The sun., 1897-08-16


offered concessions which almost amounted
to surrender, and It has kept up the hag-
Cling all through the period of the armis-
tice which was declared four weeks ago.
Whether hostilities are to he resumed or
whether terms acceptable to both parties
can be agreed upon, is yet to be asoertained.
The rebellion was originally a protest
against fraudulent elections.
The ministerial deadlock in Chill is
curious affair. Three months ago Congress
demanded that President ERRAZURiz
should dismiss his Cabinet, which was OF
conservative character, and appoint an
other more in accord with the Liberal ma
Jority in the Chamber of Deputies. The Dep
uties virtually sought for recognition Of the
British Parliamentary system, under which
a ministry holds office at the will OF the
House of Commons. The struggle between
the Executive and Congress has been long
ana acrimonious. One ministry resigned
in body and another was appointed by the
President; but this other proved to be no
more acceptable to Congress that its prede-
cessor had been, and it resigned on Mon
day last. So serious Ia the opposition OF the
Liberal alliance to the policy of the Ad.
ministration that the public business In
seriously obstructed, and there is a dead.
lock which the President is unable to deal
with. He has, within the past few days,
offered to make concessions In favor OF har-
mony, and has agreed to try to form Cabinet
that shall meet with Liberal approval. 1t
is a most interesting experiment, and the
result of 1t will largely affect the politics
nf hi tx. ha
arises from the circumstance that when
ERRAzuRIz was candidate for the
Presidency last year he sought to con-
ciliate all parties, and promised to form a
non.partisan Administration that would be
satisfactory to all of them. Up to this time
he has failed in that dangerous experiment.:
and 1t seems as though he would either
have to recognize the British Parliamentary
system in Chilli or suffer under the harass-
ment of the opposition in Congress-.
In Ecuador the President Is again men,
aced by his enemies. He gained his place
by revolution two years ago, and, since
then, he has waged two wars to retain it.
Again the Conservative party is rallying
It's forces for hostilities; again President
ALFARo holds his army in readiness for
action. He has charged all along that it
was the Church which stirred up the dis
turbanccs, and has spoken of the other
party as the religious party" to which
his liberalism was offensive. He has ban.
ished large number of priests, has secured
the adoption of a Constitution that Is OBJ
noxious to the Church, and has striven for
nearly two years to bring the ecclesiastical
power under control. He has a good army
and an empty treasury; the other side has
funds in abundance but has not a compe-
tent military leader. The struggle is one
the issue of which is doubtful.
The Congress of Peru was opened last
week. The most important business before
it is financial, and relates to President
PIERoLA's plan for the establishment of
the gold standard. The coinage of silver
for currency was stopped in May last, be.
cause of the rapid depreciation of that
metal, and since then the clamor for a
financial policy in which gold shall be
supreme has become too strong for further
resistance. Up to the time of our latest
advices from Lima, the plan devised by the
President had not been submitted to Con.
gress but as it is known that Congress is
| on his side in this matter, there is reason
to look for the speedy adoption of the gold
standard in Peru.
In this brief reference to some Of the
| affairs of the more important Southern re.
publics we have not spoken of Central
America or of Mexico, where nothing un.
usual attracts attention at this time.