Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-30

ceiving any taxes or imposts, if not author
laed by Congress, for period not exceeding
Is months.
| g. The forces of the army and navy are
| nxed by Congress annually, and witaout
this law no army or navy can legally exist
4. Troops cannot be quartered in the place
where Congress is in session, or within so
miles OF 1t, without the special permission of
Congress. granted by law every year.
3. The President cannot be impeached dur
| ing the term of his Office, and no order of
the President should be obeyed without the
| signature of Cabinet Minister who as
able by the House of Representatives before
| the Senate.
OTHER PRESIDENTS GOT ALONG.
These fundamental principles were OBJ
served in Chile, without interruption, from
1888 to 1890, a space of 81 years. Eleven Presi-
dents were elected, and each performed his
duties in strict accordance with the Consti-
tuition. 1t was left to the present claimant
to the Presidential office to break this long
and honorable record. Mr.. Balmaceda was
elected President in 1856. and until 1890 his
course was consistent and patriotic.
But, intoxicated by the exercise of power,
he was loath to surrender it. As he could
not hold Office for a second term, he de-
termined to enjoy. all its substantial fruits,
by forcing into the Presidential Office crear
ture of his own selection, who would be
merely locum tenens, while he would pc
the real President of the Republic and be
able to elect himself for the succeeding
term. With far-casting diplomacy and IN
trigue he put in operation all the influence
of his office and administrative machinery
to effect his purpose. The intimate personal
friend designed as his successor had none OF
the qualifications necessary for the fresl-
dency, and his elevation was bitterly COM
bated by public opinion, and all the prov
inces, and both houses of Congress echoed
the will of the people.
PROMISED. TO CALL CONGRESS.
Notwithstanding the denial of the Presi-
dent, Congress distrusted his good faith AS
a guarantee of it, he was induced, after
various conferences with the leading men
of the Republic, to appoint Cabinet in ac-
cord with public sentiment, and in oppo-
sition to Presidential Intervention in the
choice of a new President This Cabinet
was constituted on the 23d of October, 1889,
and Congress manifested its satisfaction by
passing the appropriation and army D1lls Tor
the year 1890, well as various laws for the
general good. But the people were not de-
ceived by the Presidents professions, and
entertained a profound distrust of his sin
cerity; These suspicions were specify con-
firmed by Mr.. Balmaceda's own friends, who
openly declared that as soon as Congress
had passed the appropriation bill the
present Congress would be of no further use.
The Ministry called the attention OF the
President to the general distrust, and be-
sought him to assemble Congress in extra
ordinary session, in order to put an enc 70
popular Tears. MI. BalmaC0Oa aCCepUoC
this advice with apparent pleasure and
authorized the Ministers to declare in both
Houses the Presidents solemn promise to
call Congress to an extraordinary session in
the month of April, 1890, when its members
would have returned to the capital from
their summer vacation; and further, that
during that session a new electoral law,
made necessary by a change in the Const1-
tuition the year before, affecting the cleo
toral basis, established by the provisions of
the old law, would be discussed; also, that
municipal reform law, so loudly demanded
by the public, would be presented for con-
sfderation. The head of the Ministry, Mr.. I
Sanchez Fontecilla, announced to both
Houses of Congress the solemn promise of
the President.
THE PROMISE DELIBERATELY BROKEN.
The appropriation bill and the army and 4
navy bill having been passed ana approved,
popular fears were realized. In January,
1890, the President demanded the resigna-
ton of the Cabinet He closed Congress and
over a majority of Congress to his interests, |
but failed. Finally, Notwithstanding his |
solemn promise, the President refused to |
call Congress in extra session in April. |
marched boldly on in his unconstitu- |
5ional and revolutionary career. On the
10Th of May he named as chief
candidacy for the Presidential chair was
one of the causes of the political difficulties. |
On the lst of June Congress met in ordinary
session, as required Dy the constitution, ana
passed vote of censure against |
5he ministers by large majority in both |
houses, but, contrary to unbroken prece-
dents for 81 years, they refused to surrender
lffice. On the LIST o. July. the law authoriz- |
ng the collection of taxes expired by con-
stitutional limitation, and. Is days before,
the House of Representatives had declared
it would not re-enact said law unless a min
stry was appointed in which both Presi-
dent and Congress had confidence, and |
which would be guarantee of the constitu-
EsxN,,n vsad ,ScAa,
in office, and Congress refused to
discuss the revenue measures, and during
The entire month of July no taxes or duties
we're collected in Chile. The public ex-
1enditures were made with surplus funds
in the last years.
THE FINAL ACTS OF BOTH PARTIES
The breach continued to widen, other cab
nets were appointed only to resign and at
asst January, 1891, arrived. The appropria-
ions for the public expenses and the army
md navy bill had expired the day before
~ the constitutional limitation. As Mr.
notwithstanding the reiterated
'equests of the Conservative Committee,
lis solemn promise and the never before in
jerrupted custom, had not conyoked Con-
.ress at an extra session to re-enact
hese laws for the year of 1891, he
,ould not constitutionally disburse public
orce for lack of these laws. The President,
dr. Balmaceda, instead of convoking Con-
,ress as was his duty, issued q proclamation
n which he declared his inability to carry
IN the Government in accordance with the
and, therefore, by virtue of his
Dwn will he would hereafter dispose of the |
public funds and support the army and
lavy without reference to the constitution |
md laws.
At this crisis, seeing that the President
vas bent on an arbitrary dictatorship, Con-
,ress resolved to exercise the powers con-
erred upon it by the Constitution. This in
provides that whenever the Presi-
lent is found unfit to discharge the duties
# his office by reason of infirmity absence
II other grave causes the Presidential office |
must be declared vacant. This it proceeded
o do and solemnly ordained that Mr. Jose
Ianuel Balmaceda had ceased to be Presi-
ent of Chile.
On the morning of January z, 1891, the
eople of Valparaiso were surprised to find
hat the ironclad Blanco Encalada, the Es-
neralds and other vessels of the navy had
isappeared during the night, leaving only
he old Peruvian Huascar in the harbor. A
lanifesto, signed by the Vice President of
ne Senate anG the President of the Cham
er of deputies, soon threw light upon this
range occurrence, and the war was on.