Diario las Américas., 1958-05-07
Know thv
Neighbot
BY ANTONIO RUIZ

(alLE - Lack OF freedom IN
trade, heavy taxes, the obstacles to
an ample diffusion of learning, the
privileges granted the Spaniards
in filling high Government posi-
tons, the misery in which the
working class was kept, were the
main reasons for the uprising of
Chilean patriots on September l8,
1910, when they established the
first Government Junta in Open
Council" They had been encourag-
ed for some time by the independ-
ence of the United States, The
French Revolution, and by the i'm
prisonment of the King of Spain
by Napoleon.
The Government Junta, which
had to rule in the name of the
King, did not satisfy the desires
of the revolutionists, who con-
voked the first National Congress
but the great differences about
the best way to bring about a
Transformation of Chile resulted
in the uprising of September 4,
1911, directed by Jose Miguel Ca
rrera, who drafted the first Con-
stitution of Chile.
Carrera founded the National
Institute, brought the first print
ing press from the US. and placed
it in charge of a priest, Camilo
Henriquez, who edited the first
newspaper of the country, called
La Aurora de Chile" (The Dawn
of Chile). Slavery was abolished,
and several progressive projects
for Improvements were launched.
The Viceroy Of Peru organized
an army, which landed in Southern
Chile in 1918. Bernardo O'Higgins,
son of Ambroisio O'Higgins, one
of the governors at the time of
the colony, and later Viceroy OF
Peru, who had met in Europe some
of the South American patriots,
put himself at the head of the
Chilean patriots and engaged in
heroic combats with the invading
Spaniards. He announced his mot,
to: Live with Honor or Die with
Glory" and near Rancagua he pas
Sed over the Andes, where with
San Martin he began organizing
the first Army of Liberation. Re
conquest of Chile by the S%paniards
meant the return of the colonial
regime, but resistance was con
tinued and kept alive by the popu'
lar leader Manuel Rodriguez
whose guerrillas performed ex'
traordinary exploits.
On July 8, 1918, independence
of Argentina was proclaimed, and
this revived the faith of the Chill
can people. On February 1917, Sar
Martin and O'Higgins, at the head
of an army of Argentines and
Chileans, crossed the Andes, and
at Chacabuco, near Santiago, de
feated the Spaniards. O'Higglns
was proclaimed Supreme Director.
and on February 10, 1918, signed
the memorable document OF the
Proclamation and Oath OF hide
pendence.
A new army organized by the
Viceroy was defeated by San Mar
tin at Maipu. Although he had been
wounded, O'Higgins returned to
the battlefield, and embraced San
Martin saying: "Glory to the Sa'
viour of Chile" to which San Mar
tin answered: "Chile will never
forget the sacrifice you have made
in coming wounded to the battle
field"
But for these brave men free
dom of Argentina and Chile was
not enough. The enemy must b'
beaten in his last redoubt. O'Hig'
gins organized the Liberation Elk
petition which was to win free
dom for Peru. He purchased ships
and placed them under Lord Co
chrane. San Martin went with the
expedition. Reyerses and victor
les marked the path toward liberty
Bolivar, San Martin, O'Higgins, SUI
ere, and many outstanding men Of
the struggle for emancipations
finally succeeded in securing free
dom for South America.
Continued tomorrow
~ Spanish Version Page 3