The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-04

Head of the Most Progressive of
the South American RepubIics-
He Discusses the Monroe Doctrine
and Our Building OF the Nicara-
qua Canal.
Copyright, 1898, by Frank G. Carpenter
SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug LETT was
by appointment that I called upon the
president Of Chile yesterday afternoon
to have a chat with him concerning
matters of mutual interest to our re-
spective countries. The president is one
of the progressive men of this progress
sive people. He is at the head of tho
liberal or progressive party, and Is at
the front OF every movement to make
Chile prosperous. He comes Of one Of
the Oldest families of Chile, his father
having been one Of the most popular
presidents of the past He is a very
rich man. and his personal interests in
the advancement Of Chile are great.
He is now in the second year Of his
presidential term, and as he has three
more years TO serve his Views upon In
ten2uonal matters are Of especial in
tertst. My audience was arranged
through our minister to Chile, and at
the time set for it, p. M, Mr. Wilson
and myself entered the doors OF the
Moneda.
CHILEAN WHITE HOUSE"
The Moneda is the White house of
Chile. 1t is a vast three-story building
situated In the heart of Santiago. You
could put out white house" in one
corner of it, and its ground floor is, [
judge larger than that or the capitol
a Washington. The building covers
more than four acres, but it is con-
structed after the Spanish style, with
Its rooms running about patiOs or
courts, SO that there IS much waste
space. These courts, however, are fill
ed with flowers, in some of them fOun-
tajnS play, and they form the only
gardens of the presidents house. The
Monela contains not only the offices
and private apartments Of the presi-
dent, but also the offices Of several Of
the departments of the government.
He has his principal cabinet secreta-
ries in the same house with him, and
a large part Of the building is given
up to clerical work. AS We entered the
NOneda we passed the guard of SOL
diers which always stands there with
drawn swords in their hands, and It
was a military officer in uniform who
led us into the presidents room. There |
lie offices here than in the United |
States, and the president of Chile has
q military guard Of 200 cavalry, which !
accompanies his carriage on all state
occasions. His carriage Itself is far
more pretentiOus than President Nc
Kinley's. 1t Is drawn by four mag
nifCent horses, and the cOachmen and
footmen are dressed in gorgeous liv-
cries
THE PRESIDENT OF CHILE.
We first met Don Edwardo Phillips,
the assistant secretary of state, and
the chief medium Of intercourse be-
tween his exceIlency and foreigners.
He told us that the president was ex-
pecting us, and q moment later we
were in the presidents room. This
is larger than any Of the business
rooms of the White house. 1t is rather
plainly furnished, and 1t was at the
back Of it that President Errazuriz
was sitting at a desk which was lit
tered tered with papers and documents.
He rose as we came in, and shook my
hand as l was presented to him. I
was rather surprised to find him so
young a man. He does not appear to
be over forty and as yet there are no
gray strands in his hair. He is OF
slender build. but very straight. He
has rather dark, but handsome face,
and his manner is quite dignified. His
eXcellency asked US to be seated, and,
taking a chair beside US, chatted for
half an hour very entertainingly, one
of his friends Mr.. Edward MacClure,
acting as interpreter. AS we rose to
go, however, he said he would prefer
that I should write out MY questions,
and he would give me his answers IN
writing. This he has since done, and
the matter which follows is made up
of the questions and the translation
of the Spanish document l have just
received from the presidential mansion:
CHILE AND THE UNITED STATES.
Correspondent-Wiu your excellency
please state what is the position of
Chile as to trade with the United
States, and suggest some ways IN
which 1t might be increased?
The President - Among the best
measures to increase this trade would
be the establishment Of new steam
ship lines There should be more fire.
quent steamship communication be-
tween the two countries. Another
method that might be adopted to fur
Their trade would be the establishment
Of expeditions to show the respective
products of the countries. Chile should
have such expOsitions in the United
States, and the United States should
establish them in Chile. I think that
the consumption of nitrate in the
United States might also be stimulated