Bolivia— A Country Without a Debt 



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America lived condemned to~inaction and 

 outside of the march of progress of the 

 world, until the social upheaval known 

 as the French revolution changed the 

 basis of modern society and made its in- 

 fluence felt in the far-off Spanish colo- 

 nies. 



Contemporaneously the English colo- 

 nies of North America had won their 

 independence and organized a federal re- 

 public, destined to become the greatest 

 example of popular government and a 

 complete demonstration of the life-giving 

 influence of democracy. 



These great historic events encouraged 

 the Hispano-American colonies to fight 

 for their freedom, which they had longed 

 to attain. 



The invasion of Spain by Napoleon 

 and the capture of Ferdinando VII of- 

 fered a favorable opportunity for a gen- 

 eral uprising. The city of La Paz was 

 among the first to openly proclaim inde- 

 pendence, and on the i6th of July, 1809, 

 organized a Jimta Fuitiva, called to 

 advance the noble work of political 

 redemption of all the continent. 



Spain tried to drown the revolution in 

 blood, and committed the most atrocious 

 deeds. The chiefs of the revolution were 

 condemned to death, and, as a lesson and 

 warning, their bodies were quartered and 

 placed on poles along the public roads. 



The hour of regeneration, however, 

 had arrived, and nothing could stop the 

 efforts of a people determined to secure 

 their freedom. The stubborn fight con- 

 tinued for fifteen years. The territory 

 of Alto Peru, now Bolivia, was the the- 

 ater of dail}' combats, and there was not 

 a village or piece of ground that was not 

 consecrated with the generous blood of 

 her sons fighting for liberty. As illus- 

 trating cruelties perpetrated by the Span- 

 iards, it is stated that once they entered 

 the city of Tarija carrying on their lances 

 the heads of the patriots killed on the 

 field of battle. 



The victory of Ayacucho. 011 the 9th 

 of December, 1824, won by the Vene- 

 zuelan General Antonio. Jose de Sucre, 



terminated the war, and thus the South 

 American countries secured their eman- 

 cipation. 



The provinces of Upper Peru held the 

 first national congress in Sucre, and on 

 the 6th of August, 1825, was proclaimed 

 and established the Republic of Bolivia. 



UNHAPPY BECAUSE OF MILITARY 

 PRESIDENTS 



The independent life of Bolivia began 

 under auspicious circumstances. Under 

 the enlightened guidance of Sucre, the 

 victor of Ayacucho, a hero illustrious for 

 his virtues, his love of progress, as well 

 as his deep respect for the law, the Re- 

 public without doubt might have ad- 

 vanced rapidly toward the path of free- 

 dom and order ; but unfortunately a mili- 

 tary insurrection, prompted by intrigues 

 of neighbors and personal ambitions, al- 

 though condemned by the whole country, 

 caused the resignation of the presidency 

 of Sucre. 



He was succeeded by General Santa 

 Cruz, who, called by one of the factions 

 in which Peru was divided, invaded that 

 republic and organized the Peru-Bolivian 

 Confederation. With the title of Su- 

 preme Protector, he occupied with Boliv- 

 ian troops the capital of Lima, where he 

 fixed his residence ; but, owing to the 

 opposition of the contrary bands, aided 

 by Chile, fearful of the increased power 

 that the Peru-Bolivian Confederation 

 might develop, put an end to it in a few 

 years. 



With Santa Cruz began the sad period 

 of military chiefs and the efforts of the 

 people to free themselves by the disas- 

 trous remedy of revolution, whose fatal 

 influence was shown when, weakened and 

 divided by our internal dissensions, we 

 were worsted in the war with Chile. 



The disasters and losses resulting from 

 this war awakened the patriotic sentiment 

 of the nation, and then the Bolivians un- 

 dertook to repair by peace and work the 

 losses caused by anarchy. 



Today the country is peaceful, under a 

 free government elected by popular vote. 



