Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
NO MORE AUToCRATs.

TIME Peruvian revolt which has
Just come to a successful end
with the overthrow Of Col.
i Sanchez Cerro gives further as
surance to the impression that
the Latin Americans have grown tired
of the So-called strong man type the
personalistic ruler who seeks TO perpet-
uate himself in power.
When the first Of the South American
revolutions which started the present
epidemic succeeded in Bolivia, eight
months ago, one of its chief causes was
given as the growing dislike for arbi-
trary, personalistic leaders in that part
of the world. This Reputation OF the
"iron-handed' authorities was further
emphasized by later events in Peru and
Argentina, where regimes of Gictatorial
tendencies we're also ousted by force OF
arms.
Since then nearly all the revolution
airy movements which have lately taken
place in Latin America have made this
anti dictatorial trend their most out
standing feature. Particularly have
they condemned the democratic de-
signs of the overthrown executives who
wanted to stay indefinitely in power, or
to be replaced only by men Cf their
confidence and choice.
Under these circumstances the PERU
Wan incidents should have SURPRISED no
one. The stand adopted by Provisional
President Sanchez Cerro Immediately
after the fall of the Leguia regime, and
the steps he had taken with the undis-
guised purpose Of becoming himself the
master of his country, were bound to
end, sooner or later, in an opposition OF
dangerous outcome.
TWO DIFFERENT ROADS.
In sharp contrast with the attitude
of Gen. Blanco Galindo in Bolivia. who
had also been placed at the head OF
that country's government by q similar
coup d'etat, Col. Sanchez aCe1ro, soon
after the completion of the armed re-
volt which gave him control of the
Peruvian government, began TO give the
impression that his success amounted
only to a change Of masters for the
Peruvian people.
Gen. Blanco Galindo, in Bolivia, de-
clined to accept the provisional presi-
dency; organized instead, a military
junta to take charge of the aoministra-
ton; declared that their rule would be a
merely temporary one, until the coun-
try should have returned TO normal po-
litical conditions; called at once general
elections for the constitution Of a new
and legal civil government; restored in
dividual liberties; gave freedom TO the
press; helped the reorganization OF po-
litdcal parties, and contributed in every
way toward putting Bolivia back TO
normal constitutional status.
Col. Sanchez Cerro did not follow the
same course in Peru. Leader OF mill
tary rebellion which brought to All end
the 11-year -old regime Of augusta B.
Leguia, he appointed himself pro-
visional President of that country and
did not hesitate to announce that his
government would exercise the strictest
care in preserving domestic order and
impose upon the Peruvian masses the
new order Of things. He maintained
martial law throughout the republic. did
not suspend press censorship, and even
had RECOURSE to the same old methods
that former President Leguia had en-
ployed for many years to stifie public
opposition. Political exiles again began
to leave Peruvian ports, and others
went to fill anew the political prison of
San Lorenzo.
Naturally it was not very long before
Sanchez Cerro began to lose much Of
which had accompanied his earlier tri-
umph. The first signs of discomfort
came in the form Of strikes Ct work.
ingmen and students, which sometimes
resulted in public disorder and casual
ties. In the meantime, as press corre-
spondence now reports. Sanchez Cerro
had been forcing all army officers Of
higher ranks than his own to resign
the command of troops or leave the
country.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
Opposition to the Sanchez Cerro re-
gime finally came to a climax when the
rumors of his political ambitions were
confirmed by the Announcement that he
would take part in the coming elections
as q candidate for the regular Ave
year term as President Of the republic.
Of course, the results of an election held
under the direction Of the same man
who was to be the chief candidate were
not difiicult to ascertain in advance.
Thus the Peruvians realized that a
new personalistic rule was looming upon
the horizon, and that the whole revo-
lutionary process was in danger of end
ing, after all, in but another dictator
ship. And when certain powerful Army
officers came to this realization actual
trouble began.
Armed revolt finally broke out in
Arequipa, where the liberal elements of
the country had frequently sought
refuge during Leguia's presidency, and
where Sanchez Cerro himself started
his own uprising six months ago. Placed,
by one of those tricks In which destiny