that only encourages the personal growth of individuals. Loyalty has become doubtful, and the great feeling of duty, which is the religion of the good man, has been banished from hearts by the base calamity.Thus, the tired and weary Belzu left to Europe as Minister Plenipotenciary. Linares did no hesitate nor did he wait to conspire against Córdova. President of Bolivia In 1857, Linares came to power at the head of a pro-civilian military coup d'état, a novelty in the country. Indeed, save for a couple of brief and minor exceptions, he can be said to be the first civilian president of Bolivia. Having toppled General Córdova, Linares legitimized his rule via the ballot box, when he was elected constitutional president by a large majority. Originally, his administration was one of the most energetic and honest that the country had seen. He introduced many reforms, and vigorously attacked the abuses that had crept into the public administration. Along the way, of course, he made many enemies, who in turn conspired against him. Rebellions and uprisings became the order of the day. Dictator for Life and coup Unable to remain in power by other means, in 1858 Linares did the unthinkable: he proclaimed himself "Dictator for Life", ruling by decree and by the force of arms—paradoxically, in order to restore order and eliminate all coups in the future. It was a contradiction of everything he had always purported to stand for, and predictably he became quite unpopular. In January 1861, he was overthrown as a result of a coup sponsored by his own Minister of War, José María de Achá. Exiled to Chile, Linares wrote a tantalizing pamphlet directed at the Bolivian National Congress which caused a scandal in the nation. In short, it was a reflection of his presidency and his beliefs. Linares died months after he was deposed in Valparaíso, on October 23, 1861, after his already declining health deteriorated. References 1808 births 1861 deaths 19th-century Bolivian lawyers 19th-century Bolivian politicians Ambassadors of Bolivia to Spain Bolivian diplomats Bolivian expatriates in Chile Bolivian people of Spanish descent Candidates in the 1855 Bolivian presidential election Foreign ministers of Bolivia Interior ministers of Bolivia Leaders who took power by coup Leaders ousted by a coup Members of the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies from Potosí People from José María Linares Province Presidents of Bolivia Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies (Bolivia) Presidents