Evening star., 1933-05-14
By GASTON NERVAL.

ME aASdSSlndtlOu Oi EIcSlueut
introduced on the political scene
i of Latin America an element
frequent in the first turbulent
decadeS of Its republican existence. but
which had been absent from its more
recent history.
But then, too, President Sanchez
Cerro had more in common with the
old-t.me military and political CHIEF
tain typical Of the last century than with
the Latin American statesmen OF to-
day. Resolutc :mpetuous. arbitrary.
he had first come to power on the
crest of a revolutionary wave. after a
life packed with adventure and hard
ening experiences which even took him
to battrefields other than his coun-
try's. And in the government he had
chosen strong-hand methods. auto
cratic ways, a relentless persecution OF
those who refused to accept his lead
ership.
Political executions were not un-
usual during his administration. Po-
litical prisoners crowded the famous
San Lorenzo Island. Political exi'es
wandered about the neighboring coun-
tries Many of these probably viii say
| today that, no matter hcw the ete-
ments and the circumstances of Latin
! American politics have changed. the
, biblical wordj are still true: He that
liveth by the sword shall perish by
| the sword"
1t was in August. 1880. that the name
of Sanchez Cerro first acquired po.ltl-
| cal prominence. In that month. being
| in command of a battalion Of engineers
at Arequipa, he launched revolution
| against the ll-year dictatorship CT
August B. Leguia. the picturesque
South American Mussolini" who died
| in prison not long ago. Before that
| Sanchez Cerro had been involved IN
| various armed Cp-isings. among these
the cne which resulted in the over
throw OF President Billinghurst. IN
1914. in which he les. two fingers from
his right hand when seizing machine
gun by the muzzle and turning it on
| the government forces. This episode
and his record in the armies of Italy.
France and Spain. ard particularly in
| the Spanish war egains. Abd-e!-krim
| in Morocco, had given Col. S1nchez
Cerro great pres ige among the once
of the Peruvian Army and in the pub
/ lie mird.
Given Spontaneous Support
Thus. when. in the midst OF the
economic depression and after eleven
wears of a dictatorial rule, which had
suppressed all semblance of political
liberties In the country. the news OF
Sanchez Cerro's revolt spread through
out Peru, the Peruvian people re-
sponded enthusiastically and rallied 70
| his support. 1t was only matter OF
davs before the once supposedly un-
conuuerable regime of President-d-cta-
! tor Leguia had passed to history, :,
Sanchez Cerro was. of course halleo
as the savior of the republic. HIS
triumphant trip to the capital, Where
he was to occupy the Palscio oe PlzarIc
| as Provisional President. testified to the
extent to which he could count upon
| the support of the Peruvian people, II
respective Of political creed.
The old conservative elements praised
him for the restoration CT pubic hoer-
| ties and the end of a dictatorship which
! had taken away from them their ira
/ ditionl control Of Peruvian politics.
! The middle class. the professionals
the business men, the intellectuals, the
| liberals and all Independent groups vel
coined him as their de!ive-er from ar
| cdious regime. which had tramplee
down individual liberties ard alrno3
moropoliaed business activit' es.
Finally the more radical elements
the sectors of the Left. which ourms
| the eleven years OF O-cla1oisi!iu Ho-
lived literally under the ground, were
70 less enthusiastic and optimistic IL
their hopes for the future. They were
| confident that Sanchez Cerro, succeed.
| ing a regime of absolutism and special
privileges, would bring about a new or
der. in which social justice and modern
trends for the naturalization OF natural
resources would be given greater con-
alteration.
But this optimi.m m did not last long
Soon after he had arrived at the Pizar-
ro palace. Sanchez Cerro began to give
| the impression that his success amount
ed only to a change of masters for the
Peruvian people. Instead OF helping tc
insure the early return Of the country
to a normal constitutional status, he
did not hesitate to announce that his
government would exercise the strictes'
care in impolng upon the Peruvian
| masses the new order of things.
! He prolonged martial law throughout
/ the republic, maintained press censor