The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-15

Spain have never been able to subiugate. In
Western Patagonia they remain TO this day I'M
subdued-a race OF fierce giants, known by
hearssy to every schoolboy, preserving its indie
Tenucnce against Caucasian invasion. 1t Is
only by iningling OF blood that they have
been tanned. From this mingling has been pro-
dnced the most intelligent savage people prob
ably that ever lived on this earth. In war they
are Dloodthirsty beyond description They
ont vaudal the VandaIs, destroying everything
they can In mere wantonness, and murder
every prisoner.
Chileans In general have no regard whatever
for the ordinary laws OF warfare. United States
soldiers or sailors, should they encounter these
herce foes, would ind themselves obliged to
adopt methods of fighting not recognized in
civilized codes. Battles would ne simply cut
Throat engagements on a large scale On the
battlefeIds during the recent struggle between
Peru and Chile at least nine-tenths of the
corpse< were found with their throats cut. This
is the Chilean method of combat Each man In
variably carries. even in times OF peace, long
curved knife with a keen edge, called a "curyo,"
Just as the Italian is provided with stiletto.
These fellows never fight with their fists, with a
revolver, or with stick, but always with
the knife. In private Quarrels or in mobs
they employ the deadly cuFvo. As soldiers they
are brave TO reckiessness. They cannot be made
to do duty at long range, but as soon as they see
the enemy they fra one yoley, drop their guns,
and rush in with their Knives In the war with
Peru no quarter was given unless the whole OPP
posing army capitulated, all prisoners being
ruthlessly slain.
Report hss been made that the sailors of the
ship Baltimore were so severely wounded as to
suggest the use OF bayonets by the police, but il
would seem likely tina: their injuries may have
been inflicted with these curved knives. 1t is
as wei that the people OF the United States
should know what manner of warriors are to DO
found in these combatiye Chileans. They are
restrained by none of the laws which usually
govern warfare among civilized nations
During their conflict with Peru they behaved
with horrible barbarity which few of the most
ruthless savages on the face of tho globe could
have equalied While marching through the
their path. Not only did they burn the crops,
but they broke up all the machinery used on
the sugar Plantations and other farms, SO that
Peru is almost idle agriculturally at present for
lack OF mechanical means wherewith to till the
soil. They iped out villages aud demolished
elites Tor the mere sake OF destruction. having
10 respect whatever for the property of foreign
ers. Having achieved conquest, the armies de-
voted themselves to pillage and rapiue, laying
waste millions of dollars worth of property
daily for sheer amusement Town after town
was totally wrecked and demolished by the
troops, and the beautiful winter resorts of Peru,
such as Chorillos, its Newport, were actually
annihilated, together with all their parks aud
palaces, by explosions of dynamite Whatever
could not be carried away was brokea up or
burned. The beautiful capital OF Lima was
given up to sack by a riotous soidiery. superb
works of art with which that metropolis was
filled were shattered aud torn to fragments.
The entire Peruvian museum, one of the finest
in The world, was packed up and shipped to
Santiago, and likewise the great library. All
the costly irrigation works were ruined, and the
trees in the parks and even fn the botanic gar
den were girdled. Exquisite fountains and
statues were shattered by wholesale Women
and children were subjected to outrage and
murder, aud no regard was had for the rights of
non-combatantS. Thus Peru, once the
weathiest OF nations, reduced to poverty,
that now those who were the richest among its
citizens are compelled to depend upon the
pawnshops Tor bread.
Such is the character of these people whom
the United States may be obliged TO meet in war
Their ferocity IS only equaled by their arrog-
ance and vanity. Not for a moment do they
imagine that they not fully able to cope with
this country in conflict They imagine that this
republic is their only great rival in the New
World, and they would confidently undertake
the task OF humbling us. OF the magnitude of
Uncle Sans realm and its population they Ell
terrain no adequate idea. Not long ago gentle
man of distinction from New York was dining
at the house OF Chilean OF prominence, and
the latter asserted that his country was quite
as big and as popnlous as the United
states s The New Yorker responded quietly
Trinity church and overlook the habtations of
more people than were TO be found i'll all Chile.
1t was proposition that the host could not
brook for a moment, and II was with difficulty
that serious quarrel was avoided.
The Chilean dream is of conquest. Before
long Peru and Bolivia seem likely to be absorbed
by that republic. Toward the east, beyond the
snow-capped Andes, lie vast realms inviting
acquisition. step over the mountains, and
possession would be obtained of the sources of
the Amazon 1t may reasonably be taken
for granted that these enterprising and
warlike people will be dominant I'm Sonth
America before the next century has seen many
decades pass. That gigantic struggle should
eventually ensue between themselves and the
United States seems not improbable. If blow
and a lesson are needed, there could not be a
better time than now TO strike the one and give
the other. As Admiral Gherhardi has suggested,
Peru would gladly join Uncle Sam as an ally
for the sake of getting back her nitrate fields
and to help punish her former conqueror
Whatever tho result OF the present embroglio,
there can only exist a lasting and invincibie an
tagonism between ourselves and these semi-civ
flized vandals of the South. RENE BACHE