The record-union., 1891-03-26
CHILE.

IF the reports from Chile are half true,
the hour is at hand for civilized nations
In the name of common humanity to
Interfere with protest. 1t is said that on
both sides in that disturbed country pris-
oners of war are butchered as soon as
taken, and that savagery and cruelty
mark every step of the unfortunate
trouble. The action of the commander of
the British war-ship Champion is worthy
of all applause. After signal battle by
land and water it was found that
Chilean ship had lost large number of
officers and men. The Captain sent on
shore and asked leave to bury his dead
The rebels refused the request. Where
upon the British Captain notified the
Chilean that if he was asked to bury the
dead he would do SO. The hint was taken,
and the request preferred. The British
officer then took charge of the bodies, or
ganized force, hoisted the English flag
over il and proceeded to the shore and
gave the fallen decent burial. That it be-
came necessary for another power to thus
interfere to secure burial to the dead, is
one evidence ofthe ferocity of the contest
now waged and the savagery that char
acterizes it.
South American soil is volcanic, and
the character of the people in large por-
ton of the continent would seem to par
take of that characteristic. Revolutions
would seem to be an absolute necessity in
some of the South American States, as if
without them there would be retrogres-
sion along the rear roads of civilization.
1t is impossible for any country to attain
high degree of prosperity where there is
always feeling of insecurity, and sense
of political unrest, that is liable at any
moment to drive out tranquility. The
revolt in Chile is the most surprising of
any that have disturbed South American
States. When the almost barbarous war
between Peru and Chile closed, with the
latter, the general belief of the students
of history the world around was that
both States would enjoy long era of
prosperous peace. OF course it was to
take Peru a decade to regain her vigor,
and even the victor was not expected to
remove all smell of the smoke of a bitter
war for five or six years. Now, however,
and with but few premonitory symp-'
toms, Chile is plunged into an internicine
war, that, if all is true which is related, is
the most barbarous that has been waged
among any people claiming to be civil
lied.
Chile had.a full treasury; she was in
viting immigrants of q good class, and
paying them bounties to come and till
soil and build her factories; she had
finely equipped navy and small, we'll
drilled army; statesmen in her depart
ments of confessed high ability, and
financiers upon her exchanges who COM
pared with the shrewdest of the world
most favorably. She was doing a splen-
did work in promoting popular educa-
ttOh lilO iOlCldiiI dILQ
liberal spirit; in the establishment of hos
pitals and beneficent institutions; in the
cultivation of refined tastes, the encour-
agement of the industrious and the in
vestors of capital; she was, as Hugo
Kurz well put it, doing everything that
could be done to promote material pro-
gress and moral elevation. Suddenly the
whole fabric is racked and its very foun-
dations shaken and threatened with over
throw by the outbreak of rebellion that
is characterized. in its prosecution and in
will forever be records of shame to the
people of the nation.
Balmaceda may have deserved much,
nay, all that has been charged against his
government; he may have been the un-
economic and improvident man he is
alleged to be; he may have been cruel
even to the verge of tyrannical power;
but his rule had to close in short time.
The country could never have been put
under him beyond the term of his office,
which expires in September of this year,
and the constitutional means for dispos-
ing of him are ample and sufficient. The
Chileans, however, are lacking woefully
in the quality of patience. Inflammable,
nervous, impetuous as generous, cruel as
brave, thoughtless as brilliant, they did
not pause to consider peaceful means of
expressing their discomfort, but rushed
to arms and war that for brutality
shocks the world.
The truth is that Don Manuel Balma-
ceda has the law and the right upon his
side. He is the lawful head of the Gov
ernment, he has usurped no functions, he
has not retarded the progress of the coun-
try nor opposed single progressive
measure. Under his administration the
country was prosperous in all its affairs,
if we accept some mistaken financial
policies. Balmaeeda had but six months
more to serve, and it is not in evidence
that he aspired to reelection, but if so it
was his constitutional right. But the
Chilean Congress, by its want of conf
dence and its declared enmity to the ad-
ministration, applied the torch to the
Chilean temple of peace and revolt in
arms was the inevitable result among
people so infammable as those of Chile.
What is to be the outcome it is not diff