HISTORY OF CHILIAN WAR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9192, 21 September 1891, Page 2

HISTORY OF CHILIAN WAR.

CRUELTY OF BALMACEDA. WHAT THE JUNTA IS. The civil war which has been raging in Chili during the past six months Daa l)een fought with absolute unscrupiilousness and unflinching cruelty on the part of Balmaccda and his supporters. His accusers allege that he has shrunk from no severity and no brutality " in dealing with the upholders of constitutional rights. Save in name, Chili has never been a republic. During its 60 years of existence as a couBtitutionally governed country its destinies have bee a in the hands of an oligarchy, composed of leading territorial families supported by the clergy, which dominant party took unto itself the name of Conserva tive party. From 1833, when the constitution was definitively settled, until 1880, when the successful war against Peru not only added the rich provinces of Tacna and Tarapaca to the Chilian dominions, but, furthermore, acted as a storm wind of national enthusiasm upon the heretofore tranquil surface of Chilian political life, this clerico- aristocratic party monopolised the administration. An uninfluential minority, styled the "Partido Liberal," had, indeed, been in opposition, but it represented merely the struggling growth of an infant democracy. More especially had the Conservatives been identified with the dignified but iron . administration of President Moult and his confidential Prime Minister, Varas, which, between 1850 60, had enabled Chili to • enjoy the blessings incident to nations without a history. An') so entirely satisfactory had this period of steady, uneventful progress been deemed j by its aristocratic supporters that the ultra j Conservatives proceeded to style themselves " Moutt-Varistas," a title which they retain to the present day. Bnt Conservative ideas failed to keep pace with the newly aroused ideas of national ambition ; the hitherto feeble Liberal minority appealed, and appealed successfully, to the democratic instincts of the Chilian people, and found a leader in Jos£ Manuel Balmaceda. Consequently, in September, 1886. the Liberal leader became President of the Republic ; and the contest, which has finally culminated in civil war, began. This contest, at first one between Liberals of all shades of opinion against Moutt-Varistas and other Conservatives, grew in intensity and bitterness by the defection of many Liberals to the Conservative side, until it assumed the form of a life and death struggle between a majority in Congress and the executive power vested in the President. President Balmaceda in this contest showed that he possesses an iron will. Congress resolutely refused to vote supplies, and the Conservatives threatened to impeach the President. To anticipate them he abruptly dissolved Congress iv the last days of December. The majority in Congress had made up their minds long before December that a rupture with the Executive and a consequent attempt at revolution were inevitable. They had secured the j co-operation of the fleet, and as they believed a large portion of the army, and never doubted that the hoisting of the revolutionary flag would bo the signal for a popular rising all over the country. With nearly all the territorial family influence, the wealth, the foreign element and the clergy pf tbo couotry »t their back,

