Page:1902 Encyclopædia Britannica - Volume 27 - CHI-ELD.pdf/40

 14

CHILE

[histoey

The President remained concealed in this retreat until ment. Almost absolute power was now given these cor18th September. On the evening of that date, when the porations to manage their own concerns, and the organizaterm for which he had been elected President of the tion of the police was placed in their hands; at a later republic terminated, he committed suicide by shooting period, however, it was found necessary to modify this himself. The excuse for this act, put forward in letters latter condition. President Montt next turned his attention towards the written shortly before his end, was that he did not believe the conquerors would give him an impartial trial.. The question of how best to repair the damage occasioned to death of Balmaceda finished all cause of contention in the country by eight months of civil warfare. The plan Chile, and was the closing act of the most severe and of public works authorized in 1887 was reconsidered, and bloodiest struggle that country had ever witnessed. In the construction of portions of the various undertakings the various engagements throughout the conflict more than recommenced. The army and navy were reorganized. 10,000 lives were lost, and the joint expenditure of the Additional instructors were brought from Germany, an d two Governments on military preparations and the pui chase all arms of the military service were placed on a thoroughly of war material exceeded £10,000,000 sterling. (See also efficient footing in matters of drill and discipline. Several new and powerful cruisers were added to the navy, and the section on the war below.) An unfortunate occurrence soon after the close of the the internal economy of this branch of the national defence revolution brought strained relations for a short period was thoroughly inspected and many defects were remedied. between the Governments of the United States and Chile. President Montt then took in hand the question of a reform of the currency, the abolition of inconvertible A number of men of the U.S.S. Baltimore having been paper money, and the re-establishment of a gold basis given liberty on shore, an argument arose between some of them and a group of Chilian sailors in a drinking den in as the monetary standard of the republic. This reform Valparaiso. Words led to blows. The Americans were of the currency became the key-note of the Presidents during the remainder of his term of office. Great badly handled, one of their number being killed and policy opposition was raised by the representatives of the debtor others severely hurt. The United States Government characterized the affair as an outrage., demanding an in- class in Congress to the suppression of the inconvertible demnity of $1,000,000 as satisfaction. The Chilian paper money, but in the end President Montt carried the authorities demurred at this attitude, and attempted to day, and on 11th February 1895 a measure finally argue the matter. Mr Blaine, then Secretary of State, became law establishing a gold currency as the only legal refused peremptorily to listen to any explanations. In tender in Chile. In July 1896 the Conversion Act was in force, a dollar of 18d. being the monetary unit the end Chile paid an indemnity as asked, but the affair put adopted. In 1895 relations with the neighbouring left bad feeling in its train. The close of the revolution against Balmaceda left the republic of Argentina began to become somewhat strained government of Chile in the hands of the junta under in regard to the interpretation of the treaty concerning whose guidance the military and naval opera- the boundary between the two countries. The treaties of Presldeat tions }ia(l been organized. Admiral Jorje Montt 1881, 1893, and 1895 left doubts in the minds of both had been the head of this revolutionary com- Chilians and Argentines as to the position of the frontier mittee, and he acted as President of the provisional Govern- line. On 17th April 1896 another protocol was drawn by which the contending parties agreed to submit ment when the administration of the country changed hands up, any differences arbitration of Great Britain, at the after the victory of the Congressional party. An election instance of one toorthe both Governments. President Montt was now immediately ordered for the choice of a President had now fulfilled his term of office, and on 18th September of the republic and for representatives in the Senate and 1896 he handed over the presidential power to his sucChamber of Deputies. Admiral Montt, as head of the executive power, staunchly refused to allow official influence cessor, Sehor Federico Errazuriz, who had been duly elected the month of June previously. to be brought to bear in any way in the Presidential cam- in The election for the position of President of the republic paign. The great majority of the voters,. however, was closely contested in 1896 between Señor Errazuriz required no pressure to decide who was in their opinion and Senor Beyes, and ended in the triumph of presjdent the man most fitted to administer the affairs of the republic. For the first time in the history of Chile a the former candidate by the narrow majority of £rrazur/z. perfectly free election was held,, and Admiral Montt was one vote. The father of the new President had been chief magistrate of Chile from 1871 to 18/6, and duly chosen by a nearly unanimous vote to be chief his administration had been one of the best the. countiy magistrate for the constitutional term of five years.. The Senate and Chamber of Deputies were formally constituted had ever enjoyed j his son had therefore tiaditions to in due course, and the Government of the republic resumed uphold in the post he was now called upon to fill. At commencement of 1897 the public attention was normal conditions of existence. The new President showed the absorbed by foreign political questions. The problems to admirable tact in dealing with the difficult problem he was be solved the frontier difficulty with Argentina, the called upon to face. Party feeling still ran high between question ofwere the possession of Tacna and Arica with Peru, the partisans to the two sides of. the recent conflict. Admiral Montt took the view that it was politic and just and the necessity of fulfilling the obligation contracted Bolivia to give that country a seaport on the Pacific to let bygones be bygones, and he acted conscientiously with coast. The treaty made in 1.896 with the Argentine by this principle in all administrative measures in con- Government, referring to the arbitration of disputed points nexion with the supporters of the late President Balmaceda. concerning the boundary, became practically for the Early in 1892 an amnesty was granted to the officers of moment a dead letter, and both Argentines and Chilians the Balmaceda regime, and they were freely permitted to began to talk openly of an appeal to arms to settle the return to Chile without any attempt being made to molest matter once for all. The Governments of both countries them. The first political act of national importance of began to purchase large supplies of war material, and the new Government was the grant of control to the generally to make preparations for a possible, conflict. In municipalities, which hitherto had possessed little power these circumstances no final settlement with Peru and to direct local affairs, and were not even, permitted to dis- Bolivia was possible, the authorities of those republics pose of the municipal revenues to any important amount holding back to see the issue of the Chile-Argentine without first obtaining the consent of the central Govern-