The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-13
WHAT THEYFOUGHTFOR.
WEALTH BLYOkD ESTIMATE AT
sTAK IN TIE CHILEAN WAR.

| Value Equal to the Total Debt or
Great Where They Are
Situated and how Operated by the
Companies.
From the Philadelphia Press
The same spirit of enterprise. to quote
the words of Bull Run Russenn from his
book, "a Visit to Chile and the Nitrate
Beds" "thab has transformed the desert Of
Tarapacn-wastes without sign Of life or
vegetatiou-into a center of commercial
enterprise" has doubtless been silently and
secretly at work promoting ana prose-
cutting the war in Chile which has resulted
in the downfall of President Balmaceda.
The outcome Of the Chilean revolution of
1891 has been the success of the congress
sional army, which, few DAYS ago, entered
Valparaiso in triumph to celebrate its vic
tory in good old South American fashion,
by the prescription and execution Of as
many OF their prominent enemies as have
been unfortunate enough to fall into the
hands of the conquering forces.
The war was essentially a commercial
war. No honest, thinking man can be
found who, after thorough study Of Chill
can politics, will be willing, for one mo-
ment, to maintain that patriotism" "the
| can freedom had, fundamentally, anything
10 do with the outbreak or continuance OF
the civil war, which has for SO many months
wasted the resources of the luckless country
and angered the friends Of republican gov
eminent in South America.
II Col. North. the so~called Nitrate
| King, the stories of whose enormous for
tune charms the financial wOrld-fOr it is
now alleged that he is the richest mau in
| L'psrIp In suhn nayf ROW
an architect, over the question OF the price to
be padfor the plans OF his palace in Great
Britain, should see At to tell all he knows
about Chilean politics and the recent Chilean
revolution, some startling revelations would
undoubtedly be made by this English fnan-
cier, who aspireS to a seat in the House of
Commons.
CAUSE OF The WAR.
The Chilean revolution found its origin
in the personal disagreements of the general
officers who conducted the war against
Peru which terminated when the latter re-
public was conquered by the better paid,
better equipped soldiery of Chile The cause
of the Peruvian Chilean war is to be found
in the fact that the two republics disputed
the ownership Of the nitrate beds of Tara
paca. Beyond ali cavil and doubt Peru
was justified In resisting the Chileans ia
their attempts to possess themselves OF a
valuable territory that rightfully belonged
to the former country. But the result of
the warfare was to e5tablish-on no other
grounds than might makes rightn-the
claims of Chile to privince that, according
TO all accounts, is the most valuable tract Of
land known to the civilized world
The nitrate beds of Tarapaca are of in
calcuable value. In a pamphlet issued a
few years ago the report of British experts
made to the British foreign office, it is stated
that 1.-THE value Of the nitrate deposit in
Tarapeoa is certainly in excess OF R400,-
100000, and may. within reason, be eSti-
mated at $500, 000, 000"-a sum equal to the
national debt Of Great Britain. 1t may be
observed in passing.
Chile forced Peru into war, osteusibly
on the ground that Peru was intruding
upon Chilean territory-a cssUs belli that
was as absurd as it was disingenuous.
Chile won the fight, aided, it Is said, by
British money contributed by London capt.
talists, who, as security for their "loans, "
were promised concessions Of untold
value" giving them certain rights Of min-
ing and shipping ''the nitrates" from the
priceless province OF Tarapaca.
THE POWER OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE.
Be this as it may, the influence of for.
eigners, particularly of English residents OF
Chile, is surprisingly potent in the arrange
Tl6uJ bKlQ uoNclOpllSuG VI OnDohu
Whether British ideas have prevailed, or
have been thwarted and get at nought by
recent events In Chile. remains to be seen.
Certain it is that the mining and shipping
Of nitrates Is the leading questiOl-the
practical causing cause" in all matters
which interest and inspire the action of
political parties in Chile. 1t 1t, moreover,
beyond all doubt that, at the present time
England is more deeply interested in secur.
As.li Of
at ports accessible to her fleets of merchant
men, than is any other country in the
world.
How readily and cheaply influence car
be gained in the congressional and execu-
tive departments OF the government OF
Chile may be understood when it is known
that not less than 10 per cent. of the popu-
lation of the republic can neither read or
write In Chile. as in the Argentine Re.
public, in Brazil and in Venezuela, it is
within the bounds of reason to say that
British influence is paramount. Finen.
cially the republics of South America are
tributary to Lombard street, ana the "old
lady in Threadneedle street" hos more
to do with the election of Il member to the
Chilean congress than she would caro- tC
confess TO in bbe election of a member OF
parliament from the "city of London. ,
Whether Nitrate Colonel North had aught
to do with the great civil war i'll Chile
whether he land all that his name signifies
or por ends had an interest in the success,
or failure OF Relmaceda's attempt to retain
the presidency of Chile at oil hazards we
do not pretend to state. We do know
that soon after the arrival, not many
months ago, of Col. North at Vina del
Mar where the congressionals won their
decisive victory over Belmaceda's troops on
the Aug. 20), that Senior Balmaceda arrived
at the same delightful suburb of Valparaiso
and intimated that he would be glad To re-
ceive Col. North, who, as he understood
deserved to have speech with him. 1t wa:
known that the colonel had come from
Europe to solidify aud to extend interests
presumably English, that seemed to be
neglected, in connection with the develop
ment of the nitrate beds Of Tsrapaca. And
the then all potent president of Chile wss
anxious to meet the nitrate king.
BALMACEDA AND COL NORTH MEET.
At Vinn del Mar therefore there was held
this "tleld of the cloth Of goldn Col.
North twas very much gratified by the
assurances Of President Balmaceda, aud
President Balmaceda was graciously pleased
with the assurances of Col. North. Then the
nitrate king presented to his excallencv
President Baimaceda a trophy-the capstan
of the Esmeralda mounted in silver and
gold by the Messrs. Elkingt N of Liverpool,
with relieves OF great artistic excellence
representing the incidents of the combat
during which Balmacedas Chilean cruiser
sank the Peruvian ironclad. From all the
foregoing it may be gathered that late in
1889 ALI was lovely and the international
goose being highn-very high, SO far as his
majesty the nitrate king aud Balmaceda