The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-09-09
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BY JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN.
HH1S Is the centenary Of the inde-
%pendence Of Peru and Peru has been
celebrating the anniversary with pomp
and circumstance at its capital, Lima,
and elsewhere. Virtually all the lead
ue/N1N ing nations Of the world, as we'll as
MLESM the smaller ones, were invited to par
wv WA ticipate in the celebration. Most OF
wv @ them accepted and took part.
MA. MH The United States sent the battle
M4NNM ships Oklahoma and Arizona and a
VMN%R special embassy headed by Albert
~ w Douglas. France, Italy and Spain al
SO sent battleships; the French en-
)assy included General Mangin, the defender OF
Verdun. Great Britain sent Gen. Lord DundonaiH,
grandson of that Lord Cochrane who played 50
large a part in the liberation Of Peru. Argentina
sent two battleships, an embassy and a regiment
OF grenadiers, the traditional descendants of the
troops which accompanied Gen. Jose de San Mar
tin, Peru's liberator. Eighteen nations sent en-
tassies and thirteen others sent special missions.
Possibly the principal feature of the celebration
was the unwilling Of an equestrian statue OF Gen.
Jose de San Martin, (177S-1S5O), the Argentine
leader who was the leading figure In the campaign
for Peru's independence. San Martin was porn
in Argentine and served in Spain against the
French Q793-1811), attaining the rank Of lieuten-
ant colonel. In 1912 he went to BuenOs Aires and
Joined the patriots who declared Argentine's indie
pendence in 1916. He did something new in
striking at the Spanish In Peru by marching over
the Andes to Chile. He declined the Office OF
supreme director of Chile, after his march resulted
In that country's freedom. After his operations
had won Lima, he was proclaimed supreme pro-
tect0r Of Peru. He resigned the office In 1S22 and
took no further part In South American affairs.
During the celebration the Peruvian government
issued a decree through President Leguia provid-
Ing for the erection in Lima of q monument to
lNnnrun NnChinOfnn nc
"A model Of exemplary citizenship and in view
OF the fact that the political emancipation Of the
United States was the fOrerunner OF the indepen-
dence Of the Hispano-American nations"
This action Of the Peruvian government is well
taken and the decree Is based on historical truth.
The success Of the American Revolution of 1916
and that of France of 1889 encouraged the hopes
of the Hispano-A merican patriots who were
dreaming of liberty. These hopes became brighter
etill upon the conquest Of Spain by France In
1908.
Moreover. the constitutions which were formed
In South America during the protracted struggle
for independence from Spain were often modelled
upon the Constitution Of the United States. 1t is
true, however, tLat since 1880 constitutional devel-
opment In South America In general has been
away from the North American federal idea and
toward the so-called unitary system In which
large powers are vested in the national govern
ment. In fact at present all the South American
w vi Cos 49, N~
exception OF those of the Argentine Republic, Bra
zil and Venezuela.
In the beginning Spain entrusted the government
of, Spanish America to special agents Of the throne
called viceroys and captains general. Thus In 177S
there were three viceroys In South America. One
In Bogata controlled the northwest, the viceroyalty
Of New Grenada. A second In BuenOs Aires con-
trolled the southeast, the vicerOyalty Of La Plata.
The third in Lima controlled a large part Of the
west, the viceroyalty Of Peru. One captain gen.
eral controlled Chile and another Venezuela. Bra
I'll was Portuguese territory. Peru was the center
OF Spanish power. SO. when the provinces began
to break away from Spain. 1t was those at a dis
lance from Peru that first became free.
Venezuela was the first Of the Spanish American
political divisions to declare its independence from
Spain, in 1871. After the patriots under simon
Bolivar had defeated the royalists, a state known
a. Great Colombia was established In the north
In 1880 it broke into three states: Venezuela,
Colombia and Ecuador.
In 1915 the United Provinces Of La Plata-the
historical antecedent Of the Argentine Republic
adopted q declaration Of independence. Then
came Peru and Bolivia. BY 1891 there were In
Spanish America nine Independent states: Ven
ezuela. Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile.
Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentine. Since then
the history Of these independent states has been
marked by many revolutions and relationships.
Since Lima was the center Of Spanish power In
America, the Independence Of Peru was essential
to the continued Independence Of the free states
Now In Peru. although the Crecles American-born
Gpaniards) were dissatisfied, the bulk Of the pop
uiation was not disloyal. Uprisings Ia 1871 ana
1914 resulted only in the defeat and eyecutioa q
the leaders. stu, In 1S17 Cen. Joaquin a. r.