The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-26


Chill, the civil war there is approaching q
crisis. The feet Of tho Congressional party
il reported 10 have sailed from Caldera for the
purpose Of landing q well equipped force 70
march on tho heights IN rear OF Valparaiso,
which command tho city. so as TO capture it
from tho other side, while Balmaceda IS
massing his forces at Nina dol Mar aud Val
paraiso for the purpose Of protecting his
capital and proceeding against the insurgent
stronghold at Iquique. The one object Of the
Congressional party evidently is to concen-
trate their energies against Valparaiso. they
reasoning that the fall Of Balmacedas capital
means the collapse of his power. A final and
decisive struggle may even at this time be
going on. and interesting news may be daily
expected
From all accounts the sympathy Of the citi-
zens Of Chill is with the Congressional party.
or rs they arc better known in this country.
the insurgents. because they are fighting for
constitutional liberty and the maintenance OF
the republic. Balmaceda is fully imbued
with the idea Of autocracy-he Is, in fact
sort Of Gillian Casar-and by bis disregard
of the Constitution and the laws, and by hls
arbitrary acts he has excited tho Apprehension
Of the people of tho country. who feol con
WINGED that lie is seeking TO establish dicla-
torship on the ruins of the republic. That
this theory ia most probable is borne out
not only 10y the reports we have received of
Balmaceda's general arrogance. but by
the well-knOwn conservative and law
abiding character of tic CHILEAN people.
Chill is situated about in the same posi-
ton in the South temperate zone
that the United States are in the
North temperate. The influences Of tho
climate and the accustomed association with
citizens of this and various European
countries who have been attracted there by tho
general hcalthfulness and advantages of the
republic. have all had the effect OF making
tho Chilians all active, energetic. well-ln-
formed and highly civilized people. They
have always been different from the restless
and eyer-dissatisficd and turbulent popula-
ton Of the other Spnnish-Amerlcan nations.
and therefore revolutions and uprisings
against the Government are almost unknown.
We may be sure that there would have been
no such determined opposition TO tho powers
that be as j. now being manifested had there
not been ample proyocation for the outbreak.
In such q struggle as this MI the United
States, but more especially the Southern
States. must naturally sympathize with the
so-called insurgents The position Of the Con-
gressionalists for the preservation OF consti-
tutonal rights and republican principles
against the overbearing conduct OF Balmacela
and his following of centTaizationists seems
to be very similar 10 that taken by tho South
during the late war between the States.
Unlike the South, however. it looks very
much as if the Gillian Congressionalist
would eventually win for not only arethey not
fighting against the combined resources and
influence Of the world. as the South fought,
but all advices from Europe represent the
Balmaceda party as being in bad condition
without money or supplies. We read that the
dictator has been trying to seize the bullion
which is the security for the note currency in
circulation and to snip it TO Europe. He has,
however, failed to get private shippers to
take the risk There is a strange story to the
effect that the captain of the English warship
Espiegle took Il, 900. 900 worth Of it 10 Mon
tevideo for him and landed it there. The
comment Of the London Times upon this
story is that it should lead TO an immediate
investigation. because it implies that a British
naval commander was an accomphce in a
downright robbery.
Thegeneral belief. then, among well-informed
people is that Balmaceda IS in desperate
circumstances The struggle will doubtless
be fierce, but it cannot last much longer.