Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-21
CAREER OF DALNACEDA.

been chronieied was born fifty-one years ago.
dis name was Jose Manual Balmaceda. His
parents designed him for the priesthood. but
| he plunged isto politics. By the time he was
I twenty-eight years old young Balmaceda was
| known throughout Chill as n coming man. He
| was elected ! deputy to tins Gillian congress
and took prominent part in all the debates.
In congress Balmaceda was the champion and
idol of the grea. liberal party Of Chilli. At
that time there we're two other parties contest
ing with the liberals for the control OF the gov
| ernneut-the nationals and the conservatives
| The liberals, who were dominant, comprised
J the young men-the college and university
graduates and the progressive elements in pub
Ne HE. The extension OF popular education
was their shibboleth
I When President Santa Maria took up Balma-
cola IN 1885 and made him the national minis
ter of foreign affairs he greatly strcng thened
his administration and gratitied the nation.
Bainlaceda was very popular. The next year
the popular minister became his partys cahdi-
Gate Tor president and was elected by an over
whemiug majority. :,
For the first three years the leaders who had
applauded Balmaceda's candidacy and helped
him to his success were in complete mar
mOny with his ideas and methods In these
three years tho progress Of Chill was greater
than in any like time in her history.
The Chilans almost worshipped him then
To their mind he was the greatest president
they had ever had. Opposition to him In the
joined in his praises. He was the most dis
tinguished man in South America.
From this period in his life accounts Of his
career differ. He is represented martyr
certain that this pleasant situation was COM
pletely changed in one year. From the most
popular man in Chill, Balmaceda became in
twelve months among very large number OF
his fellow citizens the most cordially hated.
1t Is claimed by his enemies that he bad de-
fny 90, 81, l,ra l..
predecessors had when their terms had expired,
but by CGSarian stroke make himself master
OF Chilli. At any rate he aud his ministers dis
agreed and they were dismissed and their Sue
cessors appointed. Congress passed a vote Of
censure and the cabinet resigned. another was
appointed and SanfuenteZ. obscure broker,
was made its chief Heads of departments
throughout the country were dismissed and
chiefs friendly to himself we're chosen. AS soon
as this was done Balmaceda announced San
fuentez as the next candidate for the presi-
dency.
This aroused great Indignation and efforts
were made to induce him TO give up Sanfuentez.
A committee. headed by the archbishop of
Chilli, called upon Balmaceda and demanded
that the unpopular cabinet be dismissed tina.
he should not attempt to influence the naming
OF candidates for the presidency, and that the
laws and usages of the country should be care
fully observed.
Bsimaceda yielded to all these demands.
BALMACEDA's vAcILLArIoN.
Fannie D. Ward in q recent letter to The
STAR from Chill said:
ut was in the vain effort to please all the d.
verse wings of the party which elected him five
years ago that Balmaceda changed his cabinet
so many tines-nine times within three years
but he never could succeed in suiting Two fac
lions OF them at the same time, nor could any
other mortal man. If they get chance to rule
each wing, rendered more arrogant and agrees
sive by recent triumphs. will insist upon its
own particular way. Having once broken
through that flexible document. the constitu-
ton, its provisions will be made to bear any
sort Of construction. President will follow
president in rapid succession, and the already
ruined country will proceed to the bowwows
at an expeditions pace.
''One OF the main causes OF disaffection
against the president is that for many years lie
has been leading spirit in the liberal party
as opposed to the church element. and during
his several terms i'll congress and the senate
boldly advocated the separation of the church
and state. 1t was finally accomplished, among
other much needed reforms. and with it Bal
maceda gained the undying hatred of the
church faction, which is still very powerful
element among the people ard includes nearly
all the women.
''In these turbulent countries it is the fashion
to look upon every ruler as a despot and he is
compelled to become one in order to keep his
bounds. The moment he attempts to enforce
authority he is characterize dictator and
every man who tries to overflow him. by fair
means or foul is lauded hero. And re-
greet to add that it is equally the fashion among
nations too remote to fully understand the real
situation to be taken in every time by the high
sounding phrases Of the self-styled patriots and
echo the cry against their rulers.''
In another letter to THE STAR from Chilli
the STARS correspondent wrote, regarding
D.l. l..
HE IS by no means the monster of cruelty
which certain ignorant newspapers of the
United States have represented him in big type
and glowing head lines to be. On the contrary,
he is an exceedingly mild-manuered, well-edu-
Gated and peace-lOving gentleman. who has
lived ali his life among these people Che is now
| III the neighborhood OF forty years old, and
has never before been accused Of more ar
| rogance or cruelty than is the natural heritage
Of the native Chilian-whose dollars, even.
bear the characteristic motto, 'por razon de
! fuerza. The present struggle not of his
! seeking. for certainly nothing could be more
detrimental to his personal interests; and SO
| far from prosecuting honest citizens. as has
been alleged it is eminently his policy to
make no new enemies. But this gigantic re-
| bellion he must put down if possible. though
such CHASTITY scenes as that enacted in the plaza
| on the last day of May occur again and again. "
Actual hostilities began with the refusal OF
| the president to assemble congress. The con
! gressional leaders met on shipboard in the
harbor Of Valparaiso and devised measures in
opposition to him. The president retalated
by treating his opponents as rebels. Civil wal
| broke out For the next six months it was
| fought with varying successes The navy was
| OH the side Of the congressional party, the
national army was in the hands Of Balmaceda
At first the efforts OF one side were toward
! getting arms and soldiers for All army and OF
the other toward getting navy. The country
was in state of anarchy. business was sus
| pended and murders. assassinations and riots
| were of daily occurrence. The Representatives
of foreign nations offered their mediation te
! restore peace. BATTLES and skirmishes on LAND
and sea followed. Gradually the superior
numbers OF the congressional party overcumt
the stratagems of the president. After months o.
fighting and stirring events Valparaiso wa.
| captured Balmacedas power was broken il
one day and Balmaceda himself became
| fugitive and now on the day following the ex
piration Of his term OF Office president h
| has died.
/ MnrvyauI Will TIRE gNouaJds0n