Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-12
up most of them until the present political
storm blows over.
A Model Educational system.

The latest census gives Chile total popu-
lation Of 2,250, SAY, of which number only
a, 600 are allowed TO vote. According to
the previous census there we're in Chile only
415, S93 persons, male and female, who could
read and write, all of these, Of course, be-
longing to the upper classes. But there is
no country in the world where greater
efforts are being made to bring education
within reach of the poorest Every year
Congress appropriates most literally for the
purpose, and in every town there are free
schools expressly for the poor, besides many
excellent colleges, seminaries and public
Libraries. The common school system is as
nearly perfect as can be made, combining
the best educational ideas of all lands.
Some years ago the Government sent an
envoy TO the United States and every
country Of Europe, on purpose to study
schools and methods Of imparting instruc-
tion. That gentleman, Senor Abalardo
Sunoz, has since been made the General
Commissioner of Education in Chile, and
has combined, with best results, the wisdom
and experience OF all the lands he visited.
He says that Switzerland has the model
schools OF the world, the United States next,
Russia next, then Germany, France, En-
gland and Italy, in the order named. The
most beautiful schoolhouses have been built
In every town and city, regardless of cost,
and combining every modern convenience
and appliance. The time is coming when
ignorance will be the exception and edu-
cation as universal here as in our older
Republics
Treat the Immigrants Well.
For some years past the Chilean Govern
ment has been eXpending large sums of
money in encouraging European laborers to
colonize its frontier and become citizens By
L L i
given 200 acres of land, lumber enough to
build house, yoke of cattle, cart, a
pillow. a quantity OF seed, and Sl5 a month
during the hrst year while the crops are
growing-the latter being loan for eight
years without interest. Moreover, when the
emlgraut first arrives in the country, they
keep him one month. free OF charge, if he so
desires, in one OF the several inns which the
Government has erected for that express
purpose; and he will be transported on the
railways, gratis, wherever he wants to go,
in order that ne NAV look the field over
thoroughly before deciding where to locate.
Indeed, they don't do things of this sort
''by halves" in Chile, and the unknown
emigrsnt, without dollar in bis pocket or
an ancestor al his back. is infinitely better
OF than many an impecunious aristocratl
a large number of energetic and industri-
Gus German peasants have taken advantage
OF this une1ampIed liberality; and in time
their presence in the country NAV consider
ably alter its statistics. In those sections
where they settle, the mental and moral
characteristics of the coming generation
Will undergo as great q change as theirc COM
plexion. In course OF few decades even
thrTt and industry may become honorable
A Chilean not born of the lower classes
would starye TO death before he would de-
grade himself by manual labor; and nobody
works If he can possibly avoid it. There is
8 demand for skilled artisans of every sort,
and masons, carpenters, ETC., find employ
ment st good wages, soon as arrived.
Politics Is Pure There.
As rule, the typical Chilean politiciau
is man OF dignity and wealth-nerer a
rsscaDy wire-puller nor corner-grocery guz-
zler. He enacts only such laws as he be-
lleves viii be for the welfare of his beloved
country, and expects to see them obeyed
Those swlnd -ers who daily perpetrate frauds
upon the Uuited States Government would
here be branded as traitors and driven from
The country, ii they were not sent to the
Hill OF Oath" or place of public execu-
tlonsD For many years the Chilean Gov
ernmeut has been oficered by the best and
purest men IN the nation, and so proud are
they Of the rapid advancement, and SO
jealous of the national integrity. that all
matters OF Jurisprudence and civil service
are watched with faithful and sacred in.
terest.
There have been great changes in Chile
within the last decade or two. The passage
OF the famous cemetery bill which occurred
lew years ago, Is one of the MANY signiS-
cant examples. Previous to that time the
Romlsh clergy had held control of all the
public Gem eteries, and collected death tax
OF 50 upon every corpse, but utterly refused
10 permit any Protestant dead to be buried
in consecrated ground. After bill, which
compelled the authorities to inter the dead
OF any religious faith in the public Gem eter-
les, haG passed both houses OF Congress and
was awaiting the executive signature to be-
come law, the President was visited by a
delegation 800 strong, OF the wealthiest and
most influential ladies of the country, who
lmplored him to veto the bill They were
The wives and daughters of Senators and
churchmen of highest standing, and it is
sal0 the jewels they wore on that occasion
were worth more than 81, 600, 900. The Pres
ident received them with the greatest cour-
tesy and listened to all they had to say, but
the obnoxious bill was duly signed and be-
came law.
Shocked q Big Man to Death.
So much importance was attached to this
DOAitiCd4 interference Win church affairs,
that FOR time nothing else was talked of;
and the good Bishop of Conception, the
most influential Jesuit in South America
and man o. powerful physique, fell dead
from the shock when he was told that the
new law had gone into effect Then the
wealthy Catholics commenced a wholesale
removal of their dead from the desecrated
cemeteries to the churches, and even to the
courts Of their houses, but were stopped
short by the prompt enactment of another
Law which made il crime TO disturb those
already buried.
The condition of darkness that existed
prior to the country's emancipation from
Spanish rule almost surpasses belief. There
was no trace Of the commerce, culture. free
thought and education that prevail to-day,
but The population, which numbered less
than three-Q quarters of a million was as
densely ignorant and superstitious as
even Spanish monarch could desire. The
same spirit Of intolerance that had char
acterIzed Spain since the days of Carlos Y,
the spirit that sent an army of butchers
70 hang, drown, burn and fav alive half a
million people whose only crime was de-
sire to worship the gods of their fathers
prevailed in her American colonies. All
the ports were closed against vessels ofeyerv
description except the Spanish war boats
and any attempt TO communicate or traffic
with foreigners met with severest punish
ment. FANNIE B. Warn