Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-18
THE CHILEAN CRISIS.

The Chilean question will doubtless
he brought to head this week, and
from the present aspect of the situation
1t is Impossible to say whether we shall
haye war or peace. Since the testimony
OF the sailors of the Baltimore has been
taken and published public opinion has
settled into the determination that Chile
mnst make reparation and apologize, OF
aecept the consequences of war. There
rs deep significance in the feet that the
subject has not been alluded to in con-
gress, although for weeks it has been the
absorbing topic of interest all over the
country. This shows that the repre-
aentatiyes upon whom rests the respon-
sibility for peace or war feel keenly the
critical character of the situation. They
are willing to let diplomacy exhaust it.
melf without hampering it with the
slightest interference on their part. If
she situation were not so grave, it would
have been the su bjeet of congressional
discussion before this.
No one can mistake the attitude of
public sentiment upon this serious
ISSUE. III Chile refuse to apologize and
make reparation for the outrages upon
our sailors, the American people will
insist upon war. We cannot permit the
South American republic to affront and
outrage .us with impunity. We are
aware that there is no glory to be gained
in a war between this country and
Chile; but we must teach all nations
great and small-that our rights must
be respected.
Possibly. when the government of
Chile finds that we are in earnest, it
will make due reparatio1. We can
understand that it hasa very difficult
role to play. Born of recent revolu-
tion, it has to make bids for popularity.
1t may ha' greater number of internal
1namies than appears on tae surface,
and ats position is perhaps more inse-
GnEe than it wishes to admit. 1t is
hardy conceivable that the people who
supported Balmaceda have all turned
into sincere Congress'cnalists because
fhe latter won the day at Placilla. We
EaRy safely assume that there is strong
opposition sentiment in the country and
that the government of Chile, knowing
this, dare not offend the anti-American
sentiment that has grown out Of the
initial blunders of. our administration in
4he atata affair.
As has been well said, the new gov
eminent of Chile is playing to the gal
3erys and it is playing. to that element
Simply because if it loses their support
It's weakness in respectable circles will
De SO pronounced as to render success
Enl co0nter-revolution possible.
But the question naturally arises, will
&he provOcation OF war with the United
States to conciliate the riff-raff of VAL
paraiao enlist the sympathy and active
usapport OF the better classes of Chile !?
We doubt it. OF course, a certain
amount OF concession must be made to
fhe animus OF patriotism which influ-
Rnces all peoples when their countries
aEe at war. But will not this better class
aa&e into consideration the great out
rage they are justifying in endorsing
sar with the United States in order to
Elaeate the murderous proletariat of
Valparaiso? And if added to the inde-
8snsibiiity OF the cause there are large
nzlmbeFs OF them in active political an
tagonism with the successful revolution
sats. we may well form an idea of the
Sii iiA5cuity OF the position of the existing
Ehilean government.
Its members are confronted with the
xarfalnty OF counter revolution in the
eEen4 OF war with the United States,
whSsst in order to avert that all they
hage to do is to play manly and decent
Dart and make due apology and repara-
aacn for the rnfianly acts of the scum of
Valparaiso.
We have an idea that the develop
znnzfa OF this week in congress will make
@l1e Chileans take the right and the
'esasieS course and satisfy our just de-
zazz3s.
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p WV YESTERDAY gave a short deaer;y,-