The record-union., 1891-11-13

pushed against all pe sons of any promi-
nence. There had huan no apparent eff
fort at reconciliation but on the contrary
the attitude of the present Government
has been from the first such as TO warn all
| persons who supported Balmaceda that
they were regarded as criminals.
The newspaper press of Santiago and
Valparaiso heartily supports the new
Government in this attitude, and since
the war closed has been busily engaged
printing columns of accounts of ''out-
rageous crimes" of the Balmacedean Ad-
miniStration.
The correspondent asserts that many
OF the defeated. soldiers of Balmaceda
were slaughtered ON the field at Placillas
after they had been disabled by wounds.
| High officials disclaim responsibility for
! these actions and for the sacking of
houses in Santiago. The destruction in
Santiago was enormous. The most mag
nificent residences in the city belonging
to Balmaceda'a party were entered and
everything they contained demolished.
Doors and windows were broken out
and nothing left but the bare walls. The
persons charged with having performed
criminal acts under Balmaceda's Admin
tration have suffered the confscation of
their property.
In a letter under date of October 18th
the correspondent says: Among the
Americans in Chile, or at least those who
enjoy the respect OF the community in
which they live, there is not one to be
found who expresses any sympathy with
the charges made against Egan. Egan's
policy, he says, has been one calculated
tc advance American interests in Chile
Without any attempt at secresy he en-
deaVOred to make arrangements with tho
Chilean Government, then represented
by Balmaceda, by which inducement
would be offered for American capital to
! become interested in the valuable nitrate
property in the northern part of the coun-
| try. This enterprise had hitherto been
and still is controlled by the English.
| This was the chief of the Improper
Contracts" with the Balmaceda Govern
ment which Egan is accused OF making.
The most he could have obtained, and the
most he had any intention Of obtaining,
was a share of the nitrate business for
Americans who might wish to enlist in
the enterprise, but there was hardly an
Englishman III all Chile who did not re-
gard these efforts on the part of the
American Minister rs direct menace to
English interests, and there has hardly
been an Englishman in Chile since that
time who has not contributed his share to
the. general outcIy sgainst Egan and all
Americans.
Minister Egan als3 endeavored to agi-
tate the establishment Of an American
steamship line on th west coast of South
America, and was instrumental in having
the American cable lile extended to Val
paraiso. He undertook other measures
of similar nature, and in all these eff
forts to advance the interests of his coun-
try he met with some opposition and
some criticism.
All this occurred before the revolution
in Chile began. At that time many Amer
leans declared themselves more or less
openly in favor Of the revolutionists.
Egan did not do so, for the very good
reason that he was accredited to the Gov
ernment headed by Balmaceda. The in
surgents, however, at all times admitted
but one principle, and that was that per-
sons who did not declare openly in their
favor must be opposed. When the Itata
was seized the English residents started
the charge that Egan was responsible, al
though he knew nothing about it beyond
what he read in the Chilean newspapers.
The correspondent says Egan was
never accused of visiting Balmaceda or
the representatives of his Government,
and afterward declaring openly in favor
OF the insurgents, and expressing the
hope that they woa}9 srm. On the con-
trary, Kennedy, the British Minister, and
other foreign diplomats expressed loud
opinions in favor of the insurgents.
Egan courts the fullest investigation as
20 his neutrality during the whole pro-
greSS OF the war, and some of the most
prominent men in the Congressional
party now do not hesitate to declare that
his position was one Of strict neutrality
The English residents and English Min
lister. however, continue to circulate an
noying rumors about Egan, and keep be-
fore the public insulting insinuations
which are entirely without foundation.
The British Minister himself is being
criticised for having procured for Balma-
ceda British man-of-war in which to
send several millions in silver out of the
country.
At the date of the letter the Provisional
Government had acknowledged that the
United States Minister was acting right
in giving refugees asylum, and it is be-
lieved safe conduct will ultimately be
issued. A letter is inclosed, which was
printed in a Santiago paper, from Frank
kgan, son of the Minister, dealing at
length with the inunendos dealt in by
certain American papers, and refuting
the charges brought against himself and
father in the matter of contracts, fat
jobs, etc.