Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-18
From he Stars Travelling Commissioner.

From he Stars Travelling Commissioner.
VALPARAISO, CHILL, March. 1891.
TN THESE DAYS OF WAR IT Is NOT AN
Il easy matter to get into this misnamed ''yale
Of Paradise" from either direction, by land or
sea-not only on account Of the blockade in
the bay and the infrequency and irregularity
of railway trains. but because of the uncer-
tainty Of coming events and the direful GER
tainty that revolters everywhere. liable at
any moment to perpetrate unheard-of atroci-
ties under the guise Of revolution should one
come by sea just now he would not be permit
ted to land, and the only way to get here from
the direction Of Santiago is by rail or in the
saddle from the north and east.
Have you ever reflected how much Of every
day comfort and safety is due to the enforce
ment Of established laws? 1t requires some
great upheaval. like this in Chill, to remind one
of his obligations TO good government-as
health is best appreciated during illness.
The foreigner in Chill who values life and liberty
will do well TO entertain no opinions concern
ing the questions at issue, or TO keep them
hgiously to himself Bitter feeling runs high,
and these volcanic people are by nature given
to excuses. The landlord whose guest you are,
or the untidy man who pretends to set your
room in order (there are no chambermaids In
South America). Is as likely to resent your rash
razor-edged cs1ro at your throat. as the soldier
10 with his bayonet. Everywhere in Spanish
America your personal property is much safer
from thieves than in most parts of the United
States; but human life is rated very cheaply and
taken on slight proyocation-
THE RIsULr CANNOT BE FoREroID.
Regarding the unhappy situation in VAL
paraiso, / have CLEANED the following facts from
resident foreigners Nobody can yet clearly
foreteLl the result of the revolution, except in
the destruction of the credit and prosperity of
the proud little country that has SO long stood
at the head of South American republics As
to the details of the causeless conflict, the
present scene Of action being several hundred
miles to the northward. the newspapers sup
pressed and all cable and telegraph comm uni
cation cut of-the citizens of Valparaiso are
not so well posted as people in Europe or the
United States
You can readily imagine what CONSERVATION
prevailed that bright afternoon in Jan Iary
when the rebellious Gillian feet with decks
cleared for action, came sailing into the port
after the ''sangre azul' (blue blood of the
country. supported by congress and the navy,
had gone into revolution against the govern
ment! Many fed from the city. fearing bonn
bsrdment and the landing of the insurgents
which would mean another general massacre,
greater than that which recently took place at
lquiqui; but the few Americans resident here
remained TO a man (and / may also add to a
woman, feeling that the arm of the home gov
eminent is long and powerful and bound to be
respected Valparaiso is situated along a
narrow strip of coast backed by steep hills as
to be exposed to bombardment in every part
and being almost entirely a wooden city, with
extremely narrow and crooked streets, it would
burn Ike finder.
THE ARMY FAILED TO "RIsE."
But instead Of plucking the plum of COM
plete victory the rebels might easily have done
that day, they simply pillaged the government.
store ships, issued q bombastic proclamation,
and Unanswered the fleet around the bay. with
flying colors and brave show of what they
might do II 80 disposed" IL is asserted how
ever. that the forbearance Of the rebelious
navy was not due TO any consideration for VAL
parsiso and the people thereof. but TO the cir
cumstance that the army officers. who had
pledged themselves TO join the uprising and
pocketed the cash therefor. failed to .rise'
when II came to the scratch.
During the lew DAYS Immediately following
this bootless demonstration BaImaceda armed
the forts that command the entrance to this
most important Of Gillian harbors and reor-
ganized his army. The regular army num-
bered only about 1900 before these trou bles
began, but IL has since been augmented 10
more than 5000. The government now offers
us soldiers $50 bounty and regular pay of $40
Per month-extraordInary wages in Chih-so
that the old saw Is being reversed and the pillow
shares hgurativsly beaten into swords. A
great many Of the new troops are conscripted
A. - fcAasc9 tuat a recruiting Ofccer recf utly
sent nifty men TO headquarters, chained To-
gether like wild beasts, accompanied by the
characteristics message: Il herewith send YOU
nfty volunteers. Please return me the chains"
DKPRIvKD OF INTENSIVE REVENUE
On January IL a shell was fired into the Gale
Bianco, killing six men and woUnding a score
Then Admiral Moret declared a blockade in
Valparaiso bay; but at the expiration Of the
usual forty-eight hours notice the valiant
squadron was nowhere TO be seen, they having
Folded their tents, rather their sails like the
Arabs, and silently stolen away between two
days. In pursuit Of mischief elsewhere. The
northern blockade deprives the government Of
Us customary four million dollars per month
In nitrate export duties-and there has never
peen time when the revenue was more needed
thAn az present AL manner of rumors-some
no doubt greatly exaggerated-are afioat here
aoouts concerning the recent battles at Iauiqui.
AntefogassA and other places in northern Chill;
not owing to the cutting OF the wires and the
suppression Of the newspapers little reliable
Information can be gained There have been
several minor engagements in this neighbor-
hood, chiefly on the bay, and for several weeks
past In lieu Of the usual theaters, iestas and
horse races, the populace has been entertained
py grand military funerals and iInprs ssive
guard-mounts.
BALHAcKDA WILL HOLD orr TO TEE LAST
President Balmaeeda has proved himself to
b BY no means the weak and vacillating crea-
turs that his early course toward congress led
some people to suspect. and there il nov no
doubt that he viii hold fast to his point so long
- . cent remains in the public treasury, or can
be raised By leyying on the private means of
los ricos-' He Is certainly very liberal with
the contents Of the cash box, though they are
dwindling low and lower. Naturally, frequent
reports are a1oat TO the effect that he is about
to abdicate. or has been assassinated; but
neither Is likely to occur. He has hardly SHOWN
his head Ourside the MOneda Tor TREASURY huild-
ing. portion Of which serves for the execute
Residence, SINCE the dawning Of these days Of
danger, appearing TO find life safer. If not more
agreeable, under shelter Just now with an