Hernandarias, enthusiastic soldier though he proved himself, by no means
confined his energies to the arts of war; in statesmanship his ideas
were progressive. Having once subdued the wilder Indians, he led the way
to peaceful co-operation. According to Senor J.M. Estrada--
"Hernandarias devoted his whole soul to the development of a
species of colonization which he terms the spiritual
conquest--that is to say, he inculcated into the country the
Christian spirit of discipline, civilization, and concord. He awoke
the soul of the savage, and turned his instincts in search of
better things than he had known. He closed the barracks of the
soldiers and opened the Colleges of the Missionaries."
In some respects Hernandarias's tenure of office resembled that of
Irala, for, although unanimously elected by the colonists, in whose eyes
he was estimated at his true value, the official ratification of Spain
of his appointment was many years in forthcoming, the principal reason
for the delay being, of course, due to the fact of his colonial birth.
On several occasions his government was interrupted owing to this, and,
indeed, Hernandarias may be said to have ruled for various distinct
periods.
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