Diario las Américas., 1958-03-07

Neishbo!.
By ANTONIO RUIZ

PERU Lima, capltaI Vi re-
ri and for about three centuries
seat of Spanish colonial govern
ment in South America, was found
ed by Francisco Pizarro, conquer
or Of Peru, on January 10, 1885,
on the banks of the Rimac River,
with the purpose of establishing a
Capital for New Castillo. Two years
later, on December II, 1887, En-
peror Charles V of Spain bestowed
upon it the title of "The Very Mob
lie and Loyal City of the Kings"
giving it a coat of arms. Lima was
the wealthiest and the greatest CT
ty of the New World. After the
foundation of Lima, many expedl-
lions were sent from there to the
south. to Chile and Bolivia.
The Spanish colonial system that
followed the period of conquest
lasted for nearly three centuries.
AS the main part of that system,
Peru was the most powerful and
most important Viceroyalty estab-
lished by the Spanish Crown. The
Viceroyalty, from Lima, had au-
thority over all other Spanish vi
ceroyalties in South America, with
the exception of the C~aptaincy-
General Of Venezuela. By the time
of the independence movement,
Lima had become the most distin-
guished and the most aristocratic
colonial city, as well as the main
stronghold of Spanish power in
South America.
The great distance from the mo-
Their country led to abuses by loo
al authorities, and the oppression
brought its natural reaction in fav-
or Of freedom and equality. The
people of the colonies were sub
jected to severe economic and So
cial discrimination. Trade with 9th
er colonies was forbidden; the CO.
lonists were not allowed to pro-
duce goods in competition with
those produced in Spain. Besides,
the "criollos" (native born Peru
vians), we're prevented from hold
ing public office. Finally, the
French invasion of Spain encou.
ragged the movement for independ'
enee in South America, but be-
cause of the importance for
Spain of the Viceroyalty of Peru,
and the concentration in Lima OF
almost all the Spanish power and
forces, the independence OF Peru
was greatly delayed. Z
Nevertheless, sporadic revolu.
tionary movements took place in
Peru. Unfortunately, they were
quickly suppressed because of the
superiority of Spanish weapons and
regular soldiers. The principal re
volutionary movements in Peru
were those led by Tupac Amaru,
of royal blood and heir to the Inca
Empire; by Mateo and Remigio
Silva, in 1909; by Brigadier Gener.
al Mateo Pumacahua in 1914, and
those led by Francisco Antonio
Zela, the Angulo Brothers, Ancho-
rena, Aguilar, and many others.
All these prepared the way for
the final movement Of independ-
ence, but it was only in 1920 that,
with the arrival of the army Gen
eral Jose de San Martin, great
South American patriot, as well
as military genius, independence
of Peru was completed.
San Martin has bravely fought
In Africa, France and Spain. When
he learned of the independence
movement in his native Argen-
tina, he left Europe and Joined the
patriotic forces seeking independ'
ence for Argentina. After success
fully leading the armies OF Argen-
tina and Chile in their struggle
for independence, he set out to
liberate Peru, for he had said that
the independence of Hispanic Anne.
RIGA could not be secured until
the armies of Spain were driven
out of Peru. He reached Peruvian
shores on September s., 1920, al
the Bay of Independence, in Pa
racas, Southern Peru, and imme'
diitely sent forces to scout for
the enemy. He soon learned that
they mad fled. In this way the cam
paign for the Independence OF Pc
ri was started
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