New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-02
THE CHILEAN REVOLUTION.
CAUSES THAT HAVE LED THE NAVY TO oP-
POSE PRESIDENT BALMACEDA.
CONGRESS UNABLE TO ENDURE THE AGGREs-
sIoNs OF THE EXECUTIvE-MoSr OF THE
LAND FORCES STAND BY THE PREsI.

TO the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Although not in Jail prisoner, and II
some henchman OF Balmaceda were to spy me ] sup
pose would be in the penitentiary In santiago
| am somewhere up on the hills overlooking the bay
and do not tell you where | am afraid they may
open this letter and so find out. But enough OF
myself for the present Yon are know. anxious to
be put in possession OF some OF the details OF our
revolution, and ! will give them to you in so far as
l know them, although it is difficult for anybody to
find out what is going on, as all communication Is
stopped by the Government.
On Wednesday morning, January T. the inhabitants
OF Valparaiso were surprised TO find that in the night
the following vessels OF the fleet had left their anchor
age The ironclad Banco Eucalada. the armed cruiser
Esmoralda and the wooden cOrvetteS O'liiggins ana
ChacabucC, by many 1t was supposed that they lad
left with sealed orders from the Government, but
supplement to the ersd0' was soon circulated with
a manifesto" signed by Senores Waldo silva, wee
president Of the Senate and Ramon Barros Luco pesi
dent of the Chamber OF Deputies, in the name OF the
Congress- stating that, inasmuch as President Balna-
ceda had In manifesto published on January l. de-
clared that he would continue to govern, although
Congress had not voted the supplies, and wouo nam
tain the Army and Navy. etc. and had clearly Sig
nfed his intention to violate the Constitution and was
violating IT, they in behalf Of Congress, and having
the support OF the Navy and Of part OF the Army
would resist such violation and oblige the PTesloehI
TO govern in constitutional manner.
The excitement was tremendous. The news that
the feet had declared i'm favor Of Congress was hailed
with delight by tie vast majority and the streets were
soon filed with people, who embraced each other In
their rejoicing and congratulations but this news iei
like bomb In the Presidential camp and have 1t on
good authority that Balmaceda's first Thought was 10
leave some one in his place and cross the Andes but
he was induced by his supporters TO resist this blow OF
the Opposition and he Immediately signed decree
which declared Captain Mautt and Captain Molina, who
are in command Of the feet to be traitors to thelr
country.
About o'clock the afternoon of January Z, the
neet which had been Joined By the roncad Almranfe
Cochrane, came back TO port and took the famous
Hrascar which had not Joined the feet the previous
night because her machinery was disabled. on this
occasion the Blanco had much less trouble than when
she captured her from the gallant Grace. There
was no resistance the part Of the liuascar. Ihe
Blanco came in and covered her with her guns and
at given signal the boats from the other SHIPS rushed
In and took her.
Ten DAYS have now elapsed without any serious
engagement between the opposing forces and as there
Is no telephone or tslegr9phic communication, moth
ing definite is known. The Cochrane Magazines
and O1Iiggins supposed to have gone hortn' ana
It Is reported that all tie North is in possession Oh
the Opposition The Esmcralda has gone 70 Tai
cGuuano and report says that General Urrutia Is In
command of an army in the South and is approaching
Conception In the meanwhile, the Government has
been busy and fearing attack on valparaiso, sent
renforcements and has recruited many men IN SAND
ago.
The new armed cruiser the Almirante Lynch, Is
about to arrive and will join the feet IN favor OF
Congress. The Abtao. a wooden corvette, which has
been ON a cruise TO Europe is now due and will also
reinforce the feet which has already taken possession
NJ all the splendid steamers OF the South American
Company to utilize them as transports
Since the beginning Of the revolution, the Supreme
Court has given decision which declares uat Bal
maceda has violated the Constitution; but, OF course
Balmaceda pays no heed 10 sucR declsoh' ana
acknowledges It only by putting the judges in prison
All The printing and newspaper Officers have been
closed also oil social clubs and all the senator's ana
Deputies of the Congressional majority nave oeeii
thrown into prison, wherever found; as We'll ds aii
prominent persons whose sympathes are known 10 NC
with the majority CT Congress.
At the present moment it is difficult to say wha1
the result will be- 1 think If the fleet had cared to
land forces in Valparaiso on the day when they de
cIarcd in favor OF Congress. that Balmaceda woaln
NOT be Dictator to-day, but would be out Oh uie
country or would have suffered the punishment when
he so well deserves. All the people favored the neet
and the soldiers would have gone over to them; now
if IS different, and am afraid that the struggle
will be long one. one thing, however you can de-
mend upon and that is that the feet will never give
ND and will always have command OF TIE ports 10
that Balmaceda will always be clcsed H. largo
majority OF the army, including such GeherMs as
paouedano Arreagada. Saavedra UrrutIa, Gorostlaea
Maturana and others make no secret OF IIeir
svmnathy with Congress; but Balmaceda with Gen
o.aIl voIasouez and Barbosa men whose chief merit
= +bar ohiect serylllty and want OF patriotism, have
IN the Inst wear dismissed all the officers VINO dd not
care 10 sign papers pcdging themselves 10 support
Balmaceda in any event, and have sent all those
regarding whom they had any doubt to distant places
where they could do nothing. Whenever a doubt was
ont= ~ n
divided and scattered so that 1t could not make It's
ireuence felt Only in this way has Balmaceda been
obIe IN prevent an outbreak against him-ahu So
public opinion is not allowed to manifest itsen'
Tho Opposition papers have been closed. THIS
includes all the respectable newspapers OF inc coui
fry Even their presses. in many cases. nave peci,
destroved Among the newspapers closed are III
Htorc,,r,o /, GEL Ieraldo7 La Union" and La
po,riap IN Valparaiso; and Gel Ferrocarril'' La
Iibertad Electoral" FL Independence LA Epoca
Gel Estandarte Catoico." in Santiago INC only
neyspapers running are those which iaVor 'hc uo'
ernment-"EI Comercio,' in Valparaiso ana Lid
Naclons in santiago. and these. having none 70 gsi
gay them have published all the Hes possible lcu
scnrrty aad falsity, believe cannot be excellec'
ord these are the Government organs, TO whose
columns polmaceda frequently contributes his IN
fallutinn editorials.
You have asked me TO give you some idea OF
the political situation, and although that SITUATION
has passed into revolution, think you VIII DC
interested TO know how it has come to pass that
peaceoving men have been forced to resort to armed
force You know that my sympatdes are deeldediy
I'm favor of the opposition, and so, l think, are inc
sympathics of every American and Engishman-cer-
tainy those Of every nbertyOving citizen-and tnn
that every impartial observer would MINK was
irstiaed I'm saving that all the trouble was due TO
The criminal obstlnacy of Dalmaccda. Chill, as you
know has been peaceful republic. whose Govern
ment las been so well administered that II has $1,000
ont in bold contrast TO the Government OF her slster
republics Many people wonder at tins ana ASK
tbe reason. why has Chilli been blessed with such
80 roye,nnoent 50 blessed above other South Ameri-
can countrlesa Why so free from revolutions! ChlI
was settled originally by more Industrious SET OF
men than came to the other south American couil-
In. the henefS OF q