Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-09
BATTLING IN A RIGHTEOUS CAUSE.

Don Ricardo l.. Irumbull has clear
and convincing article from the Insur-
gents standpoint in the Forum for Au-
gust. 1t is headed ''The Chilean
Struggle for Liberty" Sefior Jose
Manuel Balmaceda, the present
dictator of Chile, was elected
president of the republic in 1886.
During the first two years of his presi-
dency, Seflor Trumbull says, Balmaceda
followed the honorable precedents OF
his predecessors. But he was ambi-
tious and mercenary. He conceived the
idea of forming mammoth syndicate
and disposing Of the rich nitrate beds
of Tarapaca. To carry out this plan
congress favorable to it and successor
in unison with the congress were essen
tial. 1t is charged that Balmaceda's
favorite for the succession was his con-
fidential agent and stock broker, Sefor
San Fuentes. Doubtless the dictator
would have named himself as his own
successor if it had not been for an ex-
press provision of the constitution of
Chile forbidding it. The people, how
ever, were not in sympathy with the
daring and selfish plans of the dictator,
and measures were at once taken
to counteract them. The Chilean
congress adopted system of
balloting substantially that of Aus
tralia, and municipal laws mod
eled on those of New England. Such
measures, however, were distasteful to
the dictator. What followed is thus de-
scribed by Senior Trumbull
In the beginning of the year 1890, the
president, ignoring the parliamentary
institutions Of Chile, as established by
the constitution and observed during
fifty-eight years by nineteen congresses
and by all previous administrations, tax
ing advantage of the congressional recess.
suddenly and without giving any ex-
PLANTATION, replaced the parliamentary
cabinet by one composed of his own
creatures. This was an attack on ma
tlonal institutions, for Chilean cabinets
are of the English type; the ministers
are appointed by the president with
out confirmation by the senate, and
having seats in congress depend upon
parliamentary majority for their exist
ence. In many other ways the president
deliberately violated the constitution,
usurping powers which that instrument
confers exclusively on congress or upon
the executive and congress jointly. As
soon as congress met of it's own right, in
June, 1890, both the senate and house,
by overwhelming majorities, passed
vote of censure upon the cabinet. The
nrooidopf h0wnvar ircictod ON main.
tanning his ministry, claiming that
henceforth he would observe the presi-
Dental rather than the parliamentary
system OF government. Congress, exer-
cising a constitutional right, then re-
fused to pass bill authorizing
the collection of taxes until the
president should appoint ministry
of honest men. Public opinion was
greatly aroused and the press of the
whole country denounced the pres
ident's course. Disturbance Of public
order was imminent. Just then news
came that the patriotic citizens of the
Argentine republic had deposed their
tyrant, and Balmaceda, fearing a like
fate, was obliged to yield until such a
time as he should consider himself
strong enough for asuccessful coup d'etat
He therefore called on Judge Prats of
the supreme court to form ministry.
Congress was satisfied for time by
this apparent submission of the presi-
dent, but the illusion did not last long.
Two months later he obliged the minis
try of Judge Prats to resign and again
started in to carry things with high
hand. He dissolved congress, which
had just assembled, to devise, amongst
other things, bills authorizing public
expenditures and fixing the strength of
the military and naval contingent for
1891, and named another personal min
istry.
Public order was again upon the point
of disturbance, and numerous repre-
sentations were made to Balmaceda by
the leading citizens of Chile, by the
corporations and by the press, urging
upon him to respect the will of the
people, but without avail. The comi-
sion conseryadora, committee COM
poeed OF seven senators and seven repre-
sentatives, elected by their respective
chambers to act during the recess OF
congress-, repeatedly called on Balma-
ceda to summon congress, but he turned
a deaf ear to all patriotic appeals.
His refusal to summon congress rem
dered it impossible to carry on the gov
eminent legally. The constitution
provides that "only by virtue OF law
g is it permissible to annually fix the
IS strength Of the land and naval forces
!" and sto fix annually the expenses OF