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aditions of a sort of municipal home rule handed down from the colonial cabildos； so much as to secure the recognition of a number of isolated villages or small towns as sovereign stateswhich meant turning them over as fiefs to their local chieftains。 Federalism； therefore； was the Spanish American expression for a feudalism upheld by military lordlets and their retainers。
Among the measures of reform introduced by one republic or another during the revolutionary period； abolition of the Inquisition had been one of the foremost； otherwise comparatively little was done to curb the influence of the Church。 Indeed the earlier constitutions regularly contained articles declaring Roman Catholicism the sole legal faith as well as the religion of the state； and safeguarding in other respects its prestige in the community。 Here was an institution； wealthy； proud； and influential； which declined to yield its ancient prerogatives and privileges and to that end relied upon the support of clericals and conservatives who disliked innovations of a democratic sort and viewed askance the entry of immigrants professing an alien faith。 Opposed to the Church stood governments verging on bankruptcy； desirous of exercising supreme control； and dominated by individuals eager to put theories of democracy into practice and to throw open the doors of the republic freely to newcomers from other lands。 In the opinion of these radicals the Church ought to be deprived both of its property and of its monopoly of education。 The one should be turned over to the nation； to which it properly belonged； and should be converted into public utilities； the other should be made absolutely secular； in order to destroy clerical influence over the youthful mind。 In this program radicals and liberals concurred with varying degrees of intensity； while the moderates strove to hold the balance between them and their opponents。
Out of this complex situation civil commotions were bound to arise。 Occasionally these were real wars； but as a rule only skirmishes or sporadic insurrections occurred。 They were called 〃revolutions；〃 not because some great principle was actually at stake but because the term had been popular ever since the struggle with Spain。 As a designation for movements aimed at securing rotation in office； and hence control of the treasury； it was appropriate enough！ At all events； whether serious or farcical； the commotions often involved an expenditure in life and money far beyond the value of the interests affected。 Further； both the prevalent disorder and the centralization of authority impelled the educated and wellto…do classes to take up their residence at the seat of government。 Not a few of the uprisings were； in fact； protests on the part of the neglected folk in the interior of the country against concentration of population； wealth； intellect； and power in the Spanish American capitals。
Among the towns of this sort was Buenos Aires。 Here； in 1829； Rosas inaugurated a career of rulership over the Argentine Confederation； culminating in a despotism that made him the most extraordinary figure of his time。 Originally a stockfarmer and skilled in all the exercises of the cowboy； he developed an unusual talent for administration。 His keen intelligence； supple statecraft； inflexibility of purpose； and vigor of action； united to a shrewd understanding of human follies and passions； gave to his personality a dominance that awed and to his word of command a power that humbled。 Over his fellow chieftains who held the provinces in terrorized subjection； he won an ascendancy that insured compliance with his will。 The instincts of the multitude he flattered by his generous simplicity； while he enlisted the support of the responsible class by maintaining order in the countryside。 The desire； also； of Buenos Aires to be paramount over the other provinces had no small share in strengthening his power。
Relatively honest in money matters； and a stickler for precision and uniformity； Rosas sought to govern a nation in the rough…and…ready fashion of the stock farm。 A creature of his environment； no better and no worse than his associates； but only more capable than they； and absolutely convinced that pitiless autocracy was the sole means of creating a nation out of chaotic fragments； this 〃Robespierre of South America〃 carried on his despotic sway； regardless of the fury of opponents and the menace of foreign intervention。
During the first three years of his control； however； except for the rigorous suppression of unitary movements and the muzzling of the press； few signs appeared of the 〃black night of Argentine history 〃which was soon to close down on the land。 Realizing that the auspicious moment had not yet arrived for him to exercise the limitless power that he thought needful； he declined an offer of reelection from the provincial legislature； in the hope that； through a policy of conciliation； his successor might fall a prey to the designs of the Unitaries。 When this happened； he secretly stirred up the provinces into a renewal of the earlier disturbances； until the evidence became overwhelming that Rosas alone could bring peace and progress out of turmoil and backwardness。 Reluctantly the legislature yielded him the power it knew he wanted。 This he would not accept until a 〃popular〃 vote of some 9000 to 4 confirmed the choice。 In 1835； accordingly； he became dictator for the first of four successive terms of five years。
Then ensued； notably in Buenos Aires itself； a state of affairs at once grotesque and frightful。 Not content with hunting down and inflicting every possible； outrage upon those suspected of sympathy with the Unitaries； Rosas forbade them to display the light blue and white colors of their party device and directed that red； the sign of Federalism； should be displayed on all occasions。 Pink he would not tolerate as being too attenuated a shade and altogether too suggestive of political trimming！ A band of his followers； made up of ruffians； and called the Mazorca； or 〃Ear of Corn；〃 because of the resemblance of their close fellowship to its adhering grains； broke into private houses； destroyed everything light blue within reach； and maltreated the unfortunate occupants at will。 No man was safe also who did not give his face a leonine aspect by wearing a mustache and sidewhiskersemblems； the one of 〃federalism；〃 and the other of 〃independence。〃 To possess a visage bare of these hirsute adornments or a countenance too efflorescent in that respect was； under a regime of tonsorial politics； to invite personal disaster！ Nothing apparently was too cringing or servile to show how submissive the people were to the mastery of Rosas。 Private vengeance and defamation of the innocent did their sinister work unchecked。 Even when his arbitrary treatment of foreigners had compelled France for a while to institute a blockade of Buenos Aires； the wily dictator utilized the incident to turn patriotic resentment to his own advantage。
Meanwhile matters in Uruguay had come to such a pass that Rosas saw an opportunity to extend his control in that direction also。 Placed between Brazil and the Argentine Confederation and so often a bone of contention； t