The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-07
sEATrnE. FRTDAr. AUG. 2.
THE CHILEAN STRUGGLE.

q
Chilean waters. Balmaeeda holds the
southern, Or food-producing part OF Chile,
while the party of congress holds the ter
ritory extending from the northern bound
airy of Chile to the 18th degree OF south
latitude. This territory comprises the
richest provinces, constituting one-haif
the territory of the republic and yielding
two-thirds of the yearly revenue. This
territory is governed by iunta, organized
last April, and is composed OF the vice
president of the senate, the president OF
the chamber of deputies and the COM
mander OF the navy.
Balmaceda was elected president in 1886,
and for two years conducted satisfactory
administration. The constitution did not
permit his reelection, but he determined
to designate his own successor; his ambi-
ton was to enrich himself through the
creation Of rich syndicate, which should
buy the nitrate beds of Tarapaca, owned
by the government. In order to do this,
however, favorable congress was neces-
sary and successor who could be de-
pended on, and he tried to prepare
the way for the election of his
confidential agent and broker as president.
The Chilean congress passed, however,
the Australian ballot law, and municipal
laws. modelled after the New England
town system, which were obstacles to
BaImaceda's purpose, so in the beginning
of 1890 he suddenly, during the congress
sional recess, replaced the parliamentary
cabinet by one composed of his own Great
ures. The Chilean cabinet, having seats
in congress, depends on parliamentary
majority for its existence, as in England.
When the congress met in June, 1890,
both Senate and House by overwhelming
majorities passed vote of censure upon
the cabinet, but Balmaceda insisted on
maintaining his ministry. Then congress
refused TO pass bill authorizing the col
lection of taxes until the president should
appoint an honest ministry, Balmaceda
yielded for time and called upon the
judge of the supreme court to form a min
istry, and congress passed the tax bills
and other administrative measures. Two
months later Balmaceda forced the minis
try to resign, dissolved congress and
named another personal ministry. His
refusal to summon congress made it
impossible to carry on the government
legally, for the constitution provides that
ssonly by virtue of law is it permissible
20 fix annually the strength of the naval
forces. and to fix annually the expenses of
public government" Balmaceda, disre-
garding these explicit provisions of the
fundamental charter, on the LIST of Janu-
airy last issued manifesto, in which he
proclaimed himself dictator, declaring that
he had been obliged TO violate the consti-
tuition, and that he would continue to vio-
late 1t, despite the fact that the constitu-
ton provides that no department of the
government can under any circumstances
assume TO exercise other powers than
those expressly conferred upon il by the
constitution.
The supreme court Of Chile declared the
Gets of the president illegal; congress de-
posed him and called upon the people to
put down the revolutionary government
Of the dictator. The people of Chile rallied
20 the support of congress; the officers
and men of the navy without exception
offered their services. but Balmaceda
bribed the ignorant and uneducated rank
and tie Of the army to support him. All
the leading generals and = majority of the
officers of the regular army joined the
army Of congress. Then Balmaceda sus-
pended the newspapers, refused to obey
the mandate of the supreme court, and
when Il declared his acts illegal and
unconstitutional closed all the courts. The
property of members of congress vas pill
lsged, destroyed or confiscated judges, SEN
stors and representatives were imprisoned.
In order TO give his government some
semblance of legality he abrogated the
electoral laws, and the members of con.
gress were declared TO be no longer in the
exercise of their legislative function, al
though they still held, by constitutional
right, the charge confided to them by the
electors. He then ordered elections TO be
held for q so-called constituent assembly
In order TO reform the constitution, which
nobody but himself had violated.
~
under martial law, with no courts and no
press, was a farce. and all the candidates
designated by Balmaceda we're unani-
mously chosen. The tirst act of this con-
sress elected by bayonets was 10 legalize
the criminal acts of their creator, aud to
divest itself of all legislative attributes 10
eiothe him with unlimited and irrespon-
sihle authority by passing bin providing
that the president of the republic shall be
Invested with the following extraordinary
powers. ssThat of arresting, Transporting
and hsnishing persons; that of extending
the public revenue without being subject
20 estimates; that Of declaring the terri
tory OF the republic in 3 state OF siege; that
81 suspending or limiting the right of
meeting and the liberty Of the press"
This statement of facts concerning the
Chilean struggle leaves no reasonable
doubt that the congress party deserve the
sympathy Of evSy free government in the
world, and 10 is melancholy 10 learn that
In the judgment Of the officers Of the
Charleston. Balmaceia will triumph If his
ships from France reach Chile. The nj
trste mines held by the congress party are
reported as proiiiless at present; Balms-
ceda has money, sis feeding his troops and
paying them, and can prolong the war.
The CongressionalistS have no money and
little food, and are having very hard
time
GROWING sCEPTICAL ABoUr FREE