Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-21
A POPULAR YOUNG MAN.

A POPULAR YOUNG MAN.
There was at that time political society
in Santiago called the Club de la Reforma,
composed of hot-headed young men who
wanted to change or overthrow the Consti.
tuition by which Chile had been governed
since 1880. Balmaceda Joined it. AT school
he had developed a natural talent for ora,
tory, and being much the most eloquent
member of the club he soon became its fore
| most leader.
By the time he was 2S years old Young
Balmaceda was known throughout Chile as
a coming man. He was elected deputy to
the Chilean Congress- and took a prominent
| part in all the debates There is no denying
his strong native force of character and ex-
| cellent ability. He was the best debater in
Congress and a natural leader of men. He
served five terms as deputy with credit to
himself and his city. His ambition was
recognized; people generally admitted that
he would one day be President, but no one
imagined the extent to which his ambition
was destined to lead him.
When President Santa Nara took up
Balmaceda in 1885 and made him the Ma
tional Minister of Foreign Affairs he greatly
strengthened his administration and graft
fed the nation. Balmaceda was very popu-
lar. The next year the popular Minister be-
came his party's candidate for President and
was elected by an overwhelming maj jority.
A CHILEAN FEATURE
In Chile presidents are ineligible for re-
election. As the last year of Balmacedas
term began gradual change came over his
demeanor His old friends and counsellors
he treated with growing GOODNESS. New
men who had no name in public matters re-
ceived his favor. For his chief favorite he
took an obscure broker named Sanfuertes, a
man who had been his private business
agent, but who was unknown to the people
His old friends demonstrated with him in
his choice and pointed out that his admins
tration would inevitably be closed with
failure of public confidence. Balmaceda
drove them away with angry denunciations
and made Sanfuertes of still greater i'm
portance. He retired from participation in
public affairs, except through Sanfuertes'
agency. Those who wanted to see the Presi-
dent must do so through the favorite Then
began the series of events which culmin-
ated III the revolution and now in the death
of Balmaceda.
THE FIRST OUTBREAK
In June the pretended revolution began
among the lower classes in Valparaiso,
africa and other seaport towns, where
miners and laborers went rloting about for
no apparent purpose. Unluckily for Bal
maceda his share in instigating these dis
turbances was revealed The country
overwhelmed him with ridicule and anger
and the local authorities put down
the uprising with permitting the interfer
ence of the President A committee headed
by the Archbishop of Chile called upon
Balmaceda and demanded tnat the un-
popular Cabinet be dismissed; that ne should
not attempt to influence the naming of
candidates for the Presidency and that the
laws and usages of the country should be
carefully observed.
Balmaceda yielded to all these demands.
He dismissed his ministers, including the |
hated favorite; he appointed q new cabinet |
of men in whom the public had confidence |
and ostensibly he withdrew from any par
ticipation in the coming election. He |
promised to dismiss the men he had ap- |
pointed to Offices in the provinces and the |
police. He would not persecute the men |
who had opposed him in his schemes and he |
would observe the wishes of the people to
the end Of his administration.
GENERAL REJOICING.
These promises being announced in Con-
gress by the new head of the Ministry were
received everywhere with rejoicing. 1t
seemed that at last the end of all the trouble
had been reached
On the contrary, it had just begun. For
q few weeks the Government ran smoothly.
Congress devoted itself to passing the leg
islation which had been held in abeyance
during the time of excitement. Balmaceda
held daily conferences with his Cabinet
about measures to be adopted and the men
who should be appointed in the provinces
70 succeed his favorites. The people began
70 believe again in Balmaceda.
Suddenly the whole fabric of the newly
'estored confidence came down with crash
It was discovered that the favorites whose
emoval had been promised were in secret
conference with the President The Cabinet
sked what this meant. Balmaceda said he
lad concluded not to make any removals,
The Cabinet resigned. The President ap-
'ointed new one composed Of the old OBJ
material Congress summoned
he new ministers before it. They refused
o go. When Congress appealed to the
President he ordered the House of Congress
o be closed and civil war was practically
egun.
PREPARED FOR WAR.
1t was now seen how carefully Balmaceda