Evening star., 1915-02-21
The South American Compeers 0fGe0rge Wa<
Obsenan Not the
Areseroe independence Who With
Martini Argentine Nob Characteristic Sacrifices and Self
Bolivar the Hberar Pir Who Powed SeaHS Remarkable
for Boivi-Zeous Efforts History!

were also a few who followed his ex-
ample in civil matters. There were
many who hoped to be known as the
Washington of their country. annd
tion of South America, reached that
pinnacle.
These were Gen. Simon Bolivar of
Venezuela and Gen. Jose San Martin of
Argentina
In some of the South American coun-
tries monuments to Washington have
been erected. One of these is the statue
in Caracas. This was the gift of Guz-
man Blanco. the Venezuelan dictator,
who. during the decade of the eighties.
filed so large space in interna-
tional affairs.
The statue was erected in the Plaza
Centenary or Centennial Square. but
because of the memorial to Washing
ton the square became known as Wash.
ington Plaza. 1t is in the heart of
Caracas. The erection of theater.
which forms the background for the
statue, has spoiled the effect somewhat.
The dedicatory ceremonies took place
in 1883 when Guznan Blanco was at the
height of his picturesque career. The
American minister was present, and also
the commander of the American warship
which was in the harbor of La Guira. The
naval officer made a speech in Spanish
j
sentiments were fine and the address was
highly appreciated by the Venezuelans
President GuZmau Blanco may have had
a special motive in erecting the statue TO
Washington SO that his countrymen might
consider him the Washington of Veue
zuela. or OF all South America. He pre-
ferred. however, the more general title of
the illustrious American" He did not
believe that a great man should only be
honored by monument after death.
bod fir1n fri.t CT afIIn of
self erected in a prominent place. When
Blsnco was finally driven out of the coun-
try and went into exile in France his
countryn1en destroyed the statue to the il
lustrious American
A most fitting monument to Washington
both because of sentiment and because of
circumstances. is that i'll Buenos Aires.
1t is placed near the beautiful Palermo
E'ark, on the outskirts of the city. 1t is
the gift of Americans.
The statue is bronze reproduction of
the one which was erected in front of the
subtreasury in New York. The pedestal
is of Maine granite. and was designed
by Senior Alfred Fucker, a Buenos Aires
architect
This statue of Washington was present
ed to the Argentine nation by American
residents of the republic in commemora-
ton of the centenary of Argentine in
dependence, in 1910.
:. i:
Engraved in the upper panel of the
base of the monument in golden letters
is inscribed George Washington
Further inscription is that the statue
commentaries the centenary of independ
ence, and is from citizens of the United
States residing in the republic.
Dedicatory ceremonies were held July
4, and the presentation was made by John
w. Garrett, the American minister. The
president and vice president, members Of
the cabinet, the presiding officers OF the
two branches of the Argentine congress,
the mayor of Buenos Aires and other Of
ficials took part in the ceremonies.
statue of Washington finds an ap-
propriate place in Argentina. That coun-
try not only copied the leading features
of the Constitution, with which Wash
them into practice. 1t has supreme
court, modelled after the one which Wash
ington helped to form. and it established
a national university on the general plan
that Washington advocated for the United
States.
Argentina s own Washington, Gen. San
Martin, is the noblest character in South
American history. He resembled Wash
ington, both in his military genius ana
i'll his unseltishness.
San Martin, though born in the district
of Buenos, an officer in the army of
Spain when the provinces which now con
stitute the Argentine Republic reVolted
He resigned to enter into the struggle for
independence, and his military talents
soon placed him in the forefront After
driving Spain out of the Argentine ter
ritory, in the face Of incredible difficult
ties he led army through the snow
passes of the Andes into Chile
San Martin and his Chilean allies ended
the power of Spain in Chile by the victory
at Chacabuco in February, 1917. A little
more than four years later. by his cam
paigns in Peru, he was the main instru-
nent in destroying that last stronghold
of Spanish power.
At that time Bolivar's star the
other one on the horizon, for Bolivar, too,