Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-25
CH1LE,s GROWING POWER.

Mr.. Albert G.. Browne, jr., delivered q
| lecture before the American Geographical
Society in the presence of a large audience
at Chickeling Hall, New York, last week
''The Growing Power Of Chile in the Pa
ciGc'' was the lecturers topic. After sketch
ing the history OF Chile, and particularly oi
the recent war between Chile and Peru
| Mr.. Browne said:
Now as this five years drama draws to a
close, let Us sum up some Of its results.
Chile, victorious at every point, in dplo'
macy rs we'll as in war, has discouraged
European intervention with the aid of the
United States, and at the time has averted
the intervention OF the United States by her
profession of willingness to fight sooner than
| submit to it; has brought Bolivia into an.
| tagonism to her former ally, and has so
utterly subjugated Peru that if her own
population We're large enough to warrant
such \ policy she could annex the whole
OF that country to her domain. But by
reason of its pauclty- not by mag
nanimity--shc satiates herself with the
appropriation Of the nitrate district for
which she began the war and what
she hardly dared to hope at the outsetj with
the possession Of Tacna and africa, and
thereby the control Of the main outlet OF
Bolivia 10 the world, the permanent disso-
luton of the Peru-Bolivia conlederacy and
the ability at almost any time TO force war
between these countries by instigating and
helping Bolivia to seize Arcquipa, Puno and
Mollendo
As to her financial condition, her five per
cent bonds. which were quoted at ct in Lon
don at the beginning Of January, 1879, were
quoted at 95 at the beginning OF January,
1851 In his annual message to Congress
last June President Santa Maria announced
that the sinking fund for the foreign debt,
which has been suspended since the war be-
gan, will be resumed this year, and when
that j. done Chilean credit will further ad-
vance and rank with that Of almost any ma
ton in the world.
The foreign trade OF Chile, which was
barely ?60,0U0,000 in value in 1878, has
more than doubled since, and exceeded
Sl25. 900 900 in 1882. and the balance Of trade
was nearly $20,00O,O 600 in her favor. TO ap-
prcciatc these figures bear in mind that her
population is but 100000 and that the for
cign trade Of the United States as lately as
the year 1880, when we had population Of
nearly l3 100000, was less in value.
The Chilean revenue has increased in still
greater proportion. IN 1873 as has been
stated. its receipts from all ordinary sources
OF income were only $ll ,000.0Uo. In 1882
they amounted to S42, ,000,0OO. and besides
reducing the public debt nearly 81 100000
in that year, President Santa Maria announc-
ed TO the Congress last June that there was
cash surplus OF more than SS,000,0 900, which
must since have largely increased. The
,f In ri,n1 lands nf ('bi1n has
doubled within five years, and that Of its
city real estate, as Judged by the rents de-
manGed in the capital has more than
doubled.
Nor is this ALL Chile has not only ad
vanced into the position of the controlling
Power on the west coast of South America,
but by her naval strength she can if she
peasts at this moment command the Pacific
coast Of the United States. Any one
Of her three iron-clads can sink
every wooden vessel in our wretched
navy, and the contrast between her
ability and our impotence is a daily shame
TO every citizen Of our country who resides
or travels between Panama and Cape Horn.
| Gen Wm. i. Franklyn, whose authority
will not be disputed, has publicly warned US
that there is no seaboard city Of the United
States that could net at this time he laid
under contribution by single hostile iron
clad ship, which after receiving contribu-
ton, CT destroying the city by lombard
| ment could quietly steam out to sea with
out danger Of damage from anything which
any fort or ship of the United States
| can do.
In hostilities between Chile and ourselves
she could advance by sea to an attack upon
California and Oregon with a navy having
| II. al Il t1,n rf ft-n nf
which are first rates, and any one ofthe three
is more than match for our Pacific squad
ron. Chile has also composite and wooden
war vessels and fine merchant vessels which
could be used in the event of a war. Our
only chance against any of them would be
bv boarding. Our defenceless condition ia
the Pacific is not safe; it is not compatible
with those relations Of Power to Power
there which would be sure guarantees OF
peace.
beg you also to give q thought to the
important relation Of the presence Of such a
Power as Chile is growing to be in the South
Pacific to our pretensions of right to con-
troll any Isthmus canal by virtue of our pos
sessions in the North Pacific. You will not
find Chilean statesman who will agree to
this pretension Of ours, and England and
France both will support Chile's resistance
oft whenever the question becomes prac.
tical one. Nor is Chile likely to be the on
II South American country to dispute such
. claim on our part. The unprecedented
and unsatisfactory transactions of our diplo,
macy in connection with the South Pacific
war have impaired the prestige of the Uni
ted States among those countries TO a,degree
of which neither Congress nor the people al
large are sensible, nor will they become tul
ly sensible of it, l fear, until serious
troubles arise in consequence.