Once there, he instigated all
sorts of disturbances, and succeeded in creating an appearance of popular
clamor for his reinstatement in command of the department in order to avoid
anarchy. In this he was helped by his friends and partisans. A faction
asked him to accept the military command of the department, and Paez,
supported by the municipal council of Valencia, did so in disobedience to
Congress. He adopted the title of Military and Civil Chief of Venezuela. He
succeeded in enlisting the support of Marino, but not that of Bermudez, in
spite of all his flattering propositions. Thus started the endless chain of
civil revolutions in independent Latin America.
Santander wrote to the Libertador asking him to help save the country from
revolution. Paez also sent a communication to him, in which he complained
against vice-president Santander. Bolivar decided to return at once to his
country, but he met with strong opposition on the part of the Peruvian
authorities and people. After some hesitation, he concluded to return home,
thus ending the period which marks the height of his popularity. Soon his
glory was to be tarnished by ingratitude. He departed from Peru never to
return. "Whatever remains of that life is sorrow."[1]
[Footnote 1: Bolivar--J.E. Rodo.]
On the way to his country, Bolivar found that the southern provinces of
Colombia wanted him to be dictator, but he declared that it was his desire
that the constitutional regime should continue.
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