Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-11-13

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no doubt that the Chileans intended
that the order OF surveillance and arrest
should impress on the refugees in the
American legation feeling that they
were causing Egan trouble, and that it
was their duty to relieve him.
CAUSE OF THE REVOLUTION.
The correspondent at Santiago writes
that there is little doubt that the pri-
mary cause of the revolution was the
fact that English interests in the nitrate
properties were threatened by Balma-
ceda. Numerous instances developed
during the war in which valuable assist
ance was given the revolutionists by the
English representatives in Chile, and it
is fact that the English residents are
now strong in their denunciations of the
Americans and Misrepresentation OF the
conduct OF the American officials. The
conservative Chileans state that the
present feeling will not continue, and
that commercial relations with the
United States will not be affected when
the present trouble has blown over.
Those open in opposition to America,
however, are very bitter.
HARSH METHODS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
The correspondent says the methods
OF reconstruction pursued by the junta
are hardly in accord with strict ideas of
peace. On the 1st of October between
1000 and 5000 persons who had been
supporters OF Balmaceda, were impris-
oned, awaiting trial, and there are more
than 10000 others, including nearly
every one known to have been connected
with the late government, whom the
present leaders announce their inten-
ton to arrest. The correspondent
thought, however, that most of the
prosecutions would be abandoned after
the election, although they will be
pushed against all persons of any
prominence. There has been no appar-
ent effort at reconciliation. The atti-
tude of the present government has
been from the first such as to warn all
persons who supported Balmaceda that
they were regarded as criminals.
The newspaper press OF Santiago and
Valparaiso heartily support the new
government in this attitude, and since
the war closed. has been busily engaged
in printing columns of accounts of the
Outrageous crimes" of the Balmacedan
administration.
oUTRAGEs FOLLOWING THE WAR.
The correspondent asserts that many
of the defeated soldiers of Balmaceda
were slaughtered on the fields at Placilla
after they had been disabled by wounds.
The high officials disclaim responsibility
for these actions, and for the sacking OF
houses in Santiago. The destruction in
Santiago was enormous. The most
magnificent residences in the city, be-
longing to members of Balmaceda's
party, were entered and everything they
contained demolished. Doors and win
dows were broken out and nothing left
but the bare walls. Persons charged
with having performed criminal acts
under Balmaceda's administration, have
suffered the confiscation OF their prop
erty.
EGAN's COURSE DEFENDED.
In letter under the date of October
18th the correspondent says among the
Americans in Chile, or at least those
who respect the community in which
they live, there is not to be found one
who expresses any sympathy with the
charges made against Egan here and in
section OF the American press. Egan's
policy, he says, has been one calculated
to advance American interests in Chile.
Without any attempt at secrecy, he en-
deavored to make arrangements with
the Chilean government, then repre-
sented by Balmaceda, by which an in
ducement would be offered for American
capital to become interested in the val
liable nitrate property in the northern
part of the country. This enterprise
had hitherto been, and still is, con-
trolled almost exclusively by the En-
glish.
THOSE IMPROPER Contracts"
This was the chief OF the Improper
contracts" with the Balmaceda govern
ment which Egan is accused of making.
The most he could have obtained, and
the most he had any intention of OBJ
tanning, was share of the nitrate busi-
ness for Americans who might care to
enlist in the enterprise, but there was
hardly an Englishman in all Chile who
did not regard these efforts on the part
of the American minister as direct
menace to English interests, and there
has hardly been an Englishman in Chile
since that time who has not contributed
his share to the general outcry against
Egan and all Americans.
M1nlbCeT ESdu dlSO tuQedVOTtO W
agitate the establishment of an Ameri-
can steamship line on the west coast of
South America, and was instrumental
in having the American cable lines cx
tended to Valparaiso. He undertook
other measures of similar nature, and
in all these efforts to advance the inter-
ests of his country, he met with the
same opposition, and the same criti-
cism.
EGAN'S NEUTRALITY.
All this occurred before the revolution
in Chile began. At that time many
American residents declared themsel YES
more or less openly, in favor OF the rev.
olutionists. Egan did not do so for the
very good reason that he was accredited
to the government headed by Balma-
ceda. The insurgents, however, at all
times admitted but one principle, and
that was that persons who did not de-
clare openly in their favor, must be op-
posed to them. When the 1tata was
seized, the English residents started the
charge that Egan was responsible for
the seizure, although he knew nothing
about it beyond what he read in the
Chilean newspapers.
The correspondent says .Egan was
never accused of visiting Balmaceda or
the representatives of his government
and afterwards declaring openly in favor
of the insurgents and expressing the
hope that they would win. On the con-
trary, Kennedy, the British minister,