By that time the last
stronghold of the Spaniards, Callao, had fallen into the hands of the
Venezuelan general, Bartolome Salom, a very distinguished officer who had
played a remarkable role under Bolivar during the War of Independence.
The resistance of Rodil in Callao is one of the best examples of Spanish
bravery. Rodil was a rough soldier, and often harsh and cruel in his
measures. In spite of hunger, illness and losses, he remained in Callao for
almost eleven months, not surrendering until January 23, 1826; he and
his men were the last representatives of the Spanish power to leave the
continent.
As soon as everything was well organized in Peru, Bolivar made ready to
return to Colombia. At that time some imprudent friends tried to convince
him that it was to the best interest of the now independent countries that
he should be made emperor of the Andes, which covered Colombia, Peru and
Bolivia. From Caracas, Paez proposed that he should return to Colombia and
set up a monarchy. Bolivar steadfastly refused to listen to any of these
seductions. To Paez he wrote:
"France had always been a kingdom. The Republican government
discredited itself and became more and more debased until it fell into
an abyss of hate. The ministers who led France were equally cruel and
inept. Napoleon was great, singular, and, besides that, extremely
ambitious. Nothing of the kind exists here. I am not Napoleon, no
I wish to be; neither do I want to imitate Caesar, and still less
Iturbide.
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