The record-union., 1891-03-15
AFFAIRS IN Chile.
Serious Disturbances in the Little
Republic.
A Grave Political Complication-Some
of the Causes that Led to it-Presi-
dent Jose Manuel Balmaceda and
His Family.
Especial Correspondence of SUNDAY UNION

SANTIAGO DE CHILE, Feb. 1891.
In view of the present serious disturb
ances, this obstreperous little republic,
which considers herself fully capable of
whipping the whole world, is neither
safe nor pleasant place for foreigners to
visit just now, but, journalistically speak
ing, is Il '.seat of war" by no means to be
ignored. However, it makes little differ
ence in what part of South America the
scribe may pitch his moving tent, for in
every one of these miscalled republics
political troubles are brewing always, and
liable at any time to bubble up in armed
rebellion. Chile has boasted much of be-
ing the most peaceable of them all, as
well as the most prosperous and law abid-
ing.
We made hasty trip down here from
Peru during last July (the midwinter
season on this side of the equator), IN the
midst of the excitement, then at fever
heat, which was really the beginning of
present complications, OF purpose to
study both sides Of the questions at issue.
1t is impossible to arrive at a fair under
standing Of them at distance, because
South American newspapers, mostly
printed in the Spanish language, are few,
inefficient and universally "bought up'
by one faction or the other; while the
telegraph wires, when not seized or torn
down by insurgents, are owned and con-
trolied by the Government. Indeed, it is
easier for you ut the distant North to re-
ceive reliable, though tardy, information
concerning events occurring on the
Southern Continent, through private
messages sent by foreigners engaged in
business here. to their houses in London,
France or New. York, via Buenos Ayres,
than for people living in different divis-
ions of the same country, who must de-
pend entirely upon local facilities.
On that first visit to Chile, we came
over to the capital on purpose to have an
interview with the President (which was
easily accomplished), and to attend some
| OF the exciting sessions of Congress; and
it CHANGED, by rare good fortune, that we
left Valparaiso the very day before that
dreadful 2lst OF July, when for some
hours the old seaport was in the hands
of bowling mob and its streets were
bathed in blood. Even then prominent
| ChileanS assured me that the trouble was
only temporary strike, which might
| occur anywhere, and that there was not
the remotest danger of revolution, be-
cause the people were altogether too
patriotic to bring discredit on their be-
| loved country.
It seems to be the fashion, especially
| abroad-aIuong those whose, knowledge
| of Chile's affairs must be, to saythe least,
| somewhat superficial-to attribute all the
blame of the muddle to President Balma-
ceda, and to charaeteriZe him as tyrant
and would-be dictator. The truth is that
| il the Executive had not been too plant
and anxious to please in the first place,
| he would have crushed the rebellion in
its infancy, before its ugly hydra-heads
had grownToo strong for him. The fault
| is principally with determined and un-
I mi ah
| tunately happens. to have a majority in
| the legislative, chamber, and whose pri-
mary object Is to control the approaching
presidential election, which can only be
done by breaking the power of the pres
| ent incumbent.
The trouble began in this way: Ever
since Chile has claimed to be Republic,
her Constitution has permitted every
President to nominate his own successor
and to practically elect him, with the
| cooperation of his Ministers, an unwise
| and foolish custom we of the north may
think, but. having been firmly estab-
lished by law and precedent, there is no
exercise his constitutional prerogative in
the matter, the same as his predecessors
have done. If the system is now at vari-
ance with popular feeling, a peaceable
change might have been effected in the
Constitution without all the loss of life
\ anu 1He ulSdIlecLpu congress
men, having cause to fear that the Presi-
dent would name as his successor a cer-
| tain Cabinet officer who is obnoxious to
| them, deliberately instigated revolts by
] obStlnately refusing to pass any presup-
uestds, as the appropriations are called,
until Balmaceda should come to their
/ terms; the first demand being that he
| dismiss his Ministers, one and all Gn or
der to get rid of the obnoxious onel, and
| then appoint others more to their liking.
This the President declined to do, on the
ground that the Chilean Government,
like that of every other republic, gives
the executive the right to select his own
unless they become guilty of grave
offense; that he had already changed his
Cabinet twice within little more than two
years in the vain effort to satisfy them,
and to do so third time, for no fault OF
| the Ministers, would not only be eX-
tremely unjust to these gentlemen and
| render himself ridiculous in the eyes OF
the world as party puppet with no
backbone but would establish dam
gerous precedent for his successors in all
time to come.
The revolts of seven months ago were
the direct result of this REFUSAL or rather
of the means employed by Congress to
make the President change his mind.
| Even then, had he adhered to his first de-
cision, or, better still, had he made and
abided by it when the first change of Off
| GERS was demanded, all might now be
well with the country: and if milder
means for enforcing his rightful authority
had not availed, it would have been far
better for the country had he caused the
arrest and detention of the agitators as so
| many traitors to the Government. All
the world admires brave man, and
prompt, decided measures of that sort
would have won more respect for
Senior Balmaceda than he can now hope
to enjoy. To be sure, such extreme
measures are contrary to the spirit of re-
publlcaniSm-but so is armed rebellion,
| the bombardment of unofending cities
and the murder of hundreds of helpless
women and children, huddled together
| for safety, as lately took place at Iquique
by posse of irresponsible cut-throats,
| whose crimes were the result of the re-
bellious attitude assumed by the legisla-
at first Congress probably had no idea
that the dangerous ball it set rolling
would gather such deadly proportions
and SO might one argue in favor of the
incendiary who deliberately fires pow
der magazine, without considering what
lives and property he may destroy. They
refused to pass the preSupaeStdS for the
purpose of crippling the Executive,
knowing that at the same time they were
running business of every kind and in
! citing the worst classes in the country to
desperate deeds.
| No taxes, duties or other contributions
to the treasury could be collected; even
deeds or other legal documents could not
| be recorded. For q long time one could
not buy postage stamp in all Chile, and
sometimes for days together the Post
offices would be closed. Merchants could
not get their goods out of the Custom
houses, and quantities of perishable goods
l Cralf ln6 ~, 4b0 ~
navy could not be paid, nor any other
/ emnloves of the Governmant hownrnr