Evening star., 1932-11-20
"PROVIDENTIAL MEN" HELD
SOUTH AMERICAN PERIL
Presidents Who Regard Themselves as
indispensable" Cause Many
Revolutionary Upheavals.

has in the legal aspect the most delicate
problem to contend with.
When the machinery has been set up
the movement for the continuance OF
the existing administration Is then
started in some remote corner Of the
republic. Popular meetings are held
usually under auspices of the local au-
thorities-in which the citizens Of that
town or village solemnly proclaim their
adherence to the government and re-
spectfully request that the constitution
be altered so as to permit the perma-
nence in power Of the "providential
man" who Is at the helm Of the state.
These signed resolutions c'actas pop
ulares'D grow in number, skillfully pro-
NOTED by expert politicians. and now
in impressive volume to the national
capital, where "Hollywoodian" pub
lcity awaits them. The metropolitan
newspapers start talking of q popular
movement throughout the nation" In
recognition Of this exceptional man
whom the country needs forever.
Political clubs and groups of ''patri-
otto citizens" take up the idea. Very
soon the whole country, impressed by
an overwhelming propaganda and few
ostentatious public works which have
been hurr1edly completed in the mean
time, Is discussing the capacities Of this
man OF the hour" which must not be
allowed to step out of the government
and leave destitute people to its own
fate. The next step Is to overcome the
legal obstacles. This Is the real test.
But the tracks have been laid so mi
nutely, the atmosphere has been prepared
so carefully, that this final act Of the
comedy usually is carried out with I'm
believable smoothneSs. A friendly con-
gress, acting in the high interests
the state" passes a constitutional
amendment either to permit the re-
election of the Chief Executive or simply
the extension of his term for q longer
period Of time
Caused Many Revolutions
In the first case. the "providential"
candidate has, of course, very little dif-
ficulty in assuring himself of a tremen-
dously large majority at the polls. With
the government machinery at his dis
posal, he can have no doubt as to the
outcome. In the second case, he merely
stays In the presidential palace while
the masses out in the streets are being
told how fortunate they are to have at
their head q man, chosen by Provi-
dence," who Is willing to sacrifice him
self for some longer time in the benefit
and glory Of the republic.
As far as the indispensable" man is
concerned, the comedy ends there. He
Is Reelected or allowed to remain in
power without even the formality of a
reelection, and acclaimed as the savior
OF the country. But for the nation as
whole the comedy usually has q tragic
end. The legal ways having been closed,
popular elections having been made a
mockery. revolution Is the only way out
OF this regime Of personalism and abso-
lutism. The republic then has to pay in
lives and money for the ambition of
the indispensable man" and the COM
plicity OF his clique-until normalcv
has been achieved, public liberties re-
stored and everything is ready for an
other self ade-indispensable" leader.
The picture Is q crude one, but it has
been true for years In many countries
OF Latin America. Fortunately, 1t Is
less and less so, as the masses In those
countries are growing more and more
conscious OF their privileges In o demo-
cratic system ss the one under which
they are supposed to exist.
Yet 1t was not very long ago that the
last crop OF these self-appointed "indis-
pensable" men was discarded In the
America OF Spanish origin. The mem
ory OF the 1880 revolutions In Bolivia.
Peru, Argentina and the later ones ia
other southern republics Is still fresh.
indispensable men" have been the
cause OF many Q. revolution on the other
side Of the Rio Grande.
tCoryright, 1922