The South American Republics, Part 2 of 2Dawson, Thomas Cleland
History
The South American Republics, Part 2 of 2
Dawson, Thomas Cleland
South America -- History
Caceres made no change in the centralised system of government by
prefects,--and the administrative fabric survived, substantially
untouched, the horrors of the Chilean war and the fighting between rival
chiefs. Liberal tendencies were shown in efforts to place the Indians on
an equal political footing with the Peruvians of Spanish descent,
although naturally the Creole aristocracy still dominates by reason of
its intelligence. Considerable dissatisfaction was felt with Caceres'
management of finances, but in 1890 he was succeeded by his friend,
Colonel Bermudez, who continued his policy. Unfortunately for the peace
of the country the latter died in 1893. His legal successor was Solar,
first vice-president, but an intrigue in the cabinet prevented the
latter's peaceable recognition. Caceres' influence was dominant in the
administration, and a semblance of an election recalled him to power.
General Pierola, who had led two unsuccessful insurrections--those of
1874 and 1878--and who had got power in 1880, only to lose it after the
fall of Lima, saw his opportunity. Solar joined forces with him and
revolt broke out against Caceres. The latter had completely lost the
popularity won as the most determined champion of the national rights
against Chilean aggression; his administration was bad; the public
employees were unpaid; the meagre resources of the country were wasted
on his favourites. Though his troops were at first successful against
Pierola's and Solar's hasty levies, the revolution recovered from each
defeat until finally the insurrectionists entered Lima itself. The
enemies of Caceres within the town arose and for two days its streets
were the scene of bloody barricade fighting. Rarely does a civilised
city pass through such a frightful experience as Lima on the 18th of
July, 1895. There had been no time to extinguish the street lamps, and
all night long the bands of revolutionists advanced, fighting by the
lights which brightly illumined the carnage except where extinguished by
rifle balls. Though his forces were gradually driven back, Caceres
stubbornly refused to resign, and at last only yielded to the urgent
representations of the foreign ministers, leaving power in the hands of
a junta.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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