Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1891 — Presidents of Spanish-American Republics. [ARTICLE]

Presidents of Spanish-American Republics.

“The perpetual wars of the Span-ish-American republics,” said a Spanish-American to a New York Sun man, “are largely owing to the fact that we put military commanders, at the head of our governments. In Chili we have Gen. Balmaceda for President: in Guatemala we have Gen. Barillas; k. the Argentine Re-

Sublic, Gen. Pellegrini; in Salvador,* en. Ezcta: in Costa Rica, Gen. RodHonduras, Gen.Bogran, in Mexico, Gen. Diaz; in Paraguay,Gen.* Gonzales, and there are still more Generals in command of other republics with full military' power. In Venezuela Dr. Palacio is President, but he also may as well be called a General. We see the same thing in the Portuguese-American republic, Brazil, of which Gen. da is President. It is largely because Spanish-Americans put their governments in the hands of military men. that lhey are forever at war, forever fighting in civil wars or in foreign’ wars. It is natural, I suppose, that Generals should be of a belligerent disposition and anxious for militaryJ glory. The administration of the civil affairs of a republic should be in the bands of civilians, but the republics of Spanish-America do not realize this fact.”