The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-30

- SeiiuaIy, came the open rebellion. The
opposition majority in congress declared
itself the government, went on board men,
oi-war with mutinous naval officers
ana secured the coast for a place to
lano Tor the navy in state of mutiny
IL became lmperatively necessary to MAIN
tam order at any price. The majority in
congress having disrupted the govern
ment, the president was left without one
OF the constitutional branches of the gov
eminent. Because these members of con-
gress had themselves violated the consti-
tuition, debauched the navy and aban-
doned their posts, it did not follow that
the president should abandon his. The
opiigation on him was greater to remain
and protect the internal order and ex-
ternal safety of the state.
The recently appointed Chilean consul
general at New York, Charles R. Flint,
has always been warm supporter of Bal
maceda and is unprepared to believe that
his chief is defeated. In an interview he
said:
ITO me 1t hardly seems possible, much less
probable, that President Balmaeeda met with
defeat, because he had every advantage in his
favor from the beginning. His army was greatly
superior in numbers to t1at of the insurgents,
ana he also had a practically impregnable posi-
ton. OF course this is mere conjecture on my
part because am without particulars, but be-
heve If he has been defeated it was because
something happened for which he was not pre-
pared at the outset 1t has been said that or
less discomfort existed among his troops, and
large numbers of them may probably have de-
serted at critical moment Should they have
taken sides with the insurgents, his position
would have been so weakened of course. that
an easy victory over him would have been the
MI NJ =, IT,
pianation possible for nee to offer for his defeat"
do you think that this battle will end the
war;"
u 90 not think so, unless President Balmaceda
ana his principal heutenants are now prisoners
In tne hands OF the insurgents II that proves
10 De the case, the trouble will, suppose, end
where 1T is. But if the president has succeeded
IN reaching Santiago, where he has another
large force OF troops concentrated, the situation
VIII be somewhat different
Ihe consul general states that Balma-
ceda Will now concentrate his forces about
Santiago, and If he has prestige enough to
recall ms troops to his standard he will
still have the larger army. At Santiago
the rebel fleet will be of no value. and the
government would still have the advan-
tage. He has since the 9th received no
advices from Santiago
w. k. Grace & CO. received a dispatch
this morning from their house in Valpa-
raiso confirming the report of the complete
victory OF the insurgents and the fall of
valparaiso. They are firmly of the opin-
ION that the result of the battle is equiva-
lent to the overthrow of the Balmaceda
government
LONDON, Aug. 29.-Official dispatches re-
ceived in Berlin and Paris confirm the an
nouncement that the city of Valparaiso
has been captured by the troops of the
congressional party of Chile. The orderly
manner in which the congressional party's
forces occupied the strategic points and
the quiet prevailing throughout Valparaiso
has been so marked that Admiral Since
mand, in command of the foreign fleets in
Chilean waters has decided there is no
need for any Intervention on the part of
the assembled fleet to protect the foreign
population of Valparaiso.
The Globe this afternoon, commenting
upon the capture of Valparaiso and conse-
qnently the downfall of Balmaceda, says
the congressional victory gives the Espiegle
affair a much more serious complexion,
adding: -4..ss-.-..--. 81
Had Balmaceda won, no diplomatic dispute
would have followed, but England will now
have to explain what appears to be a fagrant
breach OF neutrality England is anSweraDle Tor
her agents, and if the Congressional party claims
damages as it probably will, John Bull will find
himself with another Alabama imbroglio of
far less excusable character on his hands. If
the case is as bad as il appears to be, the sound
est policy would be to frankly admit the blum
der and come to some friendly arrangement
about the compensation, unless we have good
enough defence to resort TO international arbi-
tration, which is strongly to be deprecated.
The Espiegle affair referred to by the
Globe is the outcome of the action of the
commander of III. NJ. S. Espiegle in con-
veying million dollars in silver intrusted
to him by Balmaceda to Monteyideo for
shipment TO Europe. The silver was sub
sequently sent to Europe in payment for
arms, ammunition and ships supplies for
Balmaceda's government. The Times and
other papers demanded a full investi-
CATION into the matter.
Thieving Cashier Gone to Canada.