The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-11-15
IRISH HEROES IN CR|Lt'S
HISTORY
BERNARD O'HIGGlNS WAS SAVIOR
OF LITTLE REPUBLIC OTHER
IRISH NAMES LINKED WITH
STORY OF SMALL NATIONS
STRUGGLE FOR LIBERTY.

In Valparaiso and Santiago yester-
lay, in all the Republic of Chile from
the scorched nitrate fields at the back
Of Antofogasta and Iquique. down
through the pleasant midlands to the
dreary wet hills round Punta Arenas.
it is good thing to be able to call
yourself Irish, writes Nicholas Hayes
in the Irish independent For yes
terday was 'DieZiocho" of September.
the anniversary of the declaration of
Chilean independence in 1910, when
Bernardo O'Higgins was in command
of the army of freedom, and became
the first President of the Chilean Re
public. You must, however be
known as Irish. If you have let your
self be absorbed by the claims of
those whose assumption of being a
superior race is SO pulling to the
average Chilean, there will be no af-
lection wasted on you. You will sim
ply be one of the 'gringos' Ca term
much more contemptuous in Span
ish-American mouth than a 'sdago' is;
in other cOuntries), and will be no
more worthy of intelligent considera-
ton than any other of those whose
outlook is confined to pounds, marks
and pesos.
To O'Higgins, who rescued his
country from the domination of I'M
perial Spain, Chile has given the title
of Padre de SUI patria," Father of
statue. depicting him in tie moment
of victory at Maipu, catches one s
eye in the Alameda Of Santiago; the
"Avenida OHiggins' is the dwelling
place of the oldest and most honored
families of the republic; the flagship
of the small but efficient feet lying
at Valparaiso on the naval base, Tai
cahuano, is the armored cruiser
,"O'Higgins.''
We cannot claim this remarkable
soldier and statesman as Irish by
birth. He was the son of Ambrose
O'Higgins, an adventurous and enter
prising County Meath man. who
found his way into Peru and later
: to Chile some time in the latter hall
of the eighteenth century. Early ir
the nineteenth century, Bernardo
O'Higgins took the field at the head
Of the "ejercito de libertad,' 'the
army of freedom which had for it:
task the liberation of Chile from the
disagreement of Spain. OHiggins
after a prolonged campaign. routed
the Spanish army OF occupation, anC
Chile was free.
The brilliant figure, the courage
and genius Of OHiggins had cap
! tured the hearts and imaginations O.
the people. He was made Presiden
and national idol on the same day.
His is not the only Irish name tina,
! figures in Chilean revolutionary his
tory and in popular memory. There
| is an ''Avenida McKenna" in Santiago
recalling a gallant engineer lieutenan
of the Liberator there is outside the
city pleasure spot called Castillo de
| OBrien, a commander who did gooC
service on tie naval side with Coch
rane Lynchs and Browns are in the
records OF September, and survive il
| the names of leading families. Thus
these wandering Irishmen have left /;
deep imprint on the national life o
| this distant land, AMI have given to it:
sturdy and progressive people kint
thought and a deep sympathy for oul
| country.
The Chileans have not forgotten
Some years ago, being in Santiago
just before st. Patrick's Day,
thought | would send some accoun
of Ireland, and how she stood, to ont
of the daily papers there, as remind
err of historic associations. When TIT
issue of March II appeared | fount
my modest contribution fianked b.
splendid articles by Chilean writer
on Ireland-"el pals de OHiggins =
her own struggle, and her gift to thu
republic of it's greatest citizens. AM
all the other seven daily papers o
the city carried similar tributes. Tha
is why | say it is good to call your
self an Irishman in Chile on this way
when in concentrating their owl
emancipation, brave race do not fol-
get the distant island not yet free
which sent them a leader and a lii
orator.