The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-26
BALMACEDA TO CONGRESSMEN
ChilfS Tenacious President RldlCuleS
the Revolution.
WHAT HAYE THEY ACCOMPLISHED?
Long Review of the Unsuccessful War
Against they Government Only Sue
ceeded in Disturbing Peace.

/
tions of peace and wisdom which have been
characteristic Of the domestic policy
| of the country have been interrupted,
and many persons have failed in that
locality which has entitled us TO the
esteem of other nations. The naval
officers who were bound TO MAINTAIN the
| public order of the Republic at home and see
TO its safety abroad, have taken up arms
against the. Government on the 1th OF
January on board the National Fleet at Val
pairasO, disobeying their general COM
mander, Rear Admiral Williams, and
taking on board the ice-president
of the Senate and the President of the House
Of Representatives. few hours after the
cOnsummatiOn of these acts without prece-
dent in the naval history of Chill, they
came back to VALPARAISO in open rebellion
against their constitutional chiefs and the
civil authorities.
POWER CONTINUED TO THE OCEAN.
During the period Of three months since
| the beginning of the revolution there is not
an instance OF a singular popular outbreak in
| favor OF the movement initiated by tina marin
ers, whose power is confined TO the ocean.
! The fleet has been unable TO keep steadily
nor occupy any port of the territory contain
| ing any dense population, and IN order to do
so. at least, they had TO besiege and lombard
the ports of the north and set. on fire the
| towns unfOrtltied.
Operating against the cosmopolitan popu-
lation Of Tarapaca and using hostilities of a
! character worse than any Of those employed
| during the conquest Of Chill, the provinces of
| the North are separated from the entire coun-
| try by the ocean upon which the rebel feet
! dominate and by vast deserts. The reYolu-
tionists have succeeded in seizing them after
seven bloody cOmbats.
DISTURB PUBLIC ORDER.
Their fleet as not had sufficient strength
to upset the lawful government, but it has
shown enough to disturb the public order
| which our wise institutions assured for us.
and it has proved likewise that their leaders
| possess the courage necessary to sacrifice the
| lives of the children and spread misfortune
| and evils throughout our country. The
| navy has not the right to discuss the orders
! given by their superiOrs. The Constitution
| fOrbids It, Obedience TO the President is
| prescribed by the Constitution and nOtwith-
| standing that their officers have declared
themselves in favor Of q pretended Congress
| delegation to establish a military dictator
! ship, Congress has not met even on their own
authority. For three months from October
| I'd. the dag of their adjournment Go the
| 7th of January on which the revolution
broke OUT there has been no session,
! pubio ~. sFiya.e. The President Of the
! House and Senate have not been called nor
any of the members cOnyOked in the usual
| form. There is no discussion held no resO-
| luton vote or act whatever. filling the cOndi-
tions necessary for the Congress to assemble
to enact a Parliamentary capacity.
REVOLUTION FATAL TO THEMSELVES.
It is true that considerable portion of the
members of both Houses have taken part in
! the insurrection against the constitution and
| laws but those members cannot invoke thea au-
thority belonging TO the representatives. of the
| people after having disturbed the public order
assuming a dictatOrial executive power, ap-
| pealing to arms and leading revolution fatal
to themselves and 10 the prosperity and
welfare of Chill. This revolution has
not been supported by the people.
The abettors are from political groups.
! Congress. animated by contradictory ideas,
having at their head numerous chiefs,
! without any other atfiniry among them than
the common ambition and desire TO secure an
absolute control of the supreme power OF the
State.
1T is necessary 10 recall the antecedents of
| this struggle in order 20 understand its true
character. The conflict, repeat, IS caused bY
the ambition Of the chiefs of the groups
| formed by the constant splits in
the ranks of the Liberal party. The Liberal
party has failed TO reach a unit of ideas of di-
rectiOn and method, without which It would
not he sufficient for the Government OF Chill.
FREQUENT MINISTERIAL CHANGES.
Thanks to the accumulatiye vote. the
! Frraseurse administration, after most ener-
getic endeavOrs during the period from
! 1891 TO 1876, ended by leaving the direc-
ton of affairs 10 a Congress composed
of six different groups and OF IN,
| dividualities under no specified political
affiliation: the Pinto administration stood the
! consequences OF this dislOcatOn Of men and
parties in Parliament. The ministerial changes
! were then very frequent, and If the war OF
! 1879 had not taken place this administration
might have ended IN the middle OF disasters
occasioned by the presidential elections
which had submitted 50 severe a test 10 the
! liberal party and placed the Republic
| in very dangerous situation at
| the moment of coming 70 a close Of the
presidential term of Senor Pinto.
! The divided condition and an anarchy IN
which the Liberals were found when the
| didate for President OF the Re
public would undoubtedly have led
/ TO very serious trouble If Gen
eral Baeuadano had not 50 periodically
| withdrawn from the electoral contest. tiye
years later. at the expiration OF the admins
! tration of President Santa Marina. very seri-
| GUS troubles were met IN Congress on ac-
count of the choice Of Liberal candidate Tor
presidential term.
DEPLoRABLE CONSEQUENCES
Having been elected President of Chill
/ have tnOuHnt lJ 10 Dt my tlhNl " ihdhl tsNo
a policy and follow a line Of conduct calcula-
| ted to avoid at the end of my legal term the
renewal of the dangers which have threatened
nv preceding administrations. l tined
| 10 give the National party a participation III
proportion that could not incite the jealousy
and resistance of numerous adversaries. The
| Nationals refused 70 render me their assist
ance. although their cooperation was imposed
| by the clearest political sense. After that
| date all my efforts 10 unity the Liberal party
| have proved Intellectual.
From this moment struggle ragged De
tween the majority of Congress and the
| executive power. then thought II TO be my
| duty TO close Congress in the hope that
short time of rest and calm would bring the
groups Of the coalition % fair and more rea-
sonable terms. Unfortunately the evil has
| been done and we have now lost and It's
| deplorable consequences.
"On the 7th Of January last | found my
self in the same predictment IN which many
of my predecessors have been and
| in which / was in 1887. that IS TO say
without an appropriation law and without any
rule fixing the strength of the regular army
and naval forces. These facts could not be
made the basis Or even the pretext for rev
olution. inasmuch as they have often taken
place before at different times.
70 SUPPRESS THE REVOLT.
"AsI have by tho constitution the duty OF All
"a az state and of extending