Chilean O’Higginses

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1082, 20 September 1930, Page 8

Chilean O’Higginses

South American Irishmen

RECENT mention of the name O’Higgins in connection with Chile .recalls the fact that a large number of Irishmen have helped in the formation of South American Republics. In particular, two of the family O’Higgins played big parts in the national and political development of Chile and Peru. Commemorating them today, a central Chilean province —bounded by Santiago and Colchagua, and with its borders traced by the River Maipo on tlie north and the River Rapel on the south—is named O’Higgins. To come across it suddenly on a map of South America may be reckoned one of the happiest surprises an Irishman can have.

The first and greatest of the sons of Brin to find fame in South America was Ambrosio O'Higgins. His life, from boyhood to old age, was romantic and adventurous. He was born in 1720 and the priesthood was set down for his career. He departed a long way indeed from ihat course. While he was still a boy, his parents, who were poor, sent him to Spain, to a Jesuit uncle in Seville. As he made the slow sea trip round the coasts of Spain' and Portugal the first seeds of adventure and dissatisfaction with his lot may have been sown in him. At all events he gave his uncle no indication of his ever being suited for the Church. If it had been in England and a hundred years or so later, he would probably have been placed on a ship sailing for one of Britain’s colonies—Australia possibly, or even New Zealand. As things were, he was dispatched to South America. The first trade of this man who was. to become builder, soldier, administrator and viceroy was that of pedlar. Selling smart articles on the way he progressed across the Andes to Chile, and on, through Iquique, Pisaqua, Arequipa and Cuzco, to Peru—an Irish youth among the towns and peoples eft New Spain. THE MULE STALL At Lima he. took a step upward in the ladder of trades, and kept a mule stall, from which he helped to supply the heavy demand for these animals by travellers and by the merchants of Lima. He spent years there, gaining an experience of Peruvian ways and a knowledge of the Peruvian mind which were very useful to him when he struck out on his administrative career. It is strange to find an O'Higgins suffering from the activities of the Inquisition; but it was the poming of the Church’s "temporal arm” to Lima that caused Ambrosio to retrace his steps down the coast to Santiago, With his better knowledge of the Latin people who comprised almost his entire visiting list, he found himself in a greatly improved position at his new home. By using a certain amount of initiative he obtained a Government contract to build resthouses on the mountain roads. After a slow upward climb through nearly half a centry, O’Higgins's fortunes rose rapidly from 1770 until his death in 1801. By 1770 he had gained sufficient military experience to be sent to suppress a rising of the Araueanian Indians. He defeated them, but after the peace was concluded he

seems to have shown considerable tact and to have won their goodwill. Though tact with the Indians was by no means a recommendation for high posts In 18th century South America, Ambrosio did not suffer because of his courtesy. For two years he was administrator at Concepcion. lie was then promoted to the Captain-Gover-norship of Chile —with the title of Marquis of Osorno - ami for eight years he ruled with an iron hand. He touched everything in the sphere of administration. Roads were repaired and constructed; towns were built; trade increased and flourished under his guidance. He wiped out malpractices in the Government and checked corruption among his officials —no mean feat this. SPAIN’S IRISH VICEROY Final honour came to him in 1796 when he was appointed ViLeroy of Peru, and an Irishman represented the King of Spain among men of Spanish birth. The wide spaces of Peru might have troubled him if the rising tide of revolt in Latin America had not run so slowly there. He maintained a vigorous rule through his failing years. Death came to him on February IS, 1801. Bernardo O’Higgins, the natural son of Ambrosio. led, in his youth, a life very different from that of his father, though later he had scarcely less of power and adventure. As a small boy he was sent to England to be educated, and as a young man he returned to his birthplace, Chile, to join and assist the movement for independence. Helped at the start, by his father’s reputation and afterward by his own ability, he quickly assumed positions of importance in the revolutionary army. In 1813 he was commander-in-chief, and in 1817 he became Dictator of a country bordering that over which his father had ruled as Viceroy for the men whom Bernardo rejected. Independence was formally declared the following year. Bernardo took stern measures with the Spanish troops, driving them out of the country. Though during bis regime the Government was in an unsettled condition lie succeeded in laying the foundations of a constitution giving it a form which it has retained, with a few modifications, to tljis day, and a stability which enabled it to survive a troubled century <of Soutu American history. Bernardo resigned after a .dictatorship of six years. Until his death on October 24, 1842, he lived in retirement at Lima. - GAV.C.