Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-22
shouting songs of triumph over the oee'H
OF their former ruler.

III WILL HASTEN TIE IRA OF PAAch'
II IL the general belief that Balmacedas
death will hasten in great degree the re.
storaton OF peace throughout Chile. Now
that the chief enemy Of the victol'9yI'
Junta Is no more It is likely that ms Ioi.
lowers will be shown mercy. since wi'n r.rv
Balmaceda TO direct them they are very
little to be feared.
Italy, France. Sweden. and Norway ha!c
followed the lead Of the United states "
official recognition OF tho Junta. "I.
many. IL will be remembered. was tne
second nation TO do so. No official recog-
milton has yet come from England. lh's
creates considerable comment.
BALMAcgDA's CAREER.
Jose Manuel Balmaceds was about 10 re-
tire permanently from active politics. nv
was born in 1910. and received his educA-
ton at the Seminario Conciliar OF SANTIAGO
de Chile. For twenty years he was among
the prominent statesmen OF Chiie unu
early distinguished himself as an ora'Gr'
his speeches favoring radical reforms Ia
the Constitution Of 1883. He was q de:
scendent of one OF the best families VI
Chile, his father, Don Manuel Balmacc,da,
having been u senator for many years. lno
son was deputy in five consecutive LEXIS
laiures, and in 1885 was elected senator.
On the 12th Of April President santa MA
ria appointed him Minister OF the Interior,
which is IN reality Prime Minister. In 1900
h and his brothers. Malta and lsidor9
ErrazuriZ together with other llDerai
Chileans founded the Reform Club. when
has since become the leading club OF the
republic. He was bold advocate OF the
separation of church and State In the
Congress in 1874, but the measure was I'M
successful. In 1894. however, he sue
ceeded in introducing civil marriage
and other liberal laws. During the
war between Chile and Peru In 1880 the
Chilean Government found it necessary
20 have the services of skilled dipio,,
mat at Buenos Avres to secure the goodi
will of the Argentine Republic toward
Chile. Balmaccda was chosen tor the task
| and lie rendered his country great service
| by smoothing over difficulties which were
very critical OF the time. He was also
Minister of Foreign Affairs under santa
Maria. lie was nominated at the conveh-
| ton Of January IL. 1856, held in Santiago.
and subsequently, elected President to
succeed Santa Maria in the September foi-
| lowing. =,
| The late civil war was precipitated by
| the fact that Balmaceda. who claimed TO-
represent the masses against the classes
dissolved Congress whenlt declined 10 vote
HIM supplies for carrying on the Govern
ment. Congress based its conduct upon
tine allegation that Balmaceda's acts were
subyersive Of the Constitution. The ma,
joritv of Congress then headed the rebel
| movement.
HE NIGHT HAVE BEEy TORN TO PIECES.
San DIEGO, CAL, September 2l.-The
news Of ex.President balmaceia's suicide
was not known to Captain Mannzin, OF the
Ita;a. until communicated 70 him by an
Associated Press reporter. My God. he
exclaimed on being told Of the tragedy.
that was what | expected. There was
no chance for him 70 escape. You do not,
| because you cannot. know the fury OF IL
| Chilean mon. Under such circumstances
il would have been Unsuitable. He would
| certainly have been torn TO pieces had he
been detected trying to escape"