Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-03
Valparaiso is Taken.

Valparaiso is Taken.
There seems to be no doubt of it; the
insurgents have carried the day and
Dictator Balmaceda is a fugitive from
the capital wherein he had for months
past carried on an autocratic govern
ment The vivid story of the New York
Herald, which we reprint elsewhere, is
fully confirmed by official and other
trustworthy dispatches. The Herald
has covered itself with glory by its
CHILEAN war news of the past week, and,
in giving to our readers its graphic and
circumstantial report of the capture of
Valparaiso, We wish to express our high
appreciation of the enterprise it has
shown in bringing this news so fully
and so promptly to the American people.
There is general disposition to re-
gard this important victory as the APP
pomattox of the CHILEAN civil war, only
in this case the socalled "rebels" have
carried the day, as we think they should,
for, as clearly as we can make out at
this distance, they have the right on
their side. Theirs was a rebellion
| against unconstitutional usurpation of
power by an ambitious president who,
being ineligible for reelection, deter
mined to continue himself virtually in
power and incidentally to enrich him
self, as Republican Senator Plumb said
of the Dolans and Dobsons of Philadel-
phia, "beyond the dreams of avarice,"
by comprising the election Of a
successor who should be mere tool III
his, Balmaceda's, hands. To this end he
bent and perverted all the power of his
high office. His cabinet or ministry,
unwilling to cooperate with him, re.
signed; he tried to gain a majority in
congress; failing in this he dismissed
congress, named new ministry that
would do his bidding and refused to
convene congress in extra session, as
that body had lawfully demanded
subsequently, ON June LIST, 1890,
congress met in regular session
and censured the obnoxious minis
try, which, refusing to resign, was
forced by the popular indignation TO
flee. Things Went on from bad to worse;
there was a deadlock between congress
and Balmaceda; another ministry was
named and resigned; Balmaeeda finally
summoned a fourth ministry, dismissed
congress, manipulated dismissals and
appointments in the army until he got
that branch of the service into the hands
OF his followers; tried to gain control
Of the navy, but in vain; muzzlcd
the press; interdcted public meetings ;
procured the arrest and imprisonment
of men who stood in his way and
finally, on January LIST, 1891, formally
assumed dictatorial authority. The
courts declared his acts unconstitu-
tional; he closed the courts and i'm.
prisoned the judges. Nothing remained
but submission to his dictatorship or an
appeal TO arms. The congressional
party chose the latter and the navy cast
in its lot with the insurgents. The latter
were powerful enough to occupy the
northern half Of Chill, and to retain
undisputed possession and administer
peaceful government over this section,
from which more than two-thrds of the
revenue of the republic is derived. Bal.
maeeda, shorn of navy, was powerless
to attack by sea; the nature Of the
country prohibited land attack
| 1n i 4
little towards quelling the re-
bellion until he should procure naval
vessels from abroad. Before be had
accomplished this the insurgents
swooped down in force upon Valparaiso
and, after hard fighting, have captured
the capital and made themselves an
parently masters Of the situation. The
HerdId regards this as ga singing blow
from which it will be impossible for
Balmaceda to recover. His army will
lose heart after such disaster, and will
not rush to the extreme verge of hazard
with their former enthusiasm. The in
surgents, on the other hand, will double
their courage, for the prestige Of victory
is worth more than new battalion.
Besides, their numbers will be greatly
increased by men who have heretofore
been suppressed by the overawing pres.
ence IF Ralmaceda or by tie risk they
ran in joining the rebel forces. 4 vic.
torions cause always finds aaherents; a
falling cause is always weakened by
deserters."