The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-25
ClllLrS POLITICAL STATE.
LoNs STRUGGLE BETWEEN TIE PRES
IDENT AND COZ DRESS.


Bad Results of the Frequent Changes Of
Miniatures now the Rule-IncreHss OF
Corruption in the Repubiic-Three For-
eign Dhputcs-Dlshonest FinancierinR.
SANTIAGO DE CHILL Oct T. Political life In
Chill has experienced some acute stages Of evolu-
ton in the course Of the last decade is an arti
clio OF faith among Chilians that tho Ministers
named by the President to preside over the vari-
Gus departments Of the Administration shall only
hold their Offices when supported by a majority
OF tho votes in Congress when political parties
are subdivided into three or four nearly equal
groups the result Of this semi parliamentary
regime is that one Cabinet after another Is forced
to resign, and II is only with the greatest dim
Guilty that the President can induce prominent
men TO accept the vacant portfolios with this con-
dition Of uncertain tenure OF Office attached.
Tho President Of the republic has no power
TO dissolve the Chambers when the members DO
some affiliated into small sections and 20 appeal
TO the country TO return one Of the other party
with a substantial working majority. and the
consequence Of not being able TO apply mis- remedy
as Is done In all governments where true par
liamentary system is practiscd, is TO create q
deadlock in the political situation from time to
time II was this very Impractical character
OF the political machinery in Chill that was the
real cause Of the revolution OF 1891 and the sub
sequcnt overthrow Of President Balmnccda.
From lSSS 1890 constant change 81 Ministers
TOOK place because no one political party in tho
Chambers was strong enough 10 control a majority
Of votes in the face Of any combination Of tho
remaining political sections President Bal
maceda, in order 10 eradicate this anomalous
condition Of affairs took active measures 10 inter
venc in the elections Of Senator'S and Deputies
for the purpose Of nsurng the return Of sun.
Giant N,, ~ 49,.
to control Congress The experiment was not.
however, a success AS many Of the new Congress
men Joined other political groups soon ~ their
elections were duly approved and ratified Find
ing his efforts unavailinE IN this matter Of Great
Ing substantial majority in the Chambers. and
40 obtaining some fNity o! Office for his Minister'S
President Ealmaceda determined 90 ignore Gus
tom and precedent and introduce the principle
in vogue in the United States. to this end main.
tanning that Ministers were not subject under tho
law OF the CHILEAN Constitution 10 the wishes or
votes OF Congress, and that the power lay with
the Chief Of the Executive TO nominate and re
tain such ministers As he might consider it with.
ort reference TO the Chambers Strictly SPEAK
my. from legal standpoint, President Balua-
ceda had right on his side. but the CHILEAN Con.
grcSs declined - accept his views and promptly
refused 20 vote the necessary supplies 10 carry
on the government Of the country In 1890
President Bnlmaccda made peace with the Con.
EresS and tried once more 10 work with minis.
try in accordance with the So called parliamentary
system This endeavor also proved a failure
and the President again determined 20 make the
Ministers independent oi the caprice Of the Cham.
hrs Congress responded by again refusing
supplies. When Balmhceda in January 1891
declared the budget Of the former year to continue
in force in order 10 provide funds for the depart.
of the Administrator tho o. NOR nj.
~ declared an armed revolution against what they
termed the tyrannous and illegal practices OF
the President
What occurred under President Balmacedn IL
N a great extent being repeated today under
President ErrazurE, the I'VE OF six factions in
Congress overth rowing every Ministry that takes
/ oflce. and rendering any beneficial adnln!sira.
ton Of public affairs practically impossible The
present Ministry consists Of coalition drawn
from three political partles, and only remAins In
power for the moment because Congress happens
10 be in recess Thsta reform in the political ma
chinery Is imperative in the interests Of Chill Is
beyond any question: but IL is doubtful II any Pres
ident who proposed such n measure could sue
cessfuly carry II in view oi the fact that Mem
b~r1 OF Congress are extremely Jealous o! any cur.
tslmcnt Of their political power In the mean.
time the country suffers severely from he lax
81 continuity o! policy on the part Of the heads Of
departments, as mus; Re the case under system
which entails kaleidoscope changes Of lightning
rap,dliy among the men noniuAliy entrusted with
the direction Of public affairs and the eSp-ndi.
ture Of the national revenues. To-day the CHILEAN
Congress il comprised Of groups Of individuals
entirely dominated By personal motives and IN.
out any real political principles q uide their
conduct, and yet in the hands OF such unstable
elements a. these that the Ministry is left In
the circumstances Il is no mater for wonder that
portfolios in the Cabinet often go begging for
months At a time, and that the more respectable
element Of the community holds aloof from any
/ part in the government 81 the republic
This principle Of the Ministry existing only on
the suTernncc Of political parties in Congress was
resssert"d and fl mly established in 1901 by the
success Of the revolution AGAINST President Balma-
I Ceda but the evil effects n the present sys,-m
did not become prominently DEVELOPED durng the
following Ave years under the administration Of
Admiral Mont. The election for the Presidency
and ior Congress after peace restored in 1891
was absolutely free and a group o! the followers
81 Balmaceda Wee returned 10 the Chambers
The influence and popularity Of the victorious
party were ~ strong that tho composition Of both
Senate and Chamber Of Deputies showed a very
substantial majority on the part Of the Corserva-
uves in coalition with section Of the Liberals
these two groups being drawn together by the
revolution The majority Of this coaliti n party
held together for some three or four yrsrS, and
enabled President Mont 10 keep in oftcc a re
sponsibe Ministry at a most critical stage in
CHILEAN history The institutions Ot the republic
had been shaken 10 their foundations by the events
Of the rebellion feeling ran high between yictors
and vanqusshed. commerce and trade were mo-
mentarily paralyzed. A cautious and somewhat
conservative policy was essential Ia allow the
country TO recover from the effects Of the recent
struggle The strong party in Congress upon
whom President Mont could rely enabled this
stesdyinc policy to be put into practice.
Toward the close ~ the term Of Of &C 81 Admiral
| Mon't in 1895 and 1896. the majority, who had
hitherto loyalty supported the efforts Of the Pres
ident 10 establish a sound and stable administers
Il on, began 10 disappear New elections hrr ught
70 the fr nj men q ,ther p li,ical Spiniona than
those VII had fought ou the Quarrel agnlnA,
Balmnceda, and gradually the Chambers driftcd
int the conditions Of TO day where half dozen
small cliques hate one an ther cordially uniting
, only " oyeTtuTn a Ministry and never Tor any
al 4. At