The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-07
The Reasons Why Minister Egan
Was Such Friend to Bal
maceda
Strength Of the Chilian Insurgents
Belittlsd Up to the
Very Last.
Nepressntative-Th Minister De-
niss tho Whole Thing.

ul1 payer Hh IOllOWs. luo 4uoSUiVA
which ID being canvassed in diplomatic and
governmental circles here is whether Minister
Egan will be permitted to remain at his
post until II shall suit his fancy to resign,
or until the constitutional governments Of
Chill shall send him his passports with an
invitation to leave the country without un-
necessary loss Of time. Unofficial advicss
had been rscsivsd at the state department
containing allegations that Americans
residing in Chilli had denounced Minister
Eaan, whom they condemned az being too
strong a partisan Of Balmaceda. Egan.
1t was said, received instructions from
Balmaccda at regular intervals and obeyed
them as though he were in the Chilian
servics instead Of that of tho government
of the United States. The charge was even
made that Esgsn had received with favor
proposition from Balmaceda ~ the basis OF
'.deal'' whereby, if this government re-
fused to recognize the belligerent rights of
the insurgents, certain exclusive concessions
as to the nitrate trade would be made in
favor of the United States Under the
Chilian constitution Balmaceda could not
carry out such an agreement, and IT EaRan
listened TO such a proposition he not only
far exceeded his function as minister, but
made himself personally ridiculous.
A letter written by United States naval
officer on the South Pacific station to
friend in this city says, among other things:
$50 strongly incensed are the people Of
northern CT iii against Egan that when the
constitutional government again comes into
power, as it undoubtedly will, they will i'm
mediatsly give him his passports with re-
quest to leave Santiago at the earliest pos
sible date. Egan's connection with Balma-
coda ia a matter of great ecandal, and am
surprised that cognizanoa is not taken of it
by our government. He is talked Of in
connection with all sorts OF deals with the
dictator, and to be friend of Egan is sup
posed to place ono close to Balmaccda.
Egrr,'s son, it is said here, received valuable
favogs at the hands OF the Dictator" sec
ond letter from the same source contains
further information segarding tho prefer
ment bestowed upop young Egan. The
letter says: "Ihe ugliest rumors are aioat
hele with regard to Egan's pecun1ary
interest in Balmaceda's success. The
most scandalous stories, however, are those
concerning Eagan's son, through whom
the United States minister. This young
man has received several important con-
tracts from the government, among them
contract to build a railroad. 1t seems to
bs pretty fat job, and nobody doubts that
the minister's son will make a good thing
out of it. lie has numerous sources of in
come, to which Balmacsda adds as much as
he can. He now draws IA salary as gov
ernment railroad official, in addition to the
payments to be made him as railroad
contractor"
Thore is no doubt that Egan has syste-
t;coJJv 1acoiyal tho otfinials 0f the HtRta
department with regard to the relative
strength of the presidential and congress
sional parties. From the frat he has main-
tained-as be did to Admiral McCann when
the latter was instructed to join the min
istor in Offering the good Offices OF the
United States to settle the controyery-thnt
Balmaceda could not be beaten. His re-
ports to the department have been filled
with predictions of the carly Suppression
of the rebellion" and from first to last he
has scouted the idea that the insurgents
could win.
Secretary Blaine has repeatedly sndeav-
ored to secure from Egan an accurate state
lnent Of the situation entirely devoid of
bias and based ON facts and figures. ERan's
replies have been vague and unsatisfactory,
and occasionally they have deliberately
misrepresentsd the facts.
It is upon the information furnished by
ERan that Secretary Blaine has 80 long re-
Trained from recognizing the belligerent
rights of the Chilian insurgents. Under
the laws of nations a friendly power refuses
recognition to rebels until an indisputable
state of war is reported to prevail by the
diplomatic agents of that power accred-
tied to the country in which the rebellion
occurs. II is difficult to soc, therefore, how
Secretary Blaine could have followed any
other course in view of the information
furnished ~ the United States minister at
tho ChiliSn capital.