The sun., 1894-01-28


those wars and OF the scarcely less important
decade which began In 1893. These two gaps
in our means OF Information will be
found satisfactorily supplied By Mr.. An
SON URrEL HANCOCK in A History Of Chile Chi
caCo. Charles II. Sergel & Coz The authors
narrative. indeed, starts at the beginning OF
the colonial epoch and is brought down to
1893. but the parts of.it to which we shall con-
fine ourselves are those dealing with the
events following the war against Peru, and
presenting . conspectus OF the State Of Chile
to-day. 1t is possible that Chilean opponents
OF Balmacsda may object to the sober. disin-
terested. and impartial way in which the re-
cent revolution is discussed. but they will not
find It easy to convict tho author Of any mis-
staten ent OF fact, for he has taken the rrecau-
tion to support his principal conclusions by
appendinR to this volume COPY Of the Chi
lean Constitution.
It Is pointed out In n chapter allotted to the
civil war Of 1891 that from 1917. when the
Spanish yoke was thrown of. until 1888.
Chile was governed by dictators. sometimes
well sometimes Ill. but always with autocratic
power. In the latter year was promulgated q
Constitution. under whose workings the
Government remained comparatively tranquil
for nearly sixty years: this Constitution.
amended in 1874 and at other times. is the
organic law Of Chile to-day. 1t was originally
framed. not by Liberals but by Conservatives.
and. while giving to the President extensive.
almost dictatorial powers, still intended to
make him creature Of tho oligarchy. This Or
Ranic law. as We have said established Gov
ernment not Of the parliam entary. but OF the
Presidential type. In this respect tho Chilean
Constitution resembles that OF the United
States. but differs from it In important particu-
lnr ha Draviaiona rauardinu ba
being much less democratic. and the scheme
OF government being rather centralized than
federal Tho President Is chosen by electors
nominated by the voters Of the provinces. three
electors being allowed for each member OF the
Chamber OF Deputies. His term OF ofnce is for
five years. and he cannot now be twice elected
consecutively He is bound to convoke Con-
gress in regular session. from June l to Sept,
], but he can. at any time. prorogue it for
term Of fifty days; he can summon 1t In spe-
cial session whenever he pleases Ho ap-
points aud removes the six Ministers. who. as
we have said. have no constitutional re-
sponsibility to either House OF Commons;
he also appoints and removes the
intendentes OF provinces. tho govern
ors OF towns. diplomatic agents. and
five out OF the eleven members OF the
Council OF State He is practically Command
er-ln-Chief OF the army and navy: he appoints
upon the recommendation OF the Council OF
State. and he approves. promugates. and
takes part in tho making OF laws. issuing such
DEGREES. regulations and instructions as he
may deem conducive to their execution. 1t Is
evident that the powers thus delegated by the
letter OF the Constitution to tho President
would make him in fact almost an autocrat
should no choose to DO dictatorial. In the few
instances where ne must act in conjunction
A. A. n. Iii l.. II
ponderant influence. for he has, as We have
said. the appointment Of five out OF eleven
members OF that body. the other six being
chosen in the proportion OF three from each
branch Of Congress. According to the Con-
stitutlon OF Chile. as by the Constitu-
ton of the United States. n Presidents Cab
met is entirely OF his own appointment owing
no Difference to the Legislature. although. as
We shall see. different practice has gradually
grown up. In the mean time. We note that
certain members appointed by Congress from
each branch OF It constitute an advisory COM
mittee. whose functions are to see that there
Is due observance of the Constitution while
Congress Is not in session, to tender advice to
tho President. and to suggest the expediency
OF extra sessions As matter OF fact so long
as the letter OF the Constitution is not violated
this committee is purely advisory. with no
power which President not in sympathy with
the Congress. Is legally bound to obey.
Before we mark the effect OF these constitu-
tionAl provisions. and OF the extra -constitu-
tional practices which had eventually taken
root upon the controversy between President
BalmAcedS and the majority OF the Congress in
1891 let us say word about tho restrictions
on the suffrage. According to the Constitu-
tion, all Chileans possess the franchise who.
having reached the age of twenty-five years.
II unmarried. or twenty-one years. IL married.
and knowing how TO read and write, shall pos
ssss real estate or capital invested In any kind
OF business or industry. or shall exercise any
employment whose emoluments shall be
proportionAte to the income OF such real
estate or capital. The real Significance Of this
provision lies In supplemental clause to the
effect that the amount OF the real estate or
capital necessary for the franchise is TO be
nIed By q special law every ten years for each
province. Under the operation OF this clause.
and Of another which makes the function
OF active citizenship incompatible with the
status OF domestic service. very large proper
tion OF lAbohng men in Chile are practically
cut on from the right of voting and the Gov
eminent still remains what 1t was designed to
be By the authors of the Constitution. to .
large extent oligArehieaL