The Washington bee., 1902-04-05
FRIEND OF AMERICA.
New Chilian Minister Is Persona
Grata at Washington.
senOr Martinez, CIeveEest oe
south American Diplomats, Be-
gan. His Public Career Rs
Journalist.

The Chilian legation has long been
notable one at the American cap
ital. The little republic, besides its
mines and cattle, is rich in great men,
and some of it's most eminent sons
have been sent as representatives to
that greater republic which all the ma
tiOns of South America are coming to
regard as a kind of sympathetic older
sister. The new Gillian minister, Don
Joaquin Walker-Martinez, is one of
the most noted statesmen of the cOun-
try which he represents. and at the
recent Pan-American congress in Mex
leo, to which he was a delegate, add
ed to his reputation as a shrewd andr
sound legislator that of a brilliant de-
batter.
Mr.. WalkerMaTtinez began life, like
so many of the successful politicians OF
the day, as a journalist, and by the
vigor of his work, his high ideals, the
stand he took on current questions,
attracted the attention of his party,
and he was asked to stand as a dele
gate to the house of deputies, where,
in 1891, he was one of the most active
and devoted workers in the fight be-
tween President Balmaeeda and the
congress. For this efficient service he
was appointed minister of finance of
the recently created government
board, which portfolio he later on ex-
changed for that of minister of war,
being present at the hOtly contested
battles of Concon and Placilla, where
his party triumphed.
Victory being assured, Mr.. Walker
MARTINEZ was one Of the first Of the
ministers to return to the capital,
where he assumed charge Of the cab
met until the return of his colleagues
from the seat of hostilities, and in the
reestablishing and reOTganiZing of the
government took an active and intel
ligent part. No official worked more
zealously or with greater devotion for
the credit of his party than Mr.. Walk
er-Martinez at this crucial time, and
his service was abundantly recognized
by the grateful people, who presented
the young statesman with a country
home near the capital. whittier he re-l
tired to enjoy a we'll deserved rest and
to recUperate from the eXacting work
and the strain he had been under dur
ing the civil trouble. !
Mr.. Walker-Martinez finally aban4
doned his retreat to establish a daily
paper, Ell Constitutional, through
w Ose columns he criticised the meth
DDS, policy and some of the acts OF
| his former party associates further
marking his disapproyal of their
course by an alliance with the inde-
! pendent party. His diplomatic career
! began in 1896 with his appointment as
minister to Brazil a delicate post,
| since between the country to which he
| was accredited and that which he rep
resented there had existed a cOolness,
! owing to the fact that Chill was sup
posed to sympathize with the de-
| throned emperor, Dom Pedro. With
| the tact and astuteness which had
marked his whole official career. the
new minister succeeded in reestablish-
| ing friendly relations between the
two republics, and for this signal serv-
/ ice was transferred to Argentina.
where a like duty awaited him. the
| relations between Chilli and that coun.
! try having been strained almost to
breaking.
His mission accomplished inBuenosl
| Ayres, Mr.. Walker-Martinez returned
to his own country to become a can
didate of the independent party for
member of the house of deputies. to
which place he was elected by an over
I whelming majority. In that body his
! former successes were repeated, and
shortly after his Inauguration Presi-
dent Riesco appointed Mr.. Walker
| MARTINEZ to the vacant post at Wash
! ington. naming him at the same time
| a delegate TO the Pan-American con-
gress, where he played most impor-
| tant rode, joining his colleagues in
supporting the policy Of the United
States ,>and contributing TO the pass
ing of the most satisfactory resoJu-
tion regarding arbitration. The new
minister from Chilli is a handsome man
of the Spanish type. between 30 and
so years old. His bearing is gracious.
his manner genial and he has a fluent
knowledge, which will add 10 his use
fulness in his work here Nine. Walk
er-Martinez- woman Of many agree
able qualities, and his four children ac-
cOmpanied the minister TO Washing
ton, where he will shortly establish a
legation.