The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-03
CHILEAN WAR STIRS
PATRIOTISM IN PERU
Stability in Government At
fairs Shows Marked Growth
in That Country.
OLD LAWS A HANDICAP
World Can Learn a Lesson In
Courteousness From Awak-
ened People.
OLD LAWS A HANDICAP
by CLAYTON 9. COOPER.


The men OF Peru vary 30 widely In
racial origins and national character
istics that any general title like THE
Man of Peru" seems to call for the fur
ther question, Which manT" Here IN
modern Peru one finds tho medieval
man. / visited a great Franciscan mon
astery in Lima, where tho air il laden
with the influences and customs OF far
distant years. the monks chant their
Latin prisons and follow their medieval
vows an though Francis Of Assist lived
but yesterday.
The man of Peru also IL tho Indian
man, at least nearly two million of them.
though population statistics are difficult
to secure on the tablelands OF the Andes.
These early Inhabitants Of the Americas
range in character from utter savages.
abiding In the deep recesses OF the Cor
dilleras, TO the sslf-respecting landhold-
ers and agrlculturists Of the coast towns.
These Indians form, as n rule, on I'm
dustrious community. as long as the
white mans whiskey can be kept out OF
their reach. When they mix In marriage
with the Spanish stock to form the
'Inestzos" their intelligence 10 said to
he enhanced. Yet here even In the Wig
orous mountain air the provefbial "laZy
red man" Is to be found all too fire.
uuently. and his mistrust of the white
them comparatively rare.
Spanish Stock Predominates.
II the Indian of Peru could be blessed
with few schools Of the grade and type
of training in practical arts Of Carlisle
and Haskell the day OF Industrial prog
ress would be hastened by scores OF
years In nh rich and fertile land of
the Incas.
Among the one and one-half million
Inhabitants of Peru not classed as In
dams the types and nationalities are
varied, but the Spanish rncial stock pre-
dominates and the language and customs
OF Spain have set a deep mark on the
whole country.
In spite of the advanta ges which the Span
iRrds have brought to South American
civilization. tho initial ideal Cor perhaps
one might say the lack of ideal, as far as
the constructive development OF the coun-
try is concerned) and the inherent form
of pecuniary corruption attending the ad-
ministratlon of Spanish laws have
shackled Peru. making difficult modern
advance.
Even from the time of Pizarro the eyes
OF the Spaniard have looked toward Eu-
rope as mecca of pleasure and the
place to which he Is anxious always TO
return. Unlike the Frenchman who goes
10 Morocco or Algeria with the idea OF
permanent settlement. rearing there his
small towns IN miniature of those In
France and thinking particularly about
the building of homes and the better
ment OF industrial conditions, tho Span
lard came to Peru largely for exploita-
ton purposes. He was an adventuref
and tue glnt.ut gold sas is>his eye.'t'tl
Foreigners Help Development.
Even to-day he will not stay in the
country, but Is only happy when he is at
Lima. or. II his means permit, when
spending a large part OF the year in
Paris or some other European capital
His sons. born in Peru, have Inherited
these urban tastes, and one of tho
first things noticed in Peru Is the lack
OF patriotism or love for the rural dis
tricts. I frequently heard the remarl
that certain Senators had never ever
visited the provinces which they wer'
supposed to represent. II is a sad com
nep.ary upon the Industrial capabilitie,
Of the Peruvian Spaniard that virtual,
every great commercial and nationa
Peruvian enterprise has been inaugurate(
and developed by foreigners.
The Peruvian. more than the inhabi
tant OF any other South American repub
lie. clings to his pride OF Spanish lineage
There is, to be sure. no color line here
and occasionally a man whose colo
would he a handicap in reaching a plac
IN society in the United States is foun,
among the best social circles in Lima
The white men who stand at the ape,
OF Peruvian society are usually member
or old families, and many OF them hav
retained from former prosperous day
considerable wealth. while all have in
herited more or less the ideas strange 4
North Americans. Among these tradl
tional ideas Is the sentiment that labo
and even commercial activities ar
somewhat mira dig, and the career of
Gentleman who can live without work. o
"a politician (Which often means tn
same thing in PERU. is standardize
here. go '"-