Evening star., 1932-07-31
PERU MARKS ANNIVERSARY
In MIDST OF TRYING TIME
State of Unrest Grips Country Already
Shaken by Misrule and Eco
nOmic Difficulties.
BY GASTON NERVAL.

NERUVIANS had a national holi-
- day last week. They celebrated
their Fourth Of July" On July
Il %, Iii years ago, Gen. Jose de
San Martin, the Argentine lib
orator, solemnly announced to the world
the constitution Of Peru, heir to the
glorieS of the Inca Empire, in an inde-
pendent. sovereign republic.
Disturbed by recurring periods of po-
litical unrest and burdened by her share
Of the worlds economic depression.
Perus birthday anniversary found her
this year in trying and interesting
moment of her history.
Ever since the government Of Col.
Sanchez Cerro was inaugurated, several
months ago, internal outbreaks Com
munlst agitation, attempts against the
life of the chief executive and a stern
opposition sentiment in the intellectual
elements Of the population have main
tanned Peru in almost constant unrest.
So far however, the Sanchez Cerro
regime has proved strong and energetic
enough to cope with the situation, con-
Siderably aided by the support of the
conservatives and the middle classes.
Two years ago the autocratic and
absolutiSt 11-year rule of President
Dictator Augusta B. Leguia was brought
to dramatic end by the armed upris-
ing Of the southern military forces of
the country. Overwhelmingly supported
by the people. the rebellion had no
major difficulty in rendering Leguia
powerless and in sending him from the
Pizarro Palace to the national peni-
tentiary to pay for his political errors
and maIadmin1Stration Of the public
funds
The change wss warmly received in
the country, which had suffered il
years of arbitrary deSpotism. and
abroad, where the fall of the dictator
ship was seen as the initiation of a
more liberal and happier era in PERU
Wan politics. Soon, however, the
Peruvian people found that in their
country, as in any other, the overthrow
OF long, personalistic rule means
more than a mere substitution Of the
men in power.
Inevitable Reaction Seen.
According to the laws Of sociology
and the experiences of history. a period
of unrest, disorganization and often
anarchy usually follows a change from
an old, strong minded, Single-handed
regime, which has kept the political
forces of the nation inactive for a
number of years. The Peruvians were
wise enough and fortunate enough to
avoid anarchy, but they were not able
to Sidestep the laws of natural reaction
which must follow the breakdown of a
long established system.
Following the ousting Of the aged
dictator, Leguia, an atmosphere Of
restlesSneSs and constant political ef-
fervescence prevailed in Peru. Three
subsequent armed rebellions resulted in
an equal number OF changes in the ex-
ecutive of the nation.
Finally, a provisional regime, headed
by Senor Samanez Ocampo succeeded
in restoring order and government sta
bility. Acceding to the demands of the
Peruvian people for a constitutional
government, Samanez Ocampo called
general elections. And In these Col.
Sanchez Cerro, the man who had over
thrown the Leguia dictatorship, and
then, IN turn, had been ousted from
power and exiled from the country only
a few months before, was elected con-
stitutional President Of Peru.
OF course, political observers realized
at the time that only fear of the too
advanced and revolutionary principles
advocated by Sanchez Cerro'S principal
opponent, Haya de la Tore, the youth
full Aprista candidate, had made the
colonels return to power possible. The
socialistic leanings of the Aprista party
alarmed the conservative and middle
class sectors of the Peruvian popula-
tion, which are still, by far, the con-
trolling element In that country. This
alarm, and the conviction that only a
strong handed regime could preserve
internal peace, SO essential for economic
recovery, resulted in the selection at
the polls Of Col. Sanchez Cerro.
AS was to be expected, however, the
present Peruvian chief executive has
had, and Is still having, hard time in
republic. He has a big mans job. And
he knows it. On his Inauguration he
declared: Peru is passing through a
most trying and difficult time, and only
the most unSelfish attitude of its good
citizens and the spirit Of frank CO.
operation of its good friends can make
it possible for me to carry through the
enormous task of national reconstruc-
tion." So far, President Sanchez Cerro
does not seem to have found much of
that "unselfish attitude" and co-opera-
ton on the part Of his countrymen.
Rich in Tradition.
The first idea. that comes to mind in
thinking OF Feru Is Tie SIOTy VI Lie
marvellous Inca Empire, which -four
ished throughout that region when
America had not yet become America.
No matter how many centuries may
pass after the last descendant of the
Incas has ceased to tread the Peruvian
mountain trails. the name of Peru will
forever evoke pictures of that wonder
full civilization. They are so intimately
linked that it would seem impossible
TO attempt any discussion of modern
Peru without going back to those long
gone days when Peru was a land OF
incalculable wealth and splendor, the
seat of an indigenous civilization un-
rivaled in the Southern Continent.
When the Spanish ConquerorS whom
Columbus landed in America reached
the heart of the continent, they found
in the region now occupied by the re-
publicS of Peru. Bolivia and Ecuador
vast empire of bronZe-skinned men,
speaking an unknown tongue and pos
sessing extraordinary cultural attain
ments: an original type of civilization
very different from that of Europe.
The IncaS had so complete knoWl-
edge II astronomy, geometry and certain
branches of mathematics, as well as Of
arts and crafts. that they astounded
the European invaders, who had thought
themselves the only civilized people on
the planet. In Tiahuanacu, for example,
the Incas had constructed, in the Gate