200 A HISTORY OF CHILE and thus began Chile's foreign debt. In effect, Ber- nardo O'Higgins was absolute king of Chile, governing without a constitution, laws or congress, though he himself desired the formation of a federation with a constitution. Despite his splendid services to the state bis. dictatorial position retarded the organization of a constitutional government. There was opposition to this centralized form of government, but while the war lasted, O'Higgins was able to keep the power, aided by the active influence of San Martin, the army, and intriguers who do not reflect much credit upon their superiors. The Carreras and Manuel Rod- riguez fell victims to these intrigues, but in the end the advocates of constitutional and representative gov- ernment forced O'Higgins to abdicate. General O'Higgins was given an estate by the Peru- vian government ; there he passed the remainder of his days, dying at Lima in 1842, eight years before San Martin died in France.
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