The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-03-27
THE GILLIAN VAR
The Government a Republic in
Form, an Oligarchy in Fact.
BALMACEDA AND HIS FRIENDS
Have Treated the Public Offices as Family AZ.
fairs-Conhicting Accounts of the Sue
cess of the COntendlng Parties.

[Specialto THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DisDatcb 7
81. LOUIS. March 26.-Dr. w. A. Ed
wards, Of Denver, who was for ten years
resident of Valparaiso Chill, and who
mas studied the course of events in Chilli.
arrived in this city yesterday. The
present revolt and the manner in which
the warfare is carried on" said DIR. Ed
wards to reporter, ''can not surprise any,
one VINO IS at all familiar with the Chilians,
the Cnllinese, as they call themselves, or
the system Of their government. Chilli is 4
republic, but practically it is an obigarchy.
and IS governed by thirty or forty rich and
influential families. While the rising is
nominsliy one against the president, it is
IN reality directed AGAINST the system. of
which he Is the representative, and while
the personal causes of complaint brought
matters to focus, they had little to do
with the origin of the troubles.
when first went 20 Chilli in 1875. the
hostilities between the inhabitants
CT the sea coast cities and those
Wno HVed inland was extremely bitter.
Inc landlords for the most part
lived IL Valparaiso and the feeling was
very Similar 70 that III IrelaGd against the
absentee landlords. This land-hoIdIng class
has practically controlled the government
Tor thirty years and mas invariably
CHOSEN the president All legislation mas
been In the hands of few people. and
until recently all commissions in the army
and navy were given 20 those in sympathy
with the ruling caste. BY holding control
OF The army and navy, however. the ruling
classes were able 10 prevent any rebellion
from breaking out, and by declaring war
q s...I loI,v
Gid mucn 10 make itself popular The
true history of tnat war has never been
written. Such plratical expedition is IN
known lC modern times, ana it WAS carried
on with barbarlty worthy of our wild
Indians. When the war broke out. the
army was largely increased, which ac-
counts for the fine showing made by those
IN the rebellion against the government at
the present time, as nearly all the leaders
are men who gained reputation in that CON
test Chill did not try TO conquer Peru
but TO destroy it, in order that the Peru
VANS, who hate the Chilinese, might be
compelled to ask for annexa ion. What
has once been rich anu fertile country
had been transformed into desert. Plan
tatlons were destroyed, houses burned.
irrigating canals blown up long after peace
had been declared. But the object was
accomplished and while Peru was not an
nexed 1t IS no longer d rival of Chill. No
one can estimate the amount of plumber
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 the
ruling families have abandoned the army
and navy and obtained employment as gov
eminent agents In managing the newly
acquired property. with which they did
pretty much as they pleased. This opened
/ promotion TO men who never before had
been aole to obtain commissions in the mil
itary or naval service and changed it's
whole complexion The great weapon of
the government was thus brought to a con =
dltiOn in which It could be turned agains 81
it and this has occurred. The army and
navy are now in close sympathy with the
people and together they seem to control
the situation. As 70 the ruthless slaughter
Of prisoners and non-cOmbatants, 1t is only
carrying out the rule OF the Peruvian war. ;,