The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-06-03
IN
LAND Of INCAS
SedgeWick Tells of Conditions
as He Found Them in
Old Peru.

minds of the people of Peru within the
last few years, and there is no longer
the general spirit of revolt and insur-
rection running riot among all classes
Of the South American nation. As a
matter of fact, the people of Peru to-
day do not want revolutions. A de-
sire for modernism, for a united, peace
able country, has been growing among
the younger generation, who have come
to see the advantages of assimilating
modern manners and dropping the old
picturesque, perhaps, but damaging
to the welfare of the country-way
of settling political differences through
the medium of a revolution
Thomas j. Sedgewiek, sugar expert,
who was for some time connected with
the Federal Experimental Station here
and who spent several years in the
land of the Tncas organizing and per
feeting an experiment station there,
yesterday said as above regarding the
people of Peru. Cable reports the
other day were to the effect that a
revolution had been started in Lima,
the capital city, with some degree of
success. Leguia, the president, was
made a prisoner by the revolutionists,
but the regular army remained loyal
to him and forced mis- release. Leguia
is a personal friend of Sedgewick, the
latter characterizing him as man of
strong personality, unusual ability, and
an exponent of modern methods in the
conduct of the affairs of the govern
ment. Mr.. Sedgewick states that Lee
guia is one who will either die fight
ing for what he believes is the right,
or he will win with flying colors, and
by SO doing give modernism a wonder
full impetus in Peru.
"'The people of Peru do not want
revolutions, continued Mr.. Sedge-
| wick, and there are two main rea-
sons for this. In the first place, they
are beginning to realize that a revo-
luton only tends to stunt their adj
| vance as modern nation: in the sec
ond place, they do not like the i'm
preston which is carried abroad when
! the report goes forth that a revolution
| is in progress in Peru. To be sure, the
] greater number of the recent 'revolu
/ tions, have been mere mob uprisings
led by daredevil spirit who has moth
/ ing to lose and everything to gain. The
soealled revolutions of the present are
not significant clashes of two great
| political parties, nor do they necessar
lily mean that the people are disrupted
! over national affairs. There is usually
no question of national good involved
This question might be brought for
ward during an election campaign, but
not in the middle Of an administra
ton.
cit has been eighteen months sine,
l was in Peru, and, of course, / am no
acquainted with the details of the pres
ent revolution, other than what [ hav,
read in the newspapers. But | beiey'
that the man who led the recent up
rising is the same one who fostered
small revolution while / was in Peru
His name is Joan Durand, and, Will
his following is not by any means in
considerable, it does not represent tn
better class of people. He was car
tured at the time / speak of, but wa
allowed to make his escape to Chile
where he soon gathered his follower
oAOuAu H1HI dSd1u Lit 10 a " pc VI Ill
educated Peruvian who believes in II
tarding the growth of the nation rattle
than building it up. His following
4 made up to a great extent of the lowe
4 classes, though he has the backing G
/ some of the influential people, who, Xix
i himself, would rather that the coul
try's condition should not chang
\ Durand is not actuated by feelings fC
4 his country. He merely wants to rul
II | That s the sum and substance of tt
II proposition.
''In direct contrast to him is Legui
! the present President. Leguia has
splendid education, speaks excelle1
English, is strenuous worker, a ina1
cier of no mean ability, and, above a.
believes thoroughly in introducing IL
most modern methods in the transactiG
of all affairs pertaining to the COVER
! ment and for the welfare of the peopl
I He is practically the leader of abo1
forty or fifty men, influential al
wealthy all, who are striving for Il
true welfare of the country. 1t Is
constant battle between the older ge
Grafton, those who combat the pr
= ciples of modern government, and t.
/ younger, and the latter is steadily gal
ing ground. Feeble revolutions, su
as the one which has just been recor
ed, show that the older generation
q still struggling for a hold. With the
81 man sitting as President, many thin
which have been done for the upli
of the country within the past fife
u years could be torn down and the wo
n of years destroyed. 1t is a 81,
b progress, but, just so long as m
n of the Leguia stamp are elected
81 President, the country is safe.
"The President is chosen by the p,
Il ular vote, and it is not always a sat
"a factory manner. There are usua
d squabbles Immediately after the Ell
81 ton, the losing side putting up the {
a of unfair play. President Leguia
"A willing to defend his position to
81 last drop of nls blood, and that is
M reason | say that he will either
"a killed by the revolutionists or will co
NJ out with flying colors. There will
y no halfway business with him.
1.-THE country is divided into t
great political parties, Leguia S c
- tingent being, of course, in power
the present time. The opposition
4 not, however, composed of the PEG
n who instigate the revolutions. The
4 position has many Good leaders n