Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1891-09-04
Chili's Supreme Moment.

L uo iull III OQHledu Wdi uoWS WAS lOl
lowed recently by a detailed account
of pitched battle between the insur'
gents and Balmacedists at the very
gates Of the capital. Upon the result
OF this battle, says the Minneapolis
Tribune, hinges the outcome OF the
war, and at last accounts the insur.
gents were apparently on the eve OF
victory. If Balmaceda's forces are de.
feated his capital will be in the hands
of the insurgents and he himself will be
q fugitive OR aprisoner. Balmaceda's
term expires next month, and al.
though he has caused his successor to
be" elected" the opposiogforces would
make short work OF that election and
choose president to their own liking.
On the other hand defeat at Santi.
ago means the end OF the revolution.
1t is the supreme moment with the in.
surgents and they have risked all on
this turn OF the die. Quietly-so cui-
city that their onset was "a complete
surprise-they massed their land and
naval forces at Quintaro bay. Under
cover OF the guns OF their warships the
enemy undertook to force its way tc
with stubborn resistance. Balmace.
da himself took command of the gov.
ernment forces, numbering 10000,
while the insurgents, only 1000
strong, but backed by their warships,
confronted HIM. The fighting has
been fast and furious for three days
and it is impossible to get reliable de-
tails, but 1T is known that both sides
have lost heavily and that the insur-
gents are at least holding this ground
they have so galIantly gained. twill
be no surprise if today's telegrams tell
OF their triumphant entry into VAL
paraiso.
Their cause has already enlisted
paraiso.
Their cause has already enlisted
general sympathy in America. This
bold and brilliant military movement
will intensity it. To account for that
sympathy it is only necessary to run
over the causes ofthe conflict. Short
ly after Balmaceda's inauguration in
1888 he began to assume dictatorlal
powers. He ignored the electoral
rights of the people, tore down minis,
tries and built up others to his own
liking; filled the civil service with his
tools and violated the letter and spir-
it OF the constitution by rendering no
account of his acts to congress. Fin
ally when congress threatened to re-
fuse appropriations unless it's wishes
were respected in some slight degree,
Balmaceda declared that body dis.
solved. The majority of congress i'm
mediately proclaim the president de.
posed for violating the constitution.
The naval officers took sides with con-
gress and committed the first act OF
war by offering the magnificent navy
to the insurgents. They took poses.
sion and established them
selves at Pisaqua, Iquique
and Autofagasta. There have
been a few brilliant engagements be-
teen Balmaceda's torpedo boats and
the warshipSof theinsurgents, but the
first, and probably the last, import
ant action is the one now in progress
at Santiago. 1t seems strange chat
there have not been other land engage.
ments, but this is explained by the
fact that between the territory held
by Balmaceda and that occupied by
insurgents there is an impossible des-
ert. The insurgents have established
provincial government in the north
ern half of the country and are con-
Quoting it peaceably. Balmaceda
rules the southern halt and his is q
reign of anarchy and terror, for many
OF his subjects are rebellious and he
has attempted to suppress them by
extreme measures.
The world will be glad to see the end
OF this bloody and apparently fruit.
less war and Americans will hope for
success OF the insurgents, for their
ideas OF popular government seem to
be more in accord with our own than
are the principles for which Balmaceda
contends. 1t must be confessed, how
ever, that neither side seems fully fit.
ted for free, popular government in
ita hoat form