election was attended by demonstrations of the national enthusiasm in a series of banquets and speeches in all the cities of the republic, which afforded opportunity for the expression of the spontaneous and sincere admiration of his devoted supporters. His youthful appearance and distinguished presence added to the interest which a recognition of his well-proved ability and energy gained from the applauding multitude, and the _vivas_ carried a note of affection as well as esteem as they were repeated in every street and alley of the capital. On the 24th of September, 1904, he was inaugurated by the sovereign will of the nation, in accordance with the principles of the Civil party, founded by his illustrious father. The record of his administration affords ample proof of the good judgment of the people who elected him their chief executive. [Illustration: COAT-OF-ARMS OF PERU.] [Illustration: ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL STREETS OF LIMA, DECORATED ON A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.] CHAPTER X THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT JOSÉ PARDO [Illustration: POST OFFICE, LIMA.] The inauguration of Dr. José Pardo took place amid the enthusiastic demonstrations of a people who recognized in their chosen leader a statesman of upright character and worthy principles, well equipped to maintain the authority of a just, liberal, and progressive government. There was more than the jubilant celebration of a victorious party in the festivities of that day, the nation exhibiting an affectionate pride in the accession of their young president, who followed in the path opened up by his illustrious father and illuminated by President Candamo, and who thus represented the highest hopes of civil government. Although only forty years of age at the time of his election, President Pardo was an experienced statesman and diplomatist, having been Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Council of Ministers during the administration of President Candamo, as well as diplomatic representative of the government on a special mission to the Court of Spain in a previous administration. His education, which began in the Lima Institute, a college founded by President Manuel Pardo, was directed in accordance with the liberal ideas that governed his father’s principles, and from the beginning it became evident that the student would develop into the statesman. When he was graduated from the University of San Marcos at the age of twenty-five, he held the degrees of Doctor of Jurisprudence and Doctor of Political and Social Science. During President Candamo’s term, Dr. Pardo successfully advocated the settlement by arbitration of difficult questions between his country and Bolivia, Ecuador, and Brazil; and, as president of the ministerial council, he was the principal leader in framing important laws for the building of railroads and for fiscal reform which were afterward sanctioned by Congress.