Evening star., 1933-01-01
TWO WARS, SIX REVOLTS
SOUTH OFRIO CRANDE IN 80
Latin American Countries Also Had Two
More Presidential Inaugurations
Than Originally Scheduled.

contested. and new election called py
the provisional authorities.
This new election, and the one in
Chile, two months ago, were the two
unscheduled presidential contests added
to the list during 1899. Neither one,
however, came about in a peaceful way
They we're both preceded by series
of internal disturbances which wrought
considerable loss in lives and material
damages.
The uprising in Ecuador, preceding
and following the annulment OF Senior
Bonifaz's election, we're generally un-
successful. Although the personnel Of
the administration had to be changed
several times, the government remained
in the hands of the legal authorities.
Finally, these managed to conduct
new election, and Senior Martinez Mera,
the victorious candidate, was indicted
into office last month. The new Presi-
dent Is, of course, leader of the party
defeated in the previous election and
responsible for the annulment Of Senor
Bonifaz's popular mandate.
Davila in and Out.
The domestic disorders In Chile be-
gan when 1882 was still young with
the Socialistic revolt engineered by
Carlos Davila, former Ambassador to
Washington. Although Senor Davila
succeeded in overthrowing the Conser-
vative rule of President Montero, dis
sensions among the leaders of the new
regime soon resulted in renewed dis
turbances and consequent changes Of
government. Davila was ousted. made
triumphant comeback, and then
again was eliminated, In the interim
of few mcnths.
He is today back in the United States,
after meteoric career in Chilean poll
tics, but the last chapter of the social
movement he started has probably not
yet been written. New disorders fol-
lowed Davila's retirement, which for a
moment threatened to make the
Chilean government the prize Of am
bilious military chieftains. Several of
them tried their hands at it. in rapid
succession, until a strong reaction of
public opinion, tired of this continu-
Gus unrest and frightened by the pros
poets of military rule, urged the pro-
visional authorities to call a presiden-
tial election which would put an end to
these anomalous conditions. The cleo
ton was held two months ago, and, as
a result of it, former President Arturo
Alessandri was inaugurated on Decem-
ber "a head of the first constitutional
regime in Chile since the ousting Of
President Mentero.
To the internal disorders mentioned
in Costa Rica, Honduras, Ecuador
and Chile-two more must be added to
complete the list of six civil wars In
1892 These were in FL Salvador and
Brazil The Salvadorean affair was of
a communistic character, and forced
the government of that country to use
an iron hand in its suppression. Sew
eral hundred red agitators were re-
ported executed by loyal troops. but not
before they had had time to infiict
great damage in the towns and villages
seized in the outbreak.
The revolution in Brazil assumed the
proportions of a major civil war, prob
ably the most serious one which this
century has yet witnessed in South
America. In terms of lives and physi-
cal damages, it will be long remember
ed as a most severe and unfortunate
experience in the life of that great re-
public, the largest in the Western
Hemisphere. Fortunately, 1t failed to
overthrow the existing order of things,
and the regime Of President Vargas,
strengthened by the victory, is busy
today restoring the country to norrnalcy
and preparing the way for the presi-
Dental election next May.
Still another presidential change,
though a peaceful one, took place in
Mexico where President Ortiz Rubio,
having lost favor with the real boss"
of Mexico politics, former President
Gales. resigned, leaving the way open
for one of Gales lieutenants, Gen.
Abelardo Rodiguez, who was elected to
the post by Congress.
Chaco War Major Event.
The two International disputes which
1882 brought to Latin America had for
their setting the unexplored wilderness
of the Chaco and the Leticia regions
In the first one, undoubtedly the major
event in Latin America during the year
which has just come to a close, Bolivia
and Paraguay are the main protago-
nists. For the last six months Bolivian
and Paraguayan regular troops have
been fighting fiercely for the possession
OF several forts and strategic outpoSts
in the center of the Chaco. Diplomatic
efforts of neutral American govern
ments to stop this undeclared interna-
tional war have so far proved unsuc-
cessful. Only for "a hours. during the
Christmas holiday, hostilities were to-
tally suspended following request Of
Pope Plus XI.
OF Colombia and Peru are at odds be-
cause OF the seizure of the Colombian
port Leticia by handful of Peruvian
assailants, last September /. Although
both governments declare their pacific
intentions, the past four months have
seen rush of warlike preparations In
Peru and Colombia. These prepara-
tions, and the dificulty of harmonizing
the views of both contestants, seem to
indicate that the Leticia incident may
De only the beginning of another major
international controversy.
Thus, with two international con-
nlcts, six revolutions, and a series of
other minor internal upsets, six presi-
Dental elections, and eight presidential
inaugurations to its record. 1882 steps
aside to make room for another year.
and none can tell how the new one
Will match the record of the old. "The
moving finger writes; and, having writ,
moves on"
Copyright. 1880