The Irish standard., 1898-04-09

then shipped as sailor on vessel bound
to Spain. After some months at Cadiz
he secured passage on vessel bound for
Lima, where he returned after his faith
er's DEATH He went to live on one Of
his fathers estates. and entered the
military service of Spain.
While O'Higgins was project in the
Island of Laja the independence Of Chile
was declared Sept. 49, 1910. Revolutions
were then in progress all over South
America. Napoleon was really response
bic for the freedom of South America.
His conquest of Spain weakened the
power Of the home government for.
though loyalty might be felt toward the
legitimate monarch, none was due 10 Jo-
seph Bonaparte, made king by conquer.
ing foreigner.
The direct causes of the revolution
were not unlike those in North America,
except that they were more aggravated,
while. on the other hand, the Spanish
colonies chung more closely to the home
government and sought redress longer
before freeing themselves from the sull-
ing yoke.
Their demands will show their grew
ances. The Chileans petitioned in vain
to be allowed to plant and cultivate
whatever their soil and climate would
produce; to open their ports to all ma
tons; to have free trade among thonl-
selves and between the colonies and the
mother country: to have all monopolies
In favor Of the king and the public treas
uries suppressed; to have free wor;iMe Of
quicksilver mines; to make Spanish
Americans eligible equally with Span
1ar1s to all appointments of rank and
employment; to have consulting iuntas
formed i'll each capital to the intent that
they might propose persons to fill va
cancies.
Patriots; planned freedom as soou as
the news of the change Of government
at homo reached Chile. They were ar
rested and punished Then came the
news Of the Victories OF the revolutions
lists under San Martin in Buenos Ayres,
and congress met on Sept. is. 1910. AMI
declared Chile free placing the govern
ment in the hands of a junta
Tho Chilean revolution was easy, and
tho two regiments raised by O'lliggins
had but little to do. The chief difficult
ties were the caudillas, who wero con-
cerned in it. In spite Of the control ex-
ercised by the officials 1T proved that the
Spanish troops in Chile We're not strong
ly attached to the home government and
they themselves dcposcd their captain
general and replaced him by one favor
able to the revolution.
But hardly had Independence been
won when Chile was distracted by the
strife OF parties Tho leaders wera
Rozas. lawyer, and Jose Carrera, n
soldier. Their rivalrics threatened 10
bring about civil war. Then Bernardo
OHlggins came to the front, acted as
mediator between the rival chiefs ana
each was given half of Chile Ambitious
Carrera declared himself dictator in
1912 and there were more factional quar-
res, from which O'FIiggins held himself
aloof.
The Spanish viccroy OF Peru in the
early part of 1913, attempted to regain
Chile for Spain. Parcja, the royalist
general won tho first battle Mt Tall
cahuana. This was followed by skrm-
tshes with the patriots under O'IIggins
cessful. Meanwhile Dictator Carrera
was defeated at Chillan. Carrcro Joined
O'Higgins, and together they met the
Spaniards ut Roble Carrcras division
was beaten, but Oliiggins succeeded in
rallying the troops, October IL. and
In turning what was a ruut into a VIC
tory.
Carrer"'s tyranny had CALLED the jun
ia. While he was successful they were
forced to submit. but tho defeat gave
them chance to remove Carrera, and In
his place O'liiggins was made COM
mander-n-chief of the armies The
choice WAS wise. After the battle of
Roblc, Carrera had called the young
man-now IS years of agc-'cl primer
sodaldo de Chile" the first soldier of
Chile. C'Higgins chose MacKcnna, Il
young freshman. as his second in COM
mand
Some success had been won by O'lIiE-
gins when the junta ordered him to ac-
gotlato a peace with the enemy, and tho
treaty of Linay was signed on May 3.
Shortly aftcrward tho patriots released
Carrera, who had been imprisoned.
Civil war then broke out Carrcra Or
ganized an army to fight Oliiggns
The two armies wero drawn up in bat
tie array on the banks Of Maypo Then
came news that a new attacking party
had been sent by the viceroy under Osa-
rio. Tho patriots now reunited ut
O'Higgins suggestion. and he mag
unanimously gave chief command Of the
army to Carrera. But the eX-dictator
was not so patriotic When Talca was
attacked, Oct. l and 2, he sent O'Ilig-
gins to fight and promised to attack the
rear. Carrera did not give the promised
support, but left O'IIiggins to fight the
enemy alone. Overwhelmed In numbers,
0'Hippins made n bravo dofonco ,u,1 o,,t