A RISING IN BOLIVIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19919, 15 August 1927, Page 6

A RISING IN BOLIVIA

We are all so used to regarding the Latin-American republics as practically white men’s countries—or at least nearwhite—that the significance of the Indian rising reported from Bolivia may be imperfectly realised. The movement is reported to be spreading, some material damage has been done, and whites in outlying sections of the country are reported to be in danger. The Government, however, has an army which is expected to cope with the situation, and no doubt it will. Countries like Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador are not “white” countries at all. They are only countries ruled by whites. Roughly speaking, the Indians in each of the three named comprise from two-thirds to three-fourths of the population. Of the balance, the majority are of mixed blood; the pure whites probably do not amount to more than ten to fifteen per cent, of the total population, if so much.

Of the Indian population, about half are practically slaves, the rest are virtually savages. The habit of treating them rigorously instituted by the old Spanish conquerors has been continued till the present day. It was only nine years ago that Indian slavery was abolished in Ecuador. Treated as serfs, indeed as mere animals, they have no love for the ruling class, but lack of courage seems inherent in them and hitherto they have always been submissive. When a race of this kind, especially one with wrongs to avenge, does break out, however, excesses are bound to ensue.

The Latin-American republics are supposed to have democratic constitutions. So they have, but in most of them the democracy does not extend to the Indians. The privilege of voting is reserved for the whites or near-whites. The Indians have no privileges of any kind, no land, no standing beyond that of hewers of wood and drawers of water—those in the towns, that is. The “wild” Indians live a primitive existence.

Any hope of a successful Indian rising, therefore, is just about nil. Clubs, bows and arrows, and lack of fighting spirit have no chance against machine guns. Yet the ancestors of these Indians, built up a great and proud empire and a remarkable civilisation which lasted for centuries till destroyed by the Spaniards about 400 years ago.