ting in a box at the Comique or whether
he rounds out a good full term as master
OF Venezuela's fate. it's all the same 70
the republic he has ruled so fOrcibly. II
II isn't Castro, It's some one else; OF II II
isn't some one else. IL is nobody. which
is worse.
And has Castro made money out OF the
presidency? Como nO2" the VeneZue-
lans would say with a shrug OF the
shoulders Why not? Does anybody
think he was IN politics for hygienic Pur-
poses2
Politics is the sport of Latin-America-
II takes the place OF football as an eEer-
rIa
Americans do not play other games. ex-
cept very primitive ones. Politics they
are brought up on, live in, and, some
times die Of
Some Smaller CRstrOs.
South America is always full Of Cas-
tros-smaIler Castros. 10 be sure. but
full OF like ideas ard only lacking the
genius 70 carry them out In Argentina.
there IS Julio Roca. Roca is a man OF
ability. Of courage, OF tact. He is an
old man now. but from 1850. when he was
first elected President Of the Argentine
Republic. until the present day. he has
been the power behind the executive
chair when he has not been In II HIM
SET
Roca was an Indian fighter. as spectac-
ular as our Custer. and luckier. He was
that the Indians were not the terrible
foemeE they had been imagined. He
went out against them with a few thou
send gauchos (the cowboys OF Argentina)
and whipped them so considerably that
they are still wandering in all direc-
tions. Then Roca made himself Presi-
dent And he managed so well-for him
self-that a few years ago one OF the
Buenos Ayres newspapers ingeniously in
rr-ha cot
it," The journal was referring. OF
course. to the immense fortune displayed
By the man who previous 10 1880 had
been imbibing ten-centavO drinks in the
boulevard cafes. and had brushed his
own uniforms, as junior army officer.
In Uruguay.
Then there was Gen. Santos. in Uru-
quay. and his predecessor. Col. Latorre.
Latorre tried to beat some recognition
Of authority into the stubborn heads OF
the pugnacious Uruguayans. but seeing
that II was an all-life job. he took what
he could get, and went his way.
Santos had as little success. When he
had succeeded in making enemies enough,
he gathered what was left OF the treas
ury. and announced that he was going to
Europe for a rest. The day before he
hdltIs TIE lex ASlnAkEt at AlOnitNtQfO met
and passed a resolution TO the effect that
they didn't know how the country could
possibly get along without him. and tears
were shed as fast as the Arabian trees
their medicinal gum" On the following
day as soon as the ship was well out OF
the harbor. the legislators met again and
declared their late beloved president an
outlaw, putting a price on his head II he
should ever enter the country again
Even Castro. however. successful as he
has been in his own republic. is a mere
tyro compared with some of the South
American dictators who preceded him.
They were not content with managing
the affairs OF their own country; they
dreamed dreams Of empire. They saw
themselves at the head OF a mighty na-
ton embracing the whole continent. from
Terra Gel FuegO 10 Panama isthmus OF
course. they failed: but they left their
own countries in welters Of blood when
they finally gave up the task
Too often we OF the Northern continent
think Of these wars in South America as
0pera-bOuffe. Sometimes. perhaps. there
IS 2 comic struggle among politicians on
the street corners and the press repre-
sentatives exaggerate e into civil strife:
but the real fighting that has been done
in the last 100 years. south OF the Big
Ditch, has been anything but humorous
When half-naked men and women swim
axes in hand. TO climb aboard an attack
ing var ship, as the Paraguayans did
during their terrible war with the Allies
there must be real combative stun In the
people.
The Great Franeia.
Il was IN this same strange little coun-
try. Paraguay. far up inland. between
Brazil and Argentina. that the greatest
ruler South America ever produced-Jose
Rodriguez Gaspar Francia-held sway for
twenty-five years. There have been
greater men in the South. possibly. Boil
ivar was a man OF purer motives. The
Argentine general San Martin. was more
brilliant n warfare. But Francia was
thought worthy by Carlyle OF a place In
Heroes and Hero Worship" and surely
his career was a marvellous one.
Ruthless. cruel arbitrary, cold-bIooded
was Francia-all Of these; and he pursued
such a course OF insularity that not only
did Paraguay have no relations with
other countries. but q foreigner once
within the borders found Il almost i'm
possible TO get away. Yet he gave an
administration that raised the produc-
tive power OF the people beyond what il
had ever been. While he lived no one
dared pronounce his name aloud on the
streets When he died he was referred
TO in awe-struck tones for several years
as FL Defunto"-the Dead Man
II was after Francias death that the
dreamer Of empire came along to till 10
overlooking Paraguay's cup OF woe His
name vas Francisco Lopez. He was 2
son OF one OF the "oonsCls" who succeed
&c TO the power Of Francia, and il was
upon the death OF his father. Carlos. that
he calmly declared himself Gicfator
Dreams of Lopez.