CHAPTER VI THE STRUGGLE IN PERU It was fortunate for Chile in ttiese turbulent times that a man like Don Bernardo O'Higgins was at the head of affairs, otherwise the state might have been torn asunder by party feuds. Though hampered often in his efforts by the men for whom San Martin had se- cured departmental places, yet O'Higgins labored to introduce essential improvements into the affairs of state, to overcome prejudices, to open up a foreign commerce, to mitigate so far as possible the most fla- grant abuses. The disgraceful peculations carried on by some of San Martin's ministerial appointees, O'Hig- gins was obliged to overlook, for some of these minis- ters were quite as powerful and quite as secure in their positions, as was the director himself; notably, Rod- riguez, an intriguing fellow, Don Ignacio Zentano, minister of war, a pliable tool, Don Anselmo Cruz, of the finance department, imbecile, but crafty, and Don Joaquim Echeverria, who was at the head of the affairs of state and justice, a man of subterfuge and deceit. With such a ministry, we wonder that O'Higgins was able to keep the peace so long as he did, and make Chile, during his administration, the most respected abroad of all the South American states.
