The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-30

There seems to be no reason 70 doubt that
BSlmaceda, the president Of Chile, sustained
q crushing defeat st Valparaiso on Friday.
The dispatch sent from that city - Acting
Secretary Of State Wharton BY the Afnerl-
can consul leaves 10 room - question the
co-rectnass Of the news. II the government
forces had been victorious instead OF the
! forces Of the conSressionallsts the end OF
| the civil conflict would. n all probability, be
near. and even now Balmsceia may
I BE- forced 70 the conclusion that 1t IS
/ useless 70 coatinue the struggle. de has.
. boxavar. very considerable resources yet,
/ and NAV decide 70 GIT As long as he has an
army or csa get t1Eether a f0rce sufficient
to Justify him in remaining IN the field
Il may be considered as certain that be
will get out Of the country as quickly as he
csn IS soon as ne Is satisfied that he has no
chance for success. There is little or no
prospect Of g compromise which would per-
NIT him 10 live in the country in peace. He
is bitterly hated By the opposition. aud even
in bis own party there is not much love for
him.
The war in Chile has been going on for a
little more than six moths, and the con-
gressionalists are more determined now than
ever before to drive Balmscsda and his ad-
bsrents from power. They have the navy.
which gives them a CREST advantage, and
their victory al Valparaiso on Friday will
influence all who were wayering to flock to
their standard.
While revolts against regularly consti-
49,. -
approved, they are sometimes excusable.
The abuse of power by those in authority be-
comes so great that the people must either
defend their rights by force or submit to the
worst sort Of tyranny. The revolt against
Balmaceda's administration is certainly not
without reason. He had surrounded him
self by ring of corrupt politicians and
had planned TO accomplish certain things
which were not permitted by the constitu-
ton and the laws.
His term of Office was about to expire, and
the constitution did not permit him to be
reelected. He had planned TO have one Of
his own creatures TO succeed him, in order
that his schemes might not be interfered
with. His cabinet would not support him
and he dismissed it, and when congress
would not do his bidding be ordered an
election for another There are men of
character, ability and influence among the
members of congress, however, and they
determined that Balmaceda should not be-
come the dictator of the country. They
made an issue with the president and the
war began.
A year ago Chile was one of the most
fourishing of the South American republics.
1t had prospered wonderfully, particularly
since its war with Peru. The civil war in
which its people are now engaged, however,
has set the country back at least ten years,
and before the conflict is ended its business
may be almost destroyed.
Balmaceda insists. of course, that he is a
patriot and that his purposes are pure. In
the publications he has made relative to his
position and the causes of the war, he has
held himself up as a man who is seeking
nothing but the good of his country. His
acts, however, are far from being in har-
mony with his defense of his conduct
1t is stated that he has accumulated a
very large fortune since he has been presi-
dent, which he has invested with great care
in Europe II this statement is correct, we
may soon expect to hear that he has left his
country for Europe. 1t is quite certain
that his absence would not be greatly re-
GREETED.