Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-25
ENTITLED TO BELLIGRKENT RIGHTS

We believe, from all the reports we
have received on the subject, that the
insurgent party in Chile is waging
righteous war of revolution against
tyrant who has made himself master of
the government in spite of the constitu
tion.of the country and the will OF the
people. The revolt started with con-
gress against the autocratic and extra
constitutional assumptions of Balma-
ceda, whose term OF presidency was
about to expire, and who was determined
upon perpetuating his rule by forcing
upon the country creature OF his own
to take the place as his nomin-
al successor. The navy, with
great unanimity, espoused the cause
of congress. The army was under
Balmaceda's control, but many OF its best
and most patriotic officers went over to
the insurgents. The mass of the people
of the capital, who sympathized with
congress, were overawed, and are now
held down by the strong ann. The de-
sertions from the army to the insurgents
have been made up by impressing into
the service of the dictator the lowest
class of mestizos. With a compliant
congress which he himself had ap-
pointed to take the place OF the de Jure
congress, he has drawn to himself all
the powers of the country and had him
self declared dictator. He now exer-
cises those powers with merciless sever
ity, having every mans life and liberty
in his own hands.
The insurgents have maintained their
cause against the usurper for over six
months. They have shown 10 the world
by their steadfastness, their valor and
their victories that they are more than
mere revolving faction-that they are
revolutionary force controlling large
and triumphant army and anavy against
which the tyrant has struggled in vain.
They have possession of all the northern
provinces have control of the nitrate
beds of the islands; have carried the
war into the southern provinces with
partial success have formed a provi-
sional government that has its represen-
tatives in all the great countries OF the
civilized world; have money and men
to maintain their cause, and evince
determination to keep up the conflict
until Balmaceda is overthrown and
Chile has once more free congress and
constitutional government.
Surely revolution which has shown
itself so persistent and SO capable OF
maintaining, itself is entitled to some
recognition from foreign powers. 1t is
at least entitled to fair if not liberal
treatment at the hands of the govern
ment of the UAited States, instead OF
which it has received the harshest and
the most unfriendly consideration from
our administration. 1t is now high time
that the cabinet at Washington took the
situation in Chile into serious account.
The representative of the so-called in
surgents is now on his way to our
national capital to place before the gov
ernment the claims of the congressional
party of Chile to. belligerent rights. 1t
would seem to be an absurdity to have
to ask for the recognition of such a
claim for "party'' that has shown it
self to be not only belligerent on land,
but that has maintained its prestige on
the ocean in way that has been the ad-
miration of all who have watched the
progress of this remarkable revolution.
If our administration refuses to grant
the so-called insurgents belligerent
rights, it will be manifest that such rec
ognition is withheld for other than the
ordinary reasons that control nations in
these matters.