The Portland daily press., 1891-11-13
Egan and the Junta.

Referring to the controversy between
Minister Egan and the Junta regarding the
refugees in the United States Legation, the
letters say that orders to arrest persons en-
teIing or leaving the legation were intend
ed to impress upon the refugees the feel
ing that they were causing Minister Egan
much trouble, and 1t was their duty to re-
lieve him of the responsibility of protect
ing them further, and attempt to escape.
There Is ground for belief that a similar
plan was resorted to in the case OF the Ar
gentine Minister, at whose house Balmace-
da was sheltered. 1t is claimed that the
minister became alarmed at the prospect
of mob sacking his house, and tried to in
duce Balmaceda to escape. The latter,
knowing that escape was impossible. took
his life. AT the time he shot himself, me-
gotiations were pending for bis surrender.
He knew that death would follow surren-
der. When Minister Egan was asked that
some intimatiOn be given the refugees by
outside sources that their presence at the
American legation was liable Ito place the
legation in bad repute with the party in
power, Mr.. EgaD replied that was mot the
Yankee style of doing things" He pre-
ferred to act directly with the refugees
themselves.
Mr.. Egan received a share Of anti-Ameri-
can comment, Notwithstanding while the
late war was in progress he gave asylum at
the legation to over so members of the rev.
olutionary party and assisted number Of
them to escape to neutral territory. He
established the United States consulate at
Valparaiso in the house of wealthy revo-
lutionist for the purpose of protecting the
property and lives of his family. The rev.
Oluti0nists were sheltered at the American
legation at Santiago, when they were re-
fused an asylum by the ministers Of other
foreign countries, particularly Great Bril-
tain.
Now Comes the English Liar.
Yet, during the entire struggle, it was
the English representatives and English
residents in Chilli who were regarded as
the strongest supporters of the revolution
lists. There is still doubt, gthe letters de-
clare, that the primary cause of the revo-
luton was the fact that English interests
In the nitrate properties in the north OF
Chilli were threatened by Balmaceda. Val
uable assistance was given the revolution
lists by English representatives In Chill
and the English residents Of Chilli are now
the strongest in their denunciati0ns OF
Americans and Misrepresentation OF
American officials In Chill. Conservative
Chilians state that the present feeling will
not continue, and commercial relations
with the United States will not be affected
after a sufficient time elapses to allow the
present trouble to be forgotten. The let
ters further say that between 1000 and 5000
supporters of Balmaceda's cause are now
iu prison awaiting trial aud more than TO-
600 others, Including nearly every one
known to have been connected with the
late government in an official capacity, the
present government has announced Its in
tenti0n to arrest. 1t Is believed a mai ority
Of the prosecutions will be abandoned.
Practices Of the Middle Ages.
The practices adopted by the revolution
s,, "A oAalx aff
their victory are characterized by Buenos
| Ayres and Montevide0 papers as indicating
nothing short of wicked desire for ven
| geance against the fallen. These papers
assert that the present practices in Chilli
are such as have not been known In any
other country since the Middle Ages; that
they deserve universal condemnation, and
that they can only result in perpetuating
revolution and civil wars. The papers also
declare that instances of cruelty and ven.
| geance have occurred in Chill since the
| close Of the war which have never been
| approached under any similar circumstan-
ces In any other country of South America,
They state that the policy will bring about
| condition of affairs in Chill worse than
| anything known under Balmaceda. These
comments have q marked effect In Chill.
| Inc newspapers Of Santiago deny them.
There has been no act Cd the part of the
provisional government which, could in
any way attract the support Of former sup
| porters of Balmaceda. 1t is generally be-
lieved here that several persons now In
prison at Santiago were fiOgged recently
This was the offence committed during the
administration of Balmaceda that gave
rise to such indignation among the revo-
| luti0nists.
Eean Commended.
The letters also say that among Ameri.
cans In Chilli there has not been found one
who expresses any sympathy with the
charges made against Mr.. Egan. There
has never been any intimation from an
official source that Mr.. Egan's recall was
to be asked for. Mr.. Egan's policy has
been calculated to advance American in
terests in Chill. Several measures he un.
dertook In the early part of his administra.
tion excited enmity and alarm in the
minds of persons who represented othel
foreign interests and who regarded witt
jealousy any American encroachments OF
what they considered their own. The
English residents in Chilli were the mos
active In opposition to the American
minister because he endeavored TO MAKE
an ARRANGEMENT with the Chilian govern
ment by which inducements would b,
offered for American capital to become In
terested in the nitrateproperty in northern
| Chill