Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-07-02
CHILI'S REVOLUTION.
THE THRILLING STORY OF A
GILLIAN GIRL.
Prisons Packed With Old and
Young Newspapers of the Peo-
pie Distributed by Girls--Presi-
dent versus Congress.

civil war In Cnll Oy very graphic anc
interesting letter which she has addressed
to Harper's Young People. 1t seems to
her, she says. that we would like to know
''thc reasons which have Obliged the
peaceful inhabitants of this country tc
declare war against the President, Don
Jose Manuel Balmaccda." She thus mar
rates the interesting story
''For many months past the President
had separated himself from the best meu
OF the country; he called TO the Minis
try men without position and of bad
reputation. The Congress exacted their
dismissal, which the President refused,
and ordered the closing of Congress. Ii
would be too long TO describe all that
took place during the winter, or to write
at length all the abuses committed by
the President and his Ministers. Ac-
cording to the Constitution of this coun-
try the President has to govern with the
Congress, but Balmaceda openly violated
the Constitution and the laws. The time
was approaching for the elections, and
the people wanted to elect their own
President, but Balmaceda had his own
candidate, one Ct his favortes, whom
the people aud the Congress refused TO
accept.
Balmaceda saw them very determined.
and in December suppressed ali public
meetings. One night the Conservative
party was holding peaceful meeting in
the rooms of their own club. and Bal
maccda sent armed soldiers TO attack il.
The members were not armed, so
they had to dispense. A boy, 10 years
old, lsadrO Osso, running away from the
soldiers, was shot dead in the street.
This embittcred matters very much. for
his father belongs to one of tbs oldest
families in Santiago, and is very much
respected by all
The President went from one abuse
to the other, the people trying by every
possible means to arrange matters be-
tween MIN and the Congress, but he re-
fused everything. On January l the
Deputies and Senators signed solemn
act exacting the abdication of Balmace-
me CnIIlan men f-wnr tu-aeet- u-saruJv-
the President and declared themselves
in favor OF the Congress and Of the peo-
pie. This movement was to have been
seconded by the troops on shore, and
then it would have been only revolu-
ton of few hours. but one of the mill
tary chiefs advised the Government, who
took most active steps to repress the re-
belllon, ordering the Imprisonment Of
all the Deputies and Senators who had
signed the act. Those who could escape
went on board the men -of-war. others
hid, and some were taken prisoners.
New began a reign of terror; the Presi
dent declared himself Dictator and the
country under martial law. He ordered
the closing of the courts of justice, of all
the public schools, all clubs, all the
printing offices, dissolved the Naval
School. the Board of Health--all the
civilization of the country disappeared
The prisons are crowded with gentlemen
and young men.
''A secret revolutionary committee was
formed in Santiago, meeting now in one
place, now in another-constantly III
danger and actively working for liberty.
The Il It counted at first with few re-
sources, but quickly organized an army
OF recruits on the island Of Santa Maria,
in the south of Chill, the young men
from Santiago, Valparaiso, and other
cities escaping in disguise in open boats,
and as they could, to the fleet. Mean
time, on land, the suffering was terrible.
and success seemed almost hopeless, for
the Dictator had all the army, and con
tinued recruiting the laborers from all
the estates by force. All the houses
aud estates Vf Opposition gentlemen were
searched for arms, and many of the sons
logged terribly to o % gnI thsp IL Sae&Afe
ten so often, was entered by an armed
force Of rutfianly soldiers, who searched
and pillaged the house, took all the finest
horses, and conveyed as prisoners to the
town of Lenares our overseer and two Of
our men servants. Fortunately, we were
not there. As the soldiers have con-
tinued visiting the place II has been i'm
possible for Us To return there, nor is 1t
safe in Santiago, so we have spent this
sad summer on another farm.
''In Santiago the Opposition founded
two free newspapers. called La ReC0lu-
cion and Ill Constitutional. l cannot
tell you how very difficult it has been to
publish them. as the Government has
spies every where. The distributors OF
these papers are young girls and ladies'.
In the month of February the fleet took
possession of the port OF lquique, after
several terrible encounters with large
numbers of Government troops. This
victory was followed by many others,
but all have cost hundreds of lives.
Gentlemen and young men from Santiago
have fought as private soldiers on the
side of the Opposition, for this is q
struggle for life, for civilization, and
for the liberty which we have entirely
lost under the Dictator.
THE Opposition are now in possession
% four rich provinces, from Tar"Paca tc
Coquimbo, and We may expect from one
day to another a decisive battle in thu
neighborkood of Santiago to end THU
time OF suffering and despotism. Larg'
numbers of Government troops have
lately gone over to the Opposition, which
have been enthusiastically received.
am glad to say that patriotism has beer
more powerful than Balmaceda's gold
for while the Dictator offered reward
the opposition work ID only for thei
country.
. several Iurop AN powers hav
: already recognized che representatives O
, Congress as the lawful government. Tn
London Times and the illustrated Lon
q don News have published interestin
articles on the war in Chilli"
!, In closing, this womanly little CIR
Q who signs herself "Ana Tulsa j., de
J. clares that all correspondence has bee
y impossible, letters being opened Mt III
L Post Office by order OF the Dictator, an
y she sends this particular letter by
. friend who will post it in Valparaiso.
i Damming the Nile.