The Washington herald., 1910-07-03
nv CHARLorTE NJ. coNGER.


accomplishments in civil and military
lines since we became republic; we are
so proud Of, so in love with, our own
history that We are prone 10 pass over
the splendid history of our neighbors, TO
lose sight Of the fact that there are ma
lions. if not republics, on this hemisphere
whose civilization and history antedate
our own.
Cortez and PizaTrO found a civilized
people when they made the conquest Of
Mexico and of Peru, and the cities found
ed by the Spaniards in South America
after its conquest are much older than
those that were established in what is
now the United States
Nor were the Latin-Americans far be-
hind US in attaining their independence,
for thirty years counts as a day in his
tory, and it was only a few years more
than that-four, to be explicit-after the
American colonies proclaimed their inde-
pendence that Argentina ana Mexico
threw of the Spanish yoke. a move that
the Napoleonic wars, which kept Europe
for many years in constant turmoil and
crippled Spain, made possible.
Celebrating the Centennial.
This year Argentina is celebrating the
centennial of her independence by a
worlds fair at her capital, Buenos Ayres,
and Mexico is preparing TO commemorate
her national birthday on the sixteenth OF
September in similar fashion.
The history of Argentina differs very
little from that of the other South Ameri-
can countries that surround ii. II was
first under Portuguese, then under Span
ish gritty, and was regarded when
ruled by these two Latin nations, as the
private property Of their kings 10 be
exploited for their benefit. 1t was OPP
pressed by the officials sent out 10 gov
ern il. and taxed to the utmost TO in
crease the royal revenue, even the freight
sent 10 the colony and the goods export
ed from there being levied upon 10 swell
the royal eXchequer. and the wishes and
rights of the people were deliberately dis
regarded
Everything that could be done was
done 10 discourage commerce, for the
royal spendthrifts on the other side
imagined that TO mine and ship gold and
silver 10 them was sufficient occupation
for their subjects, or slaves, rather, II
America. The king took no concern IN
the fate OF the country so long as his
private Golfers were filed with gold, and
the Cadiz monopolists saw 10 it that ht
never had cause to complain in TINS
regard, and thus managed, by persuading
the government TO enact laws restricting
the commerce, to control the rich mar
kets of south America, Of which BuenoS
Ayres was one of the richest.
Commerce Springs I'D.
But the Spanish officials sent out to
govern the coIonists were lax and venal
their hands always extended for brides
Argentina, therefore through the dishon-
esty and corruptness Of the royal agents
was enabled TO start and carry on an ex-
tensfve commerce, and through shippinE
her hides. hair, valuable drugs, and sgri
cultural products, 10 say nothing Of hel
gold and silver, amassed great wealth
which enabled her. when opportunity Of
fered. TO strike the blow against Spain
which resulted in her independence.
The necessary military instruction ant
experience the ATgentines obtaine'
through the attempted conquest Of thel
country by England in 1906 Threatene'
bv Napoleon with exclusion from Europe
Great Britain determined TO capture out
side. possessions and thus secure market
for her products. She had conquered tn
Cape in ls05, and determining TO carr.
her victories further up the coast, sh
landed June q, 1906. 1900 troops few
miles below Buenos Ayres from the feet
commanded by Admiral Popham, which
had anchored in the estuary.
These 500 troops in their brave ARA,
made a formidable showing, and tn
Spanish viceroy offered no resistanc
whatever to the landing force but fie
from the country, leaving the British 4
possession, and the British nag dis
1.
victory of the British was only short
lived. LINERS, French officer who bel
a Spanish commission, got together
small army of regulars, thousand a
told. and. augmenting this force by thou
sands of eager volunteers, finally sue
ceeded, after some hard fighting, in eS
polling the enemy from the country Til
victory. following upon the heels OF the
desertion by the Spanish viceroy, so fire
the pride Of the Argentines that the
were keen for more fighting
Seeds of Revolution.
The English had hardly quilted tn
country than the victoTs declared III
viceroy a coward. installed the roy'
audencia in his place, and the seeds
the revolution were sown. A second al
tempt of the British a few months late
when they returned with reinforcement
was again thwarted. and, after losing
fourth Of their army, they abandoned III
country forever.
Necessity and the English had taugf
the Argentines to fight, and from tn
time Of the invasion of the British unit
their independence was secured they COZ
tinued TO have pride In their militaT
prOwess-have it stin, in fact, and mair
tain a standing army large enough [
maintain peace at home and keep invaC
ers at bay, TO say nothing of the militia
which is organized somewhat after Il
= model Of the United States.
The crisis in Spain of 1910, when n;
poleon's armies were sweeping the couI
try from one end TO the other and thel
was bitter dispute over the successor
Charles ", who had sbdicated, projec
ed the revolution in SPANS rich color
Of Argentina. II was the same stoI
that had been enacted in North Americ
where the French and Indian wars Ia
taught the colonists how to fight, whiC
resulted in their independence. reveals
10 them their military Skill and prepare
them for the revolution; so in Argel
tina the invasion of the English hs
shown its people that they were capab
Of fighting their own battles. and, feelir
this. the Creoles, who had been so loT
disregarded and unrecogniZed and In
posed upon by their home governmer
seized the first oportunity of wrestling Il
control from the hands of the Spaniard
or "Goths.'- which opprobrious name W;
applied to the Spanish residents Of A
gentina.
Date of independence.
On May %. 1870 a great armed for
met in the plaza of Buenos Ayres TO e.
force the government the Creoles hs
arranged and 10 protect the officials tbs
had appointed, and from that time dat