Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-26
THE GILLIAN REVOLT.
A Ten-Year Resident There Says 1t Was to
BE Expected.

| Ten-Yesr Resident There Says 1t Was Il
BE Expected.
Dr.. A. E. Edwards Of Denver, Col, who wa
for ten years . resident OF Valparaiso, Chill
and who has studied the course of events il
Chill, arrived in st. Louis Yesterday. He said
in the course Of an interview:
''The present revolt and the manner /,
which the warfare IL carried on cannot sur
prise any one who is at all familiar with tn.
Chilians. Chill is nominally q republic, but
practically it has long been an oligarchy. gov.
erned by thirty or forty rich anG influential
families. While the rising is one against the
president it ia in reality directed against the
system of which he is the representative, and
while the personal causes Of complaint brought
matters to focus they had little to do with the
origin of the troubles
when first went to Chilli, in 1875 the hos
tility between the inhabitants Of the seacoast
cities and those who lived inland was extremely
bitter. The landlords for the most part lived
In Valparaiso and the feeling was very similar
to that in Ireland against the absentee land
lords. Tho landholding class have practically
controlled the government for thirty years and
nave invariably chosen the president. All
legislation has been in the hands of few peo-
pie. and until recently all the commissions in
the army and navy were given to those in SYM
pathy with the ruling cast BY holding con-
troll OF the army and navy. however, the ruling
classes were able e prevent any rebellion from
breaking ont. and by declaring war against
Peru and Bolivia the government did much to
make itself popular.
The true history Of that war has never been
written. Such piratical expedition is un-
known IN modern times, and it was carried on
with barbarity worthy Of our wild Indians.
When the war broke out the army was largely
increased, which accounts for the fine showing
made by those in rebellion against the govern
ment at the present time, as nearly all the
leaders are men who gained reputation in that
contest.
'Chili did not try to conquer Peru, but to de-
stroy 1t, in order that the Peruvians, who hate
the Chilians, might be compelled to ask for
annexation. What had once been a rich. fertile
country had been transformed into desert
Plantations were destroyed, houses burned,
lrrlgating canals blown up, long after peace
had been declared. But the object was accom-
pllshed and while Peru was not annexed, it is
no longer q rival TO Chilli. No one can estimate
the amount of plumber that was taken out Of the
country.
with the removal Of Peru as dangerous
rival and the annexation of the Peruvian guanC
fields. the young men of the ruling families
abandoned the army and navy and obtained
employment as government agents in manag
ing newly acquired property, with which they
did pretty much as they pleased. This opened
promotion to men who never before had beer
able to obtain commissions in the military OF
naval service and changed its whole complex
lon. The great weapon of the government was
thus brought to condition i'll which it coulG
be turned against it, and this has occurred
The army and navy are now in close sympathy
with the people and together they seem to con-
troll the situation. As to the ruthless slaughter
OF prisoners and non-combatants, it is only car.
ryln8 out the rules OF the Peruvian war"