No. 214.
General Kilpatrick to Mr. Fish.
Sir: Mr. Amunateque, minister of foreign relations of this republic, has explained to me to-day why a minister has not been sent to Washington. He informs me that the elections alone have prevented the departure of the minister; that it was impossible to spare a single man of importance, as this election, which has been for senators and congressmen, will decide the next presidential election. The contest is now over, and the next steamer will no doubt take out the new minister.
The opposition to the government in the late election has been most determined and successful, and although the government party will be largely in the majority, yet the opposition or radical party has gained over twenty members, and among them the most talented men of the republic. The church party has elected but nine in the house and five in the senate.
In view of the fact that questions of reform in the imperfect constitution of Chili are to be decided, this triumph of the progressive and radically liberal party of the country will result, I have no doubt, in much good; and from the fact that decisions of the Catholic council now in Rome will also be discussed before this congress, as the church in all the Spanish-American republics has ever been considered equal to the state, I also rejoice at the defeat that the church party has sustained.
The only great drawback to the onward progress of this spiritual little republic is the upas-like influence and power of the church, and I have reasons to hope that the late elections will have for their result not only a lessening of the clerical power, but a complete and final separation of church and state.
I would not have you infer from what I have said that the government [Page 303] of President Pérez is tyrannical or even illiberal; upon the contrary, I believe that the most perfect liberty now exists in Chili under the existing laws, but the laws are bad; also, so far as I can learn, the elections have been fair and the government has lost, when it could have gained everywhere had the president and his cabinet but taken those measures that the illiberal, bad elective laws of the land permit. To the honor of this just president and the members of his honorable cabinet be it said they have not done so. It is not because I love the party now in power (which is conservative) less, but because I love the principles of the triumphant party (which is radical) more, that I am pleased with the result of the recent elections in this country.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,