"
The Archbishop of Malines, Monsignor de Pradt, said:
"The morality of the world, weakened with so many examples of violence,
baseness, ambition, covetousness and hypocrisy, was in need of a
stimulus like Bolivar, whose moderation and whose unheard-of abnegation
in the full possession of power have rendered ambition hate
The example of this great, virtuous man may serve as a general
purification, strong enough to disinfect society."
The author of this monograph has been very keen to find all papers and
documents in which appears disparaging criticism of the life of Bolivar. He
declares that he has never found one which is not invalidated by reasons of
personal interest, political antagonism or prejudice. Bolivar's life was
always consistent with his words. He was a man of power. Whenever occasion
demanded it, he became a real dictator. At times necessity made him rather
weak in dealing with the stormy elements of his own party, and only in
exceptional circumstances, as in the sad case of General Piar did he rise
to the plane of severity in letting justice take its course. A careful
study of the life of Bolivar has produced a great change in the mind of the
author of this work. He has come to realize that he was studying not merely
the life and deeds of a great American, or even of a great man among all
men, but the history of one of those exceptional beings selected by God to
perform the highest missions and to teach great lessons.
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