Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/440

 4:32 CHILI and lasted with slight intermissions for 50 years. Under Spanish rule Chili formed a viceroyalty divided into 13 districts. By perverse misgov- ernment the resources of the country were un- developed and the minds of the people alien- ated. In 1810 began the revolution which re- sulted in its independence. In July of that year Governor Carrasco was deposed and a junta formed with the secret design of sever- ing the connection with the mother country. ( In April, 1811, the first blood was spilled. The Spanish authorities, becoming apprised of the intentions of the patriots, attempted to overawe them and their leaders. Royal troops drawn, up in the great square of Santiago were at- tacked by the patriots and defeated with a considerable loss on both sides. In the same year Don Juan Jose Carrera was appointed by the junta supreme president of the congress and general-in-chief of the army. In all the | skirmishes in the beginning of the contest the | patriots were successful. In 1813 a powerful | army under Gen. Paroja invaded Chili, and j was twice defeated by Carrera ; but the royal- -, ists receiving large reinforcements, the country was overrun and obliged to own once more the ] sovereignty of Spain. After three years of | tyranny, the patriots raised an army in La Plata, and under the command of Gen. San Martin marched into Chili and defeated the roy- alists at Chacabuco, Feb. 12, 1817. An elec- , tive government was organized, of which Don Bernardo O'lliggins was made supreme dicta- ! tor. Again the Spaniards rallied, and in a battle fought at Chancharayada defeated the i patriots with heavy loss. The royalists, lulled into security by the result of this engagement, were attacked suddenly by the Chilenos in the i plains of Mayjm, April 5, 1818, and routed with great slaughter, not more than 500 escaping from the field. This secured the independence ; of Chili, and decided as well the fate of Buenos , Ayres and Peru. The port of Valdivia was held by the Spaniards till 1820, when it capitu- lated. Gen. O'lliggins held the dictatorship till 1823, when he was obliged to resign in conse- quence of a popular tumult. A provisional triumvirate succeeded him for a few weeks, when Gen. Freire became dictator. In 1828 a constitution was adopted. In 1831 a conven- tion was called for its revision, the result of which was the present constitution, promulga- ted May 25, 1833. Though less revolutionary than some of the South American states, Chili has passed through several attempted forcible changes of the government. The most formi- dable of them occurred in April and September, 1851. That of April was instigated and com- manded by Col. Urriola, who lost his life in a severe battle between the insurgents and the government forces at Santiago. That of Sep- tember was led by Gen. De la Cruz, the de- feated candidate for the presidency at the pre- ceding election. At one time it threatened to prove a revolution, as in nearly every conflict the insurgents were victorious ; but at length the money of the government effected what the- valor of its armies could not, and after 4,000 soldiers had fallen in battle and the productive industry and commerce of the country had suf- fered immense injury, the revolt was quelled and an amnesty granted to the insurgents. Chili passed through this crisis in her history under the presidency of Don Manuel Montt, a man of great ability, who had been the minister and adviser of Gen. Bulnes, his predecessor in of- fice. He restored peace and prosperity to the country, and it has since enjoyed internal tran- quillity. President Montt was reflected in 1856. Under his administration a civil code was framed, tribunals of commerce were es- tablished, a discount and deposit bank founded in Valparaiso, and a bank to advance money on real estate opened Jan. 1, 1856. Treaties of commerce were concluded with France in 1852, and with Sardinia and the United States in 1856 ; a free-trade treaty with the Argen- tine Republic in 1856 (abrogated in 1868); and with Great Britain in 1856. Walker's in- vasion of Nicaragua led President Montt to conclude, in November, 1856, a political alli- ance with Ecuador and Peru, which was join- ed by Costa Rica. In 1861 Jose Joaquin Perez was elected president, and was reflected in 1866. In 1862 the Araucanians gave the re- public much trouble, under the lead of De Ton- neins, a Frenchman, who claimed to be king of Araucania and Patagonia, under the title of Orelie Antoine I. He was captured during the year, and confined in prison, but was re- leased in 1863. In 1864 Chili sympathized warmly with Peru in her struggle with Spain, and in the following year became herself in- volved, and her coast was blockaded by a Spanish fleet. Chili declared war, and a loan of $20,000,000 was authorized. On Nov. 26 the Chilian steamer Esmeralda captured the Spanish gunboat Covadonga, with Admiral Pareja's correspondence on board. Two days after Admiral Pareja, dispirited by want of success, committed suicide, and was succeeded by Commodore Nunez. On Jan. 14, 1866, a treaty, offensive and defensive, with Peru was proclaimed. An engagement between the allied fleets of Peru and Chili and a part of the Span- ish fleet took place Feb. 7, 1866. The Spanish withdrew, but little damage was sustained by either side. On March 31 Admiral Nufiez bombarded Valparaiso, notwithstanding the earnest protest of all the foreign ministers and consuls. The firing began at 9 A. M. and last- ed 3J hours, between 2,000 and 3,000 shot and shell being thrown into the city. No shot was returned from the town. The destruction was immense, most of the public and many private buildings being demolished. The loss was es- timated at $10,183,000, of which about nine tenths was sustained by foreign residents. In April following the fleet left the Chilian waters, and the war thenceforth was merely nominal. A treaty of armistice and indefinite truce, brought about by the mediation of the United