Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-05
Chile's National Hero.

Bernardo O'HiggnS is the greatest pa
triotic hero in Chile history, and his bust
will be placed in the new building of the
bureau of American republics In WASH
ington as her contribution to the gallery
of immortals. the greatest of Americans.
He is regarded as the father of the re-
public, and, like Washington in the United
States was the commander-ln-chlef or
the revolutionary forces and the first
president of the republic after independ-
ence was established. His statue stands
in the Almeda of Santiago, the most pow
erful battleship is named in his honor, and
his birthday is always celebrated by the
people Of the country, perhaps with more
formality and regularity than we ceie-
brate the I'D of February.
The Fourth of July of Chile is the 18th
of September, as an 1rishman would say,
because on that day, 1872. independence
was proclaimed. and it IS always celebrat-
ed as a national holiday in the same way
that we celebrate our Independence day.
This year a special celebration tS-sos
place at Santiago September IL, at which
the President of the Argentine Republic
will be present. having already accepted
the invitation of the President of Chile.
1t is expected that the Presidents OF Bra
I'll, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador
will also be preset, although their &C
ceptances have rot yet been officially an
nounced cordial invitation has been
sent to President Taft and to Secretary
Knox, and the latter has the greatest de-
sire to accept. although at present II does
not seem possible for him to do so. Sen
ator Root, who visited Chile four years
ago and received a royal reception. has
also been invited, but II will be impossible
for him to attend because he Will be en-
gagged in the argument of the Newfound-
land fisheries case before a tribunal at
The Hague.
Mr.. Root would be appointed chairman
of the United States delegation to the
fourth international conference. which
meets in Buenos Aires in July, 1910. but
for this engagement.
Argentina to Celebrate.
The centennial celebrations in Chile
have been arranged to follow similar
celebration of the centennial of the dec
laration of Argentine independence.
which occurs on May 10 next. AS have
told you in a previous letter, the Argen-
tines will have three separate exposi-
tions of transportation, agriculture and
fine arts, respectively; several monu-
ments will be unveiled. including one OF
George Washington. to be erected by the
American residents of the Argentine
Republic, gateway by the British resi-
dents and some similar tributes by the
Italians. The celebrations begin on May
10, at Buenos Aires.
The international American conference
begins its session on July TO- to which
eight or ten distinguished citizens of the
United States will be sent as delegates.
The appointments have not been an
nounced, and will not be until Congress
has formally authorized them, and has
made provision for the expenses. The
House committee on appropriations pro-
vided $4,000 in the deficiency bill, but
when that measure came up for consid-
Grafton in the House. 1t was reduced to
$4,000. Secretary Knox is confident
that the Senate will restore the original
amount and will ask for a further APP
preparation of $4,000 to enable our gov
eminent to participate in the centennial
celebrations in Chile. for both are equally
important.
The President has already ordered a
squadron of four battleships to attend the
international naval review. which will
take place at Valparaiso during the lat
ter part of September. Germany, Eng
land, Italy and the Argentine Republic
have also accepted the invitation, and il
is expected that France. Brazil. Japan
and other countries will do go. The dis
play is expected to be one of the principal
features of the celebration, for the Chill
cans are very proud of their naval his
tory
Formal Welcome Planned.
AT the close of the international con-
ference at Buenos Aires, which will prob
ably be during the first or second week OF
September, the entire body will be trans
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