The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-03-15

uC uCCCOGQ W
THAT UNJUST REQUIREMENT,
there was no knowing what the next de-
lnand might be, and ne might just as well
let go the reins OF government at once.
Congress was also importuned by numer-
Gus petitions, but doggedly maintained its
attitude, judging rightly that Balmaceda
would finally yield to their terms rather
than ruin the country-though one day
hungry rabble collected around the chant Der
and gave some of the deputies as they
emerged well-deseryed beating. Then
strikes and incipient revolutions sprang up
all over the country, mostly carried on by
WorKmen whose families suffered most from
the non passage Of the appropriation. The
roustaboutS, launchmen, freight haulers,
seamen anu other irresponsible persons
who had nothing to lose, paraded the streets
of Valparaiso and other ports in drunken
bands, singing and bowling ike demons,
throwing stones at unshuttered windows,
hiring shots right and lett without any par
tcular target, occasionally quitting shop
or store and threatening to pillage every
house and burn it over the heads of the
terrified people. Valparaiso is mostly a
wooden city with long, narrow streets, oc-
cupying a cramped space between the hills
and the sea, and would burn like finder land
nothing but the
PROMPT ARRIVAL OF GOVERNMENT TROOPS
prevented it from being served in the riots
of last July as Iquiqui was six months later.
AT last, to save further bloodshed, the
president yielded the point and changed his
cabinet third time.
= But, as he had foreseen, the opposition
party were not satisfied and became more
pronounced in their hostility toward the
government; until at length, hoping to bet
ter their condition, a portion of the unpaid
army and navy went over to their side
with the disastrous results of which the
telegraphs have told you. In the late pun
poseless but sanguinary conflicts several
thousand men have been killed host of
children orphaned and millions of dollars
worth of property destroyed; there have
been business failures innumerable, and
Chilli has lost more than she can regain in
fifty years of 'prosperity-all for no good
reason except that the spirit of revolution
is in the Spanish blood and, like murder.
will out.
President Jose Manuel Balmaceda was
inaugurated on September IS, 1856, for the
constitutional term of i've years, and conse
quently his time is nearly expired. Previ-
GUS TO the election he had not
FIGURED MUCH IN POLITICS,
but was a quiet, well-to do citizen of the
wealthiest and most aristocratic capital OF
Spanish America. The questionable great
ness was not particularly of his own seek
ing, but was in measure thrust upon him
His private fortune has been completely
wrecked in this disastrous five years. and
he will retire from Office poor man, with
feWe" friends than when ne went into it
Chilli boasts that within her patriotic bord
ers there are no populations in high places
and loves to point to the case of former
president who was immensely wealthy in
private life, but through some unfortunate
speculation lost all his fortune while in of
flee, and being too honest to help himself
from the public funds--as he might easily
have done in hundred ways undetected-
gave up his splendid casa and horses anG
carriages, and at the close of the term re
tired to a cheap, little rented house in the
suburbs where ne still lives.
President Balmaceda is not yet forty
years old-a tail, handsome, well-educateC
man, who has Travelled good deal anC
speaks some English, but not enough t
carry on an easy conversation. His family
consists of wife and several pretty chill
dren, among the latter being
THREE NEARLY GROWN DAUGHTERS,
who had already begun to pose as bellies
before their fight. 1t is not known to
certainty where they are gone; some say t.
Europe and others assert with equal conf
dence that they were sent over the noun
tains to the Argentine Republic. AT any
rate the president has succeeded in spirit
ing them away to some place of greater Sc
curity, while he remains TO face the storm
in hourly danger of threatened assassina
ton. What sad parting that must hav,
been between the harrassed father and hi
gentle wife and daughters. Mrs. Balma
ceda is spoken of by all as the most woman
ly of women, d devoted mother aud mode
housekeeper.
Meanwhile, life in Santiago is a queer
mixture of anxiety and social pleasure
Nobody knows what terrible things ma,
happen at any moment; yet notwiths tand
ing rumors Of war and narrowing account
Of atrocities perpetrated in near-b by places
the majority OF these proverbially light
hearted, happy go-lucky Spanish-Ameri
cans disport themselves in the same oil
ways. The theatres are all well ATTENDED
and as usual, the boxes are filled witt
bare-headed, bare-armed, beieweled ladies
dressed in the height of Partisan fashion
| ON NEW YEARS. EVE,
according to long established custom, Their
was magnificent open air concert in tn
! Quinta Normal spacious and beautiful
| garden in the suburbs Of the city-assiste
/ by several military bands. The entir
space with its splendid trees and lawns an
| beds of flowers was hung with Chinese Ian
terms and ablaze with electric light; Will
Its commodious restaurant buildings secon
DeiElopico's, and numerous dancing pavil
ions We're crowded with happy people. Tn
sweet Spanish Dolores and the Frenc
''Je t'aime,'' sung by hundred voices, wa
! charming, but more welcome to the ears @
exiled Gringos, as all Anglo Saxons ar
called hereabouts, were the strains of $50
Save the Queen sung at the English club
where the young fellows made night of
in memory of far-away friends. and eve
the occasional shakey voice of some ever
loyal though inebriate Yankee, shoutin
Hail Columbia on his winding wa
through the streets.
On the 4th of January, as an expressio
of popular sentiment against Balmaceda. a
the cabinet ministers were expelled froI
the Union club, the most swell organizatio
of its kind in the city, by vote of nine t
one. On the 5th,
DECREE WAS ISSUED
foroiddlng coaches and street cars to pl
after midnight, an order which has highl
incensed the society people, because moth
ing begins here until nearly the time of gC
ing home In the north. Santiago is liz
Washington, a city of magnificent distances
ana the bare headed bellies will be con
pelltd to remain at home or walk many
mile in their satin slippers. Policemen
mounted ana On foot. patrol at ali hour
and no gathering OF any kind is permltte
Oh the streets. So vigorously is the orde
enforced that il three or four well know
citizens chance to stop in group for cor
versation, as is daily done in every coz
munity, up steps a policeman and order
them to dispense. In view OF existing eli
cumstances these extraordinary precautio,
may be necessary; but are nevertheless c,
trpnlnly irESQnn tn wall Iien0cod ,1aop1o
''Who has seen to-morrow?n is fayo
tie Spanish proverb, particularly applicab
at the present time, Tor any hour may brir
shot and shell and carnaEe ,ntn this nrnl1