Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-08-02
A WISE PROCEEDING.

Our dispatches state that the people OF
Chill are proposing to elect their Presi-
dent hereafter through their national
Congress, and not as heretofore by
direct vote Of the people. This is the
result OF the brawls and fighting set on
loot at their recent election, during which
many people were killed and wounded,
aud repetitions OF which are feared ii the
present method prevails. With a people
such as the Chilians arein the main
cross-breed between the Spanish and
Indian blood-such method OF electng
a President would be a safer way to get
ut the will OF the people than by II gen
cral election, for the reason that the great
majority OF voters in Chill are densely
ignorant OF government affairs, and natur-
ally look TO their semi-owners-such
as the wealthy and educated classes
really are--for line oi action which
they religiousy follow out when given,
regardless of any teaching or preaching
to the contrary, for that people have one
shining virtue that places them far above
more pretentious nations, in that they
will stick to their friends against money
or any known influence used in politics.
In such a case it follows logically that
the main fight would he between the
wealthy landholders and those who con.
troll the commerce OF the country, and as
these men would naturally work for their
own benefit, the whole country would in
the end be benefited by the change
Such state Of things however, could
not long exist in this republic, where the
election OF Il Congressman is oftentimcs O
question OF money, and where the few
men who represent the money
interest could and would buy up tn,
election OF their favoritc without
trouble. The great strides in politica
advancement recently made by til,
Chilians, gives them an insight into tn,
great possibilities in store for them as
nation, and to obtain which they find
policy OF Capitalization to be necessary
They cannot hope to leaven the masse
of their people with education sufficient
to comprehend the wants OF the times
and therefore aim to take step whicl
shall allow the minority OF the peop
who are educated up to the necessities O
the times, to assume the government
1t is but another name ior ruling b.
aristocratic power, for the classes il
Chilian citizenship are as distinct,
marked as in any monarchial govern
ment in the world The frequent Out
breaks of the people of the Spanish
American countries, is proof that some
thing stronger than republican govern
ment is necessary to hold them in check
and much as the Capitalization of power il
these countries may menace our doctrin
OF no monarchies in America, it will b
all the better for commerce and genera
trade, when the turbulent element OF ig
norance and bigotry by which they ar
now swayed shall be held in check by
power higher and stronger than then
selves. The minute perfection OF tn
machinery which so smoothly govern
our own republic, causes many Amer
cans to expect the same results in thes
so-called republics, but the condition
are in no wise the same. The history
Mexico alone proves how necessary it
that some method should be devise
whereby the unruly masses OF thes
Spanish-American countries could be hel
in subjection to the law and kept frol
interfering with the development OF II
country