Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-10-30
The Career Of Balmaceda.

The life of Balmaccda is full Of
dramatic interest. His death affords
an instructive lesson. lie had all
which II government by the people
can bestOw; no honors which Il pa
triot could desire were withheld. He
was dissatisfied, plotted for more, and
in the struggle to obtain it lost all.
Balmaceda inherited the preroga-
tives OF ancient lineage, and began life
with alluring prospects. Personally
gifted beyond the average, developed
into an orator of no mean parts.
Wealth opened to him an enticing po-
litical career, and cultivated mind
gave him that grace OF utterance
which insurcs success.
Before he overstepped the boundary
line which separates youth from mid
die age ne was regarded as coming
man. When he was elected deputy
to the Chilian Congress, and during
the successive years in which he acted
in that capacity, he was the idol Of
his party. He represented the best
interests of the Republic, and when he
was nominated for the Presidency his
popularity was so widespread that he
was elected by an overwhelming ma
jority.
Chill has never had, in all her his
tory, public man more generously
imbued with the spirit of patriotism
or one whose administration during
its first years, was productive of
greater results. Under his wise coun-
sells she developed financial stability
and enjoyed commercial prosperity.
Railroads were built, sehoolhouses
were erected, religious toleration was
established, harbors were dredged,
and the Republic entered upon ca
reer full of hope and promise. Bal
maceda was almost worshipped by the
populace, and his growing fame ex-
cited the envy of all of the statesmen
of South America.
But, like Wolsey, his high-blown
pride broke under him. He ventured
too far, and was left, weary and old
with service, to the mercy of a rude
stream that must forever hide him.
AS his term of office neared its end he
grew restless. He had attained the
highest honors, but the mad impulse
of ambition made him unsatisfied.
He craved what under the laws of
Chill is impossible-a second term.
Determined to continue in office at
any cost to himself or his country, he
dismissed his faithful ministry and
appointed subservient henchmen in
their stead. The people became sus-
picious and alarmed. That the pa
triot should turn traitor seemed in
credible, but the drift of his policy
became more and more apparent.
If he could not be President he
would overturn the government and
make himself Dictator. TO this end
he bent all his energies, and at last
the situation became so critical that
rnmblings of revolt were heard and
general discomfort and uneasiness en-
sued. He gathered all the arms with
in reach and stored them in arsenals
succeeded in winning the army to his
side, but failed to keep control of the
navy. With the portentous sudden
ness of tornado a wave of rebellion
swept over the land from border to
border. The crisis had arrived. Bal
maceda knew that he must either sue
ceed or become Il fugitive, He staked
his all an the cast OF a die. For
months the fortunes of the contestants
wavered. But one morning we heard
that Valparaiso had fallen. That was
terribly significant. 1t meant that
Balmaceda had lost and that the Re
public was saved. Then fell Santiago
and further effort became useless.
The defeated Dictator would have
stolen in disguise on board foreign
vessel and claimed asylum, but his
enemies were keenly alert and the
project was foiled He would have
tried the passes of the Andes which
led to the Argentine, but they were
filled with snow and ice. Concealing
himself, he spent few miserable
days in dearly bought security, but
hope was lost and despair intervened
There was nothing left but death.
A pistol shot was heard in the room
which the ex-President occupied. The
tragedy had ended-Balmaceda was
dead, dead by his own hand,