The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-29

ana the fatalities among In
line officers had also been great To avoid
the esoodshed which would probably have
resulted from the victorious army entering
the city heated with the fire of battle In
tendent Veil sent flag to General Canto
with proposition TO surrender the city. II
was accepted, and Senior Walker Martinez,
the congressionalist leader, took posses
sion of the city.
Shortly after noon the victorious army
began 10 enter Valparaiso, led by General
Canto with his staff The insurgent troops
were greeted with wild enthusiasm. The
people were crazy with excitement.
Shortly after the army entered Captain
Feuntes, of the torpedo boat Almirante
Lynch, was summoned to surrender.
He attempted to steam out, and
opened fire with his machine
guns. There was sharp engagement.
Captain Feuntes hauled down his flag, and
there was not an enemy of the revolution
from Fort Vsldeyid to Vina del Mar Du-
ring the afternoon such of the government
troops as were in the city delivered up
their arms and were paroied The city is
as quiet as could be expected.
Nobody here has any knowledge of the
whereabouts of Balmaeeda, although the
insurgent leaders are exceedingly anxious
TO lind him. The general belief is that he
IS making his way out of the country, per-
maps overland to Buenos Ayres.
The executive power of Chile is vested In
PRESIDENT, who is elected every five years. The
legislative power resides In two houses. botn
elected BY the people, and whose members re
eeiye no remuneration. The judges OF the
courts hold office for life or during good be-
havlor, and are independent of the other depart
ments All appropriations for carrying on the
government, and for otbsr public uses, are voted
annually by congress, taxes are fixed annually
o. congress, and the president Is prohibited
from ordering the coileetionsof taxes or imports.
II not authorized uy congress, for period not
eAceenilg Gig IIeen months The forces OF the
army aud navy are fixed by congress alone, an
bualIy, ana without this law no army or navy
can legally exist in Chile Troops cannot be
qnaTiercd where congress is in session or within
thirty miles OF such place. withoet the special
permission OF congress Itself
Ane president appoints his ministers without
tne concurrence OF the Senate or other body,
aud they can be members Of either house, or,
wnen not members. cfn assist at its sessions,
taxing part ~ discussions without voting.
Ihe president cannot be impeached during
the term OF bis Office, bat order of the presi
cent snould DC obeyed without the signature of
cabinet minister, who assumes the response
biiity and Is lmpeacabie by the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes before the senate.
Baimaceda was elected president of Chile in
1856 as the candidate of tae Liberal party. after
distinguished career in the House of Repre-
sentatiTeS and minister OF state. He went
into Office an earnest advocate of the doc -rlne
OF the saeredness OF the constitution and the
power OF congress over Chilean cabinet. He
apparently remained of this mind until his
presidential term was drawing to a close. Then,
as he could not hold Office for a second term, he
designated as his successor a man OF his own
seiection, behind whom be would be the rea.
president So bitter was the general opposition
to this candidate and to the prirrlple OF presi-
Dental Intervention in the choice OF new
preside Il that the Cnilian cabinet also opposed
70 Baifnacedas course, resigaei from Office
congress was also suspicious, and the president,
to conciiiate public opinion, agreed 10 appoint
a new cabinet in accord with public sentiment.
He did 50, secured thereby the passage by
congress OF the appropriation and army and
navy bill for 1890, approved in December, 1879,
and then Immediately. IN January, 1875, de-
mauded the resignation of the cabinet
He had also caused his ministers to declare in
botn houses his sacred promise to call an ex-
traordinary session of congress for April, iS9D,
for the discussion of a new electoral law and of
measures for municipal reform.
But. dissolving the popular ministry. he ap-
pointed q cabinet compcsed of his personal
friends, and when April, 1880, arrived he fatty
traoriinary session OF congress On May 30,
1898. he raised chief OF the cabinet the person
whose candidacy for the presidential chair was
one OF the causes OF the political dificuities OF
Chile.
on June congress met and passed a vote of
censure against the "Baimaeeda cabinet" Con-
trary 10 the unbroken precedent OF hfty-seven
years, the ministry refused 10 resign following
that vote.
The house of representatives refusing to re-
enact the law authorizing the collection OF taxes.
which expired July l, unless a ministry was ap-
pointed IN which both president and congress
had confidence, strikes and riots followed IN the
two principal ports, Valparaiso and I9uiqne,
and on August Z, so great was the public dis
content that Bamaceda was forced TO name a
new cabinet. At its head was Chief Justice
Pratts, of the supreme court, who resigned that
post 10 accept q cabinet portfolio in the public
interest His associates were also gentlemen of
the highest character, and harmony and tran
Quillity was re-estabilshed.
In the first week of October. 1890. this ministry
demanded the dismissal OF a political function
AIRY whose course thwarted the purpose OF the
cabinet IN regard to free elections. The presl-
dent refused to remove him, and the ministry
resigned IN body.
Balmaceda again named cabinet composed
of his personal friends and ordered the closure
of the extra session OF congress before the dis-
cussiou OF any laws or the passage OF apprla-
tions.
The conservative committee" vested with
constitutional powers, demanded the conVoea-
tion Of congress. IL also demanded the PUNISH
meRt OF ;he police directly under the order of
the president, tor the kiilisg Of fsyoung man in
an orderly political club and the repeal OF an
ordinance issued By the president following
that crime, which virtually suppressed the
holding of public meetings, AMI Baimaceda pos
itively refused compliance with these requests
of the conservative committee. Then began his
dictatorship.
THE DECREE OF DICTATORSHIP.
On January :, 1891, the following remarkable
proclamation was issued.
SANTIAGO, January Z. 1891.
decree:
From this date I assume all public power
necessary for administering and governing the
state and maintaining order in the interior.
Therefore. from this moment, every law that
would forbid the exercise OF tie powers re-
Quired for preserving order and tTauq Utility IN
the interior and security in the exterior OF the
state Is suspended.
Record aud publish in the official journal.
BALNACEDA-
The Chilean congress at once met this decree
OF dictatorship by so.emnly declaring that hay-
ing BY his acts pIacei himself in open defiance
OF constitutional order. become a traitor 70 his
country and gone beyond the pale OF the law,
President Don Jose Manuel Balmsceda was abso-
lute!y iucapacitated for continuing III the eXer-
else OF his Office, and consequently was dc prlved
o. IL from the date OF that dec eratlon BY tne
two houses OF congress. Don Jo:le Aontt was
appointed TO assist congress in re-eStaollshlng
the sway of the constitution. The Chi.ean
feet and the most distinguished ofncers OF the
Chilian army placed themselves 81 the
disposition OF congress, and provisional
government or ''juuta was formed, consisting
If the commander OF the feet. Don Jorje Aontt,
the vice-presdent OF the house OF repse entatives,
Senor Ramon Barros Succo. The ''!unta had
its headquarters al Iqniqne, and Us authority
extended ever the provinces OF Iaena- ara
paca. Autofagasta and Atacana, extending from
the 18th 10 18th degree OF south latitude.
Around Bslmaceda gathered = portion OF the
army aud his cTestiires IN the executive oElces,
and the Gillian civil war then began. It's events
have been TOO recently Chronlcled Dy the puolIc
press OF the wofli 70 require reeaplIulailon-
Successful Trial of Rified Cannon.
NEW ORLEANS. Aug. 3S-The PboGyaaes San
Antonio. Tex, special says: The first trials OF
the new riEed cannon adopted BY the army WAS