“A spirit of inquiry and intelligence animated the whole society. Schools were multiplied in every town; libraries established; and every encouragement given to literature and the arts. And as travelling was free, passports were unnecessary. “In the manners and even in the gait of every man, might be traced the air of conscious freedom and independence.” And all this was largely due to the energetic and peaceful rule of Bernardo O’Higgins. But political enemies soon began to press the Supreme Dictator hard. There were conspiracies of the Carrera party. Diplomatic misunderstandings arose between Chile and both the United States and England. Meanwhile, a more serious situation was developing which was to bring misery to Chile. The aristocrats, who had been Royalists, began to work secretly against O’Higgins and the Republic. Government officials, who were jealous of O’Higgins’s power and success, plotted against him. These conspirators succeeded in getting control of the Assembly. The Assembly demanded his resignation. O’Higgins knew that if he should refuse to resign, his act would plunge Chile into civil war. Rather than harm his Country, he laid down his power. The People of Chile, who loved and revered him, wept with sorrow at his abdication. And his enemies would not have dared to attack him, had they not known that he would never shed one drop of Chilean blood in his own defense. FIRST SOLDIER, FIRST CITIZEN The rest is soon told. Bernardo O’Higgins, with his mother and his sister Rosa, went into exile. He sought refuge in Peru. He reached there after the Amazing Meeting. San Martin was gone. The Peruvians welcomed him with sincere hospitality. They gladly offered to shelter him in his exile. They gratefully acknowledged all that he had done to help equip the Liberating Army which had freed Peru. They gave him a fine sugar plantation, and honoured him in every way they could. So he lived quietly among them for many years. But things were not going well in the Republic of Chile. Her first place, which she had held among other southern Republics because of her well-organized Government and her fine civic reconstruction, the work of O’Higgins, this her first place, was lost. She stood no longer at the head of her sister Republics. She was become a prey to political quarrels. The Holy Alliance in Europe was threatening her. It was then that Chile received gladly the Monroe Doctrine of the United States, which protected her against Spain. Then Chile, in her trouble, recalled O’Higgins and voted to restore him to all his titles and honours. Though he loved Chile, he knew it was not best to return, so he refused. Soon after which, he died in Peru. He is, to-day, the beloved National Hero of the Chilean People. CHILE AS SHE IS