Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-05-28
CHlLrS REBELLION.
Balmaceda Reviews the Insurreetion In .
MESSAGE 20 the Congress.

New YORK, May 27.-The Gillian
minister has received a copy of the
message of President Balmaceda to the
Gillian congress, which convened in
Santiago April 20, 1891, in which he
says:
Extraordinary events well known to you
have disturbed public order. The traditions OF
peace. moderation ami wisdom which have
been characteristic of the domestic policy OF
the country have been Interrupted and many
persons have failed in that loyalty which has
entitled US to the esteem of other nations. The
naval officers who were bound TO
maintain the public order of the
republic at home and see to It's safety
abroad have taken arms against the
government the 9TH OF January. on board the
national feet at Valparaiso. disobeying their
general commander Rear Admiral Williams.
and taking on board the vice president Of the
senate and The president OF the house Of repre-
sentatives. A few hours after the consumma-
ton OF these acts without precedent in the
naval history Of Chilli, they came back to Val
paraiso in open rebellion against their consti.
tutional chiefs and the civil authorities.
During the period of three months since
the beginning Of the revolution. there is not an
instance of single popular outbreak ia favor
Of the movement initiated by the mariners,
whose power is actually confined TO the ocean
The fleet has been unable to keep steadily nor
becupy any port Of the territory containing any
dense population and in order so to do at least
it had to besiege and lombard the ports OF the
north and set on fire the towns nnfortiied,
operating against the cosmopolitan population
OF Tarapaca, and using hostilities of charac.
ter worse than any of those employed during
the conquest of Chilli.
Being elected president Of Chill 1 have
thought it to be my duty to inaugurate policy
fol1OJV a line of
avoid AT the end of my legal term the renewal
Of the dangers which have threatened my pre-
ceding administrations. / tried to give the
national party a participation in proportion
that could not incite the jealousy and resist
ance Of their numerous adversaries. The ma
tionals refused to render me their assistance
although their cooperation was imposed by the
clearest political sense.
From this moment a struggle ragged between
the majority of congress and the executive
power then thought IL my duty to close con.
gress, in the hope that short time OF refec-
tion and calm would bring the groups OF the
coalition TO fair and more reasonable terms.
Unfortunately the evil has been done and we
have now TO stand its deplorable consequences.
GAS have by the constitution the duty of
administering the affairs of the state and of
extending my authority wherever required for
the safety Of the nation. within and abroad
was bound TO assume all the necessary powers
20 suppress the revolt headed by the armed
majority of congress, bent upon subverting pub.
lie order and the institutions of the country.
The license of the ChiIian press has
been carried in our days TO extremes never be-
fore reached in any other part OF the world
Not only the government and public men, but
society and even families have been carried in
the tempest of political passion I think the
law must keep sacred the right and liberty of
every one TO publish his opinion. But there
must not be other offenses of the press than
those so qualified by the penal code.
Few governments have had to meet more
unmerited aggressions or more gratuitous in
culpations than those with which l have been
assailed: but have not on that ground lost
the serenity of my spirit nor the project tran.
quillity of my conscience. I have every con-
hdence in Cod who presides over the destinies
of nations. JOSE MANUEL. BALMACEDA"