Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-06-25

have been actively employed TO popu.
larize the Chilean version OF tho causes 9
OF the present quarrel, and the posses
sion of cable communication with Eu.
rope enables that Republic To be first
in the 6eld with the bulletins of naval
or military engagements. Hence 1t is
to be expected that the earliest reports
Of the progress of the war received
by Brazilian cable in Europe will be
srongly colored with the tints prevail.
ing at Valparaiso and Santiago de
Chile. On the other hand the tele.
graphic news which may be received
via Panama may be expected to bear
the imprimatur OF the Peruvian Cabi.
: net, and it will be well for the reader
desirous offorming accurate opinions to
await the tardy arrival of mail advices.
We have presented this summary Of
antecedents favorable to Chile, not for
the purpose of bespeaking American
sympathies in behalf ofthat Republic,
nor yet with the intention Of demolish-
, ing them by country statement in
; favor OF the Peru Bolivian alliance, but
simply TO clear the way for an inte.li.
gent appreciation of the actual situa.
ton IN South America. 1t wonld be
useless to disguise tho fact that. with
tho exception of Brazil and possibly of
Venezuela, public scntimen; in the
neutral countries of South America
regards the existing war as one long
premeditated by Chile for purposes OF
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. In re-
spect TO the original title 10 the terrific
ry in dispute in the Desert of Alta
CANA the map makers have almost in.
variably assigned it to Bolivia. There
was, indeed, lack Of precision in tho
title deeds, which has been skifully
utilized by Chile on more than one oc-
casion TO emphasize her doubtful
claims but no impartial student of
the question can doubt that 1t was su-
perior wealth, enterprise and maritime
facilities of Chile which gained her q
foothold in territories traditionally be.
longing to Bolivia.
That the conduct of Bolivia in plac-
ing an export duty upon the nitrates
Of Antofagasta and Mejillones was in
violation of tho treaty OF 1874 there is
no necessity here to deny. That in so
doing Bolivia acted upon the instiga-
ton Of Peru and that the ultimate
motive of the latter Republic was
desire to monopolize the nitrate de-
posits is exceedingly probable. The
secret alliance concluded between Peru
and Bolivia In 1873 was doubtless in
tended to apply to an eventuality such
as has now occurred, and the instinct
of the Cabinet of Santiago was at fault
in discerning that the real quarrel was
not with Bolivia but with Peru. The
statesmen Of Chile are far-sighted and
well read in international law, and
they have secured the great advant.
age of placing both their antagonists
technically in the wrong.
Admitting this fact, 1t remains to
inquire whether the apparent cause of
the war is the real cause, and whether
the maladroitness OF Peru and Bolivia
may not have obscured some real
grievances received at the hands OF
Chile. The Cabinet of Santiago is
fond Of enlarging upon the assistance
rendered TO her present antagonists in
securing their independence nearly
sixty years ago Without disparaging
the eminent services rendered to Peru
by San Martin, O'Higgins and Coch-
rane, in command of Chilean armies
and squadrons, it is evident that such
aid was a measure dictated no less by
sound policy than by fraternal sympa.
thy. Chile could never enjoy an as
sured independence while tho Spanish
flag waved over the Castle Of San
Felipe in Callao, and she would have
waged war upon the Spaniard for her
own safety irrespective of the result.
The only occasion when Chile has
heretofore crossed swords with Peru
was in 1888, when the Bolivian Gen.
eral Santa Cruz had conquered that
Republic and established the Peru
Bolivian Confederation, consisting of
three States--North Perm, Snnth Peru
and Bolivia. Discerning in this move
ment peril to the independence of
the surrounding Republics, Chile de-
clared war upon Santa Cruz and soon
shattered his ambitious confederation,
restoring TO Peru and Bolivia their in
dependence. For this good service
Chile received but scanty gratitude
and has be regarded for forty years
with jealousy proportionate to her
gallantry and success. The assistance
rendered by Chile TO Peru in the
Spanish conflict of 1864 was an act of
magnanimity which deserved better
return than II has received. Never
theless it is an open question whether,
with oil her gallantry and her valua-
BILE services in the past, the recent con-
duct of Chile has not savored Of AFRO.
gance and of an appetite for territory
which justified the apprehensions Of all
her neighbors. In the long pending
dispute with the Argentine Republic
concerning the Territory of Patagonia
the Chilean prctensions have been ex-
orbltant and have moro than once
brought the two countries TO the brink
Of war II Chile is now ready for war
with Peru and Bolivia ii is because she
has been making her preparations for
several years with view to a conflict
with the Argentine Republic, and it is
by no means impossible that she may
yet have to reckon with the govern
ment of Buenos Ayres as anhntagonist.
Our Republic is a sincere friend of
all the States Of South America now at
war, and would gladly render any
good offices which might terminate
the struggle with honor to all the com.
batants. Rumors of European inter-
vention are already rife, but it is high
time that the world should again be re-
minded that the "Monroe doctrine"
still lives The friendly mediation Of
the United States would seem to be
the most acceptable solution Of
lamentable contest wherein all the
parties have 30 many haternal ties
that reconciliation should be easy
Neio York Herald.
How GEN. SHIELDS WAS CuRRp.--An
exchange states the following: "Gen.
Shields, at the battle OF Ccrro Gordo,
| in Maxico waa aeverelv won nded while