The Lamar register., 1891-03-28
LIGHT ON THE GILLIAN REVOLT.
Some Reasons for the Bloody Revo'u-
ton in the Antipodes.

Those OF our readers who have Won
dered at the cause OF the Gillian revoiu-
tion will be interested in the following
statement by Dr. w. A. Edwards OF Den
yer, Colorado, who was for ten years
resident of Valparaiso, Chill. He Aays;
"The present revolt and the manner In
which the warfare is carried on cannot
surprise any one who is at all familiar
with the Chilians, or Chilsnos, rs they call
themselves, or the system Of government
Chill is nominally republic, but prac-
ticslly it has long been an oligarchy, gov
erned by thirty or forty rich and innuen-
tial families While the rising Is
nomiually one against the president 1t Is
in reality directed against the system OF
which he is the representative, and whlIe
the personal causes Of complaint brought
matters to a focus, they had little to DO
with the origin Of the troubles.
when frst went 10 Chilli in 1873, the
hostility between the inhabitants OF tho
sea coast cities and those who lived inland
was extremely bitter. The landlords, for
the most part, lived In Valparaiso, and the
feeling was very similar to that In Ireland
to the absentee landlords. This land
holding class has practically coniroied
the government for thirty years and have
invariably chosen the president All the
legislation has been in the hands Of few
people, and until recently all the commits
sions in the army and navy were given to
those in sympathy with the ruling caste.
BY holding control Of the army and navy,
the ruling classes were able TO prevent
any rebellion from breaking out and By
declaring war against Peru and Bolivia,
the government did much to make itself
popular
"a thorough history OF that war has
never been written. Such piratical ex-
pedition IS unknown in modern wars, and
it was carried on with barbariiy worthy
Of our wild Indians When war broke out
the army was largely increased, which
accounts for the fine showing made by
those in rebellion against the government
at the present time, as nearly all the
leaders are men who gained regulations
in that contest
Chill did not try 10 conquer Peru, but
to destroy 1t, in order that the Peruvlans'
VINO nate llt 1ulltAl-, might ot N1A--
pelle d to ask for annexation What had
once been rich and fertile country has
been transformed into a desert PIanta-
tons were destroyed, houses burned and
the irrizating canals blown up long after
peace had been declared But the object
was accomplished, and while Peru was
not annexed, it was not long a rival to
Chill. No one can estimate the amount OF
plunder that was taken out OF the country.
with the removal OF Peru as a danger
Gus rival and the annexation OF the Peru
Wan guano fields, the young men Of tAe
ruling families abandoned the army and
navy and obtained employment as agents
in managing the Eewly acquired property
with which they did pretty much as they
pleased. This opened promotion TO men
who never before had been able 70 obtain
commissions in the military or naval ser
vice and changed its whole complexion.
The great weapon OF the government was
brought 20 a condition in which It could be
turned against It aud this has occurred.
The army and navy are now in close syn
pathy with the people and together they
seem to control the situation. As to the
ruthless slaughter Of prisoners and non
combatants, it is only carrying out Tho
rules OF the Peruvian war.