HONOUR TO GENIUS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1933, Page 6

HONOUR TO GENIUS

WORK OF SIMON BOLIVAR SOUTH AMERICAN TRIBUTES BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 17. Latin America, from Panama 10 Patagonia, is commemorating the genius of Simon Bolivar, who delivered it from the Spanish yoke, on the. occasion of the sesqui-centenary, or 150th anniversary of his birth. The republics he formed are still contending for the constitutional government lie endeavoured to establish. Bolivar, at his birth, was hailed as the future saviour of his country. His parents desired to name him Santiago, after the patron saint of Spain and Venezuela, his birthplace, but a priest intervened, demanding that lie be called Simon after Simon Maceabaeus, who led the Jews out of bondage. Historians are unable to account for the priest’s prophetic vision; it is suggested that the padre was moved by the attainment of independence by the iUnitcd States in the year of Bolivar’s birth. Before the liberator died, there were 16 independent republics on what once had been Spanish soil. Bpwed with grief at the age of 21, when his bricle of a year died of fever, Bolivar went to .Europe. He studied (Napoleon’s methods, journeyed to Rome, and, while exploring the ancient 3-uins, fell on his knees and swore to deyote the rest of Iris life to the cause of independence in South America. He returned and proclaimed Venezuela a republic at Angostura, on. the Orinoco River. Emulating Napoleon’s feat cf crossing the Alps, Bolivar led his army across the Andes and liberated (Peru and Ecuador. The southern liberator, San Martin, retired . before the dominant Venezuelan personality. When the last battle was fought, Bolivar declined to set himself at the head of the new re 'ubbes. Mis self-restraint on that oecaioii is tie: chief .cause of the present celebrations. “I am not Napoleon, nor do I wish to be,” Bolivar said, “neither clo I wish to imitate Cgasar or Iturbide.” Having thus placed himself above French, Roman and Mexican dictators, he added: “The title of ‘Liberator’ is superior to any other ever bestowed on human pride.” To advance his plan for a great confederation of South American republics, Bqlivar summoned a convention at Panama, three years after President ipTmroe made his famous pronouncement, which has since been known as the Monroe Doctrine. The United State.l was very cautions about tire scheme, and its delegates arrived after the meeting .wa.s over. Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Bolivers’ own Bolivia failed to send representatives.. ,j .! These and other indignities cul.ininated in an attempt to assassinate Bolivar in the Presidential Palace at Bogota. He resigned. Blow after blow followed. His one faithful ally, Sucre, was assassinated. Bolivar went into exile. His estate was confiscated. He died, a recipient of charity, at the age cf 47 years. The very nightshirt' he wore at his death was not his own. South America has atoned fully in the succeeding century. Every republic has its monument to Bolivar. Each is still battling in its cwn way -to maintain the ’independence he inaugurated.