The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-03-10

Copyright. 1914 by Frank CT Car
penter.D
Lima, PERU have just returned
from the National Palace. where
have had a long chat with Senior Gull
lerrpo Billinghurst, the president OF
the Peruvian Republic. The National
Palace stands on the Plaza Mayor. at
right angles TO the great cathedral
that was found by PiZarro in 1880.
The palace itself was built about the
same time, and it has all the features
OF the Spanish architecture of the
days Of Columbus. 1t covers a whole
city block, and it's ground floor area
must be six or eight acres. 1t has
two stories. and it consists of large
rooms with wide marble stairways
leading to the second loor. The
building run around patios, and IN
these are royal palms II tropical
flowers. ON my way in was shown
a fig tree that was planted by PiZarro.
It is more than three hundred years
old and it still bearing fruit.
My audience with the president was
arranged by the American minister to
Peru, Mr.. Benton McMillin, and we
went to the palace together. Passing
the soldiers at the entrance. we walk
ed through the hall in Which Pizarro
was killed, and assembled Il marble
stairway to the second floor. Hers
we mel Mr.. Cisneros, the secretary OIL
the president, and q moment later
were shaking the hands Of the mar
whom | might call the Theodore
Roosevelt of Peru.
President B~illinehurst Is an aggres
sivc and progressive ruler. He is
fighter, a man OF the people and n,
believes in the masses. Like MI
Roosevelt. he has had a military ca
reer. and has won his spurs on IN
battlefield. He is not afraid. He toll
me that the danger of revolution q
far as Peru is concerned is over, an,
that even should there be trouble h
had something like $50, 600 hard -1iste
men who woul come to the supper
Of the administration. The presidef
Told me that he was elected withou
applying for the office. He did nc
want to be president and was abou
to retire from active business. II.
support was SO strong, however. thu
nc was induce TO head the presider
tial ticket, and he is now putting i
fourteen hours Of hard labor each da
in serving his country. He is a pr,
gressive president, and has under wa
reforms which include the building u
of the national credit and the develoI
ment of Peru along modern lines.
President Billinghurst is, I iudg
- about fifty years old. He is of mediu
height and weighs perhaps II
pounds. His head is large and h
face full, with a high forehead al
twinkling black eyes. He speal
English fluently, and our conversatio
was carried on in that tongue. T.
first subject was the present conditi,
If Peru. The president said:
"One Of the great troubles of Pc
il that it is coveted by the countri
about her. We have an enormo
tprriipry OyC country iS ono-civtb =
Size OF all Europe, and parts of it a
exceedingly rich. We hayd about
smaller countries, the most of viii
look with longing even upon our pc
sessions. We are, in fact. in the sal
position as the rich man versus t
poor man. h rich man has ma
lawsuits. His neighbors covet his pt
sessions and dispute his titles to the
That Is the condition of Peru. \
have had trouble with Ecuador. G
.ombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile as
our boundaries. and in many OF til.
cases the exact territory OF each cot
try is still unsettled. Nearly eve
country is trying to claim Somethi
that we think is our own: and
have been kept SO busy in trying
hold To our rights that We have
had the opportunity to develop
resources
arc Wiling to arbitr3te matt
with Ecuador. but the Ecuador;
seem afraid to risk such a decisi
Our records indicate that our DO
DIARIES extend almost to Quito 4:
they fear the result. The Colombo
hold much the same views as to al
tration. and we are having displ
as to Bolivia and have had some "
Brazil. If We could only agree IL.
some middle ground as our peri
nent boundaries and allow the bala
Of the territory to be subject to a
tration. We might he free from sc
OF our complications and in the
be better off. What We need is De
ond surety Of possession. we
want a square deal and We are v