the downfall of the President was deemed a foregone speedy conclusion. Step by step the President went further away from every hopa of a reasonable solution of tho struggle between the executive power, summed up in one word his will and the Parliament. November and December passed, tho President being busily employed in removing the Governors of tho provinces, putting military men into all available public posts, and giving honours '" and higher grades to all the worst small army officers. At this time public meetings were prohibited. The Liberal Club and tho Conservative Club were attacked by armed forces on the 19th of Decembor. One of the young men, trying to escape from the soldiers, was shot dead in tho Btreet. He was the Bon of Don Macario Ossa, of Santiago, one of the most re*spected leading men of the Cons°rvative party. After this ovent the different political Opposition parties — MouttVaristaa, Conservatives, Imdepondent Liberals and Radicals — united, and began •to prepare for the struggle that threatened, for the President continued signing dooroes to remove the most honorablo men from all public or confidential posts. Don Diego Barro« Arana, a writer, hi&torian, professor in the National Institute, a man of great learning, honor, and of a European reputation for his scientific and literary attainments, was removed from, his post of arbitrator in tho question of limits with the Argentine Republic. Many men who 'served as directors, presidents, &G. t for no remuneration, in the hospitals, orphan asylum, and lunatic asylum, were removed, and these posts filled by tho men who belong to tho President's limitod circle of followers. Tho best doctors, men of education and position, were also removed from ; these establishments, and their places filled by inferior medical men, whose sole rocomineudation waß their " fidelity " to the " supremo chief af tho Stato." This Btep caused sorious apprehensions, for tho charitable establishments, although dopendent on the Government, are rich, and the men who had always had' tho management of the funds accumulated by charitable bequests, good management, &c, had al way s been chosen for their well -known philantrophy and intogrity, and it was known that they yearly spent largo sums for tho increased comfort of tho establishments under their caro. Tho men named in their place wore men of doubtful character. On tho Ist of January, 1891, tho Independent or Opposition members o£ the Senate and House of Deputies mot, and signed a solemn act, declaring the President unworthy of his post, and that he was no longer head of tho Stato nor President of the Republic, as he had violated the constitution. Tim document was taken on board the Chilian men of war. On tho 7th of January tho navy came into Valparaiso Bay, and declared themselves against Balmaceda and euppo-ters of the legislative power, in the name of the people and in the name of the law. So far all had gone well, but the men of war vainly awaited a favorable answer from the shore. Valparaiso gave no response. It seems that a simultaneous movement of the army was preparod. All had been done in apparent good faith. It was expected that the army would have jo'ned, and surrounded the President's palace. The revolution would thus have been successful without bloodshed. Some officers gave the Government notice. Tho Comiti working for the Opposition barely escaped with their lives. Some hid, others went over the Andes to the Argentine Republic, others got on board the men of war in different disguises. The President and his Ministers, of whom the most active is Godoy, an unprincipled gambler and drunkard, but very active and energetic, lost no time. The President declared tho navy traitors and pirates ; closed all clubs, social and political, abolished tho laws of the country, declared himself Dictator and the country under martial law, and all " Intendentes " and Governors of the provinces his sole representatives. The month of January was a month of terror ; private houses were incessantly watched and searched at any hour of the day and night ; the Governors ordered patrols to scour thp farms and estates ; harvests .were sot on fire, houses pillaged, gentlemen flogged to oblige them to declare tho hiding places of the political refugees ; but, unfortunately, all tho most loading men have escaped. Every home, every woman, every child works to save thoso who are engaged in a cause that is looked .upon' as holy. In Santiago tho city was changed into a military dept. No ladies appear at any public place, all work in silence, and although for* many bitter weeks the situation seemed hopeless, yet the Revolutionary Coinit6 managed to meet and to continue the work of bringing back lifeand civilisation in the place of anarchy and despotism. Since tho month of December all letters hare been opened at the post office. Can degradation go lower than this ? All who write are obliged to do so under feigned names or by special messengers. The banks were also declared abettors of the revolution ; the directors were obliged to hide, as warrants of arrest were sent out against them, and an " interventor " named by the President had to revieo all their books, and no account could be paid, no business transacted without his permission. The bank of Edwards, in Valparaiso, was closed by order of tho Government, a horse shoo nailod over tho door, and all the clerks and officials imprisoned. Don Agustin Edwards, tho head aDd owner of this bank, a millionaire and one of tbo loading Opposition men, fled and has since died ; hia estates were robbed, and his fine horses wore taken for tho troops ; his cattlo, chiefly' imported from England to improve the native cattle, and bought at very high prices, have boon killed and eaten by the troops. In few words, civilisation, which means morality, personal liberty, respoct for women and pity for tho helpless, post offices to guard the letteiß, liberty of association, tho greatest good of the greatest number — all, all has disappeared, a Communist Government—a despot, or several despots, who, under the false name of Executive power, crushed out all the peace, the blessings, the education of the past 80 yearß. AH i hat is honorable, all that is good is scattered, and to the surface have risen the dregs of the lowest, most unscrupulous men, of degraded habits and needy aad empty pockets. (To be continued to-morrow.)