The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
SOCIAL LINES IN CHILLI.
CLASSES VERY CLEARLY MARKED
~ THE POPULATION
The Old Olisarchy OF Landed Proprietors
still In Power-The Clerical Party Bur
dens of of the Middle Clam-Laborers and
and Indiana not Wanted.


Chill. Tho richer element Of the population
| is, for the most part, composed OF families who
have inherited real estate from Spanish ancestors,
and these form the oligarchy which for generations
past has controlled tho political dcstinios of the
country and jealously maintained an attitude
oil excusiveness in dealing with the remainder
Of the Chilian people Attempts have been made
from time to time To break the power OF the aristo.
cratic circle, notably so during the Presidency
oil Balmaceda In the years from 1888 10 1891.
when the President Of tho Republic used every
effort to bring TO the front men OF fair ability
but obscure origin and without family nssocia.
ti2ns TO support them In public life This en-.
deavor To Dust the oligarchic aristocracy was un
successful then as on former occasions and to.
day the same names appear in all influential
Offices as was the case half century ago when
the fathers and grandtathers Of the present gene.
ration held the reins Of power
Modern civilization has, Of course 10 some
extent toned down the sharper angles Of this
arislocratic class. and many Of the m embers
of the old families are now 10 he found engaged
In various branches Of commercial business in
stead Of being absolutely dependent on the rent
derived from landed properties or the income
from Official posts BY marriage or other chance
CIRCUMSTANCES few Of the middle class ha, r be
come absorbed into this aristocratic elet, cnt.
"'' '"'0o o'e eASepuonS 10 inc general RUE ana
are by no means common at the present tine
IN 'nH upper stratum OF Gillian society there cx-
lists great deal OF narrow. minded mel bod
OF thought and this tends to retard the mate rial
progress OF Chill in tho direction Of the adoption
"f models and manners in vogue in more alb.
Nanccd countries Tho Roman Catholic Church
has real and increasing influence among the
'hiian arisocrats, and II Is through this part OF
population iha' tho Church maintains a power
iul hold over the political life Of the Republic
Inc 'Iericals are increasing IN their cndeayors
"eA'end the sphere OF power they already possess,
ana no means are neglected 10 attain the de.
uniy-,si,i.. and ,,h., 80 =, a.. -, W,
a.. G.. "" ',, "'",' posH AZ 'hc a'sp"a' OF
ground and foo, nv foo, IL Winning n ssI"
nsnc. far lie poni,... T., i,,. .. Co.,
l.. ala, -. -" p.''aU i'e 'nc 'huich
case for many years past Clerical interference
cropS out in som,rb,, .,,,,,,,r .rid.,.. q, a..
question OF marriages between members of the
rising generations Mixed marriages between
Roman Catholics and persons Of any other faith
of the refusal on the mart of the ecclesiastical
10 hs sol.,,r,,.,, ~ "v na'ase ceremony
"" ~ so'emhihen IN 'a'holic church
,,a ~ is 'ns Sppef class IN emu which stands in
ali s..,io,s ID, ,.S wv, az" ',.'ous''"'
~" Sc'"ohS w H' ppuIhuon ana bitterly opposes
the establishment Of an educational system bnsed
an non.ser,,,,., ,,,,,;,,i.. "a ..I = =,
p',"''p''N anu COMPULSORY AT
tendance Tor all children. President Santa Mana
and his successor President Iialmsr.dn both al.
,.m,,.d IN h,..L ID, h,,.,. -, -, - "
p -, y" '''nN "'o oo"nuS o' '"eSc narrow
mihnen idrhS concerning education in the decade
between $50 and 1850 and succeeded for A tim.
in .st,bI,.h,,, ,,,,n.,i,. :, '', -"
~ ..T' '"'n,n'" ,'oh "' INC opinions heid
IN 'nls respect but this has since been counter.
,h. ,1.,r.i ,,,,,. ,,,,,,,,o, o. -, ~ "
80, WV ~ vary n""ns VIC 'as'h'r years
inc 'hillhn middle class comprising the com
mercial community farmers ,radrsm.n ard oth,,.
t,,n,ns IN. ,,,.,,,,,, - ~"
's ''o """"''nE e''H"h ~ ''e INHABITANTS
and the principal employers 81 labor, are more
literal in their views than the oliy,,,lv con,,l
ine IN. ,drin.,,,,,n. -, Isl. NJ
'"~ VIC COMMUNICATING ~ Pupi' nhalfS Ihe
opinions oi TINS important part 81 the population
carry practically no weigh, in tic poIiry AZ IA.
,our,,, na,,.,,..,.,t 49, ,, a., W '''
Observation-Disclosures '''o 'h'' 'hh' ~ ~ upon
th's CLASS more IAN any ether that the hardship
~ existing conditions falls II i. ,h,y vh, ~.
,,lI.d ,,,o,, T., 80. 49, -, a., "
- "'',' w I"' WV 'nN's 'h"' ~" 'r''," Tor
administration purposes and they are forced iu
do 80 without rcpresen,nticn 10 amy npp,cci,tl.
extent II, a.. ,,u,,,i t.n,.,., - p't, 49,