Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-28
THE LOST CAUSE IN CHILE.
Story of Vicuna, Baimaceda's Successor n
Head Of the Governmental Party.

Mr.. Claudio Vicuna, tho president-elect of
Chile. who. owing to the downfall Of his chief,
now sees himself fugitive from his native
country, was visited yesterday in New York
harbor by the Philadelphia Press correspon-
dent on board the steamer Colon. Mr.. Vicuna
would not speak Of his experiences during the
late civil war, but consented to write out the
following statement:
'1he government of Balmaceda was the real
government Of Chile. the constitutional gov
eminent. and the government which was bound
to defend the laws to the last 1t was the only
one recognized by the foreign powers. Con-
trary to what Was expected by all the insur-
gents have won and the representatives of the
legal government are forced to fly from their
country as though they were criminals.
THE close alliance between foreign capital
lists and the unbounded ambition of men who
are asphyxiated in an atmosphere of pure gov
eminent have been the primary causes Of the
present revolution. This, united with the cor
ruptlcn and immortality so widespread IL
Chile. not only reaching to the highest social
circles. but also the innermost crevices of the
Chilean army. hitherto celebrated as the valiant
among the valiant, contributed to give reason
to the unreasonable.
The opposition counted Oh IL 600 men well
equipped. well disciplined and led by brave
and experienced leaders Foremost among
these was man who. as everybody knows, was
paid by the government against which he
fought. (Mr. Vicuna here refers to Emil
korner.)
The government had about &c. 600 men dis
tributed in the places where it was believed the
insurgents with their fleet would be most likely
to attack. This was the mistake of the govern
ment, which later in the struggle it corrected
oy concentrating. by means of the railroads,
tho troops in the neighborhood of Valparaiso
and Santiago AS is well known, the ierccst
struggles took place at Placilla and yina del
Mar both near Valparaiso.
The position taken by the government forces
was an extremely strong one, beside which they
had just rs many troops just well equipped
and better ofhcered. These were apparent
advantages only. ior even before the battles
which proved decisive were fought the terrible
spirit of traitorism WAS spreading among the
soldiers.
"One-half OF the troops under the govern
ment banners fought with desperation. while
the other half did not even fire gun. Eepl-
ment after regiment Of cavalry went over to
the enemy an the thickest of the fray and to
such an extent did their ferocity go that they
turned and attacked with tiendish yelis the
men who but n few moments before had been
their companions on the battlefield. Line
after line of their fe!lowmen went down. Their
delight seemed 20 increase, and with renewed
vlBor they charged the government lines.
'All the property Of the opposers of the
revolution was confiscated, thus adding ma
terially to the fortunes OF the defenders of the
regeneration of Chile
Bowed down with the grief of seeing his
most cherished ideals crushed aud for other
reasons AS sorrowiul. Mr.. Balmaceda left the
honorable asy lum to which he had gone. Bal
maceda WAS noble soul, and in preference to
causing trouble to his friends and to avoid
further b;oodshed he preferred to die a free
man before he. the representative Of the con-
stitutional power of Chile, should be mado the
prey Of d half drunken crowd OF ru!fians and
soldiers. With rcsolute hand, with soul
filled with sublime ideas, he sealed life honest.
pure and lofty"