Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 1, 1884

No. 295.
Mr. Gibbs to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Legation of the United States,
Lima, Peru , July 9, 1884. (Received July 28.)

No. 117.]

Sir: I have now to inform the Department of a very important move toward the pacification of the Republic made by President Iglesias, as you will see by the copy of the proclamation issued yesterday, which I inclose; also translation. I surmise that General Iglesias has made a virtue of necessity, and has done the best thing he could do under the circumstances. The Chilians are fast evacuating the country, and before the end of the month it is said the last of them would have left Peru. As there is no doubt but their presence kept the present Government in power here at Lima, the power of Caceres was increasing, and his forces were slowly and gradually encircling this capital.

Puga, in the north, had taken and holds the port of Cosma. Zamudie holds all of the province of lea excepting the port of Pisco La Colero did not return to Ecuador, as reported, but is near Puno, and as soon as the last Chilian leaves Puno and Arequipa, there is not the least doubt but the whole country from Cuzco around down to Puno, Arequipa, and Mollendo will pass over and recognize Caceres.

The papers of last night publish a correspondence between the Government and Caceres.

On the 10th of June the minister of Government, Señor Osma, directed a communication to General Caceres. After appealing to his patriotism he asks what are his wishes, and stating his (Caceres) desires shall be granted as far as is compatible with the honor and dignity of the Government, and that the Government is disposed to do all possible to avoid further shedding of blood among Peruvians, offering if it is necessary to go in person to have an interview with Caceres, stating that he (Osma) would await with anxiety so as to change the unhappy position of Peru to one of felicity and prosperity.

General Caceres answers Osma’s letter from Huancayo June 19th applauding the design and desires of the minister, and states that his wishes are:

(1) That General Iglesias make good his promises given to the country, and in fulfillment of the treaty made by him to demand the immediate freedom of the Peruvian territory from Chilian troops.

(2) Name a new ministry of persons who inspire confidence to the country. Osma and Colonel Garcia Leon, minister of war, to remain as members of the cabinet.

(3) General Iglesias to resign his power to the ministry so formed.

(4) The cabinet to proceed to call elections for President, Vice-president, and a Constitutional Assembly.

(5) Caceres to accept and recognize the authority of said ministry. Then General Caceres, in a lengthy document, gave his reasons for the above demands. That the country, since the signing of the treaty last October, desired to be free of the hated presence of a foreign enemy; that it awaited with anxiety that this would have been the first step of the Iglesias Government, but on the contrary the Chilians had remained and by their bayonets sustained the actual government which was more or less a protectorate; this fact was degrading after the great concessions made in the treaty. A small circle or clique had possession of the power of the nation against the protest of the people. Suffrage had been suppressed, and the nation deprived of its rights. In separating General Iglesias from authority in the Republic it is natural that the new ministry could call an election for a free expression of the people.

Caceres proposes, also, that General La Puerta could be called to power as he was the legitimate vice-president of the Republic when Pierola made himself dictator, and he might also convoke a call for election under the rule of the constitution of 1860. He also appeals to the patriotism of Señor Osma to assist him in carrying out this idea.

This correspondence was the cause of the visit of Armstrong to Caceres, and of the coming of the commissioners to treat with Iglesias. The propositions direct of Caceres were not admitted, but they are in fact, and to a great extent, conceded in the proclamation inclosed.

Yesterday, with all the ceremony that is used in these South American republics, the decree was published through the streets convoking new elections as follows:

Miguel Iglesias, provisional President of the Republic, says: Considering that it is not necessary that the provisional regimen should continue by this Government, which believes it has finished the task imposed on it when it accepted the supreme command, decrees that an election shall be held for President, Vice-president, deputies, and senators, according to the constitution of 1860. Then follows the mode and rules for the elections, the Congress to be installed December 9 of this year.

The proclamation has been accepted by the press very favorably, and as far as I can learn has been very well received by the people.

Orders have been sent to all parts to stop all military operations, and yesterday a steamer left for Pisco to bring back the troops left there a few days ago, as reported in my last note, and also orders were sent into the interior to Prefect Mas and troops to return to this city.

Still I think that when the Chilians leave, attempts will be made to unseat General Iglesias, as I doubt the county waiting until December to see the result of the elections, as the anti-Iglesias party are the most numerous.

I am, &c.,

RICHARD GIBBS.

[Inclosure in 117.—Translation.]

proclamation of general iglesias.

Miguel Iglesias, Provisional President of the Republic, to the nation:

Fate made me the instrument to carry out the most difficult and painful act that a soldier with abnegation, who defended his country on the field of battle, could undertake.

Even when I proclaimed in the north the peace with Chili, I was not blind to the great obstacles that I would find in my path, foreseeing in the future rehabilitation and greatness. I braved the anger of those who opposed me, and was not detained by the ingratitude of my cotemporaries.

Convinced that peace was the only living idea, the spirit of all in the calm hour of patriotic meditation, and the only hope or sentiment whose warmth could free the country covered in all directions by smoking ruins and ensanguined bodies of thousands of martyrs.

Impulsed by this saving thought, I arrived at the gates of this capital surrounded by noble and willing companions. I signed the peace of Ancon, thereby realizing my most vehement desire, which months previous was considered by many as an act of lunacy, and by others as a page of shame in the national history.

But in spite of all passions the flag, the symbol of our autonomy, waved in the Peruvian metropolis, and at that moment of ineffable joy and pleasing hopes I was gratified at the work of abnegation and sacrifice that I had passed, and from that time I awaited calmly the verdict of posterity. More, after finishing the heavy task to replace the clash of arms by the beneficial action of labor, to return to the fields the men who were occupied in the war. Another task more arduous, another object more noble was called to perfect the undertaking which was reaching its terminus, occupied all the attention of my thoughts and strength of activity.

What did the Republic gain by international peace and the freedom of its territory, if the blind hate of partisanship would again cover the soil with blood and drive away for many years of disastrous agony a future of happiness and progress?

Then it was necessary to consolidate the harmony of the Peruvian family, to give a high example of disinterestedness and political abnegation, founding at the same time an administration whose acts the country can judge.

Fellow-citizens, if I have continued in this position, having accepted the power that the constituent assembly trusted to me, I did so because I did not consider it impossible to crown the noble mission which I assumed in the bitter hours of profound despair believing, that as I had put an end to the foreign war under the conditions the least onerous in such difficult moments, I might bring back to the country the order and stability of its institutions.

People of Peru, although not a single protesting act has been formed against my Government, although I possess ample and powerful elements of force, I will sacrifice all for conciliation.

I will leave the political stage resolutely and irrevocably, and from this day forward, under the protection of the constitution of 1860, which I declare to be in force, you may remain tranquil, and in electoral combat you can name the citizen who will replace me.

When that is done, and I deliver to your representatives the power that I hold, I will retire to my home with the tranquil spirit that accompanies the man who has fulfilled his duties as a soldier and as an executive.

This will be the last act of my political life, and thus believe I have answered the confidence that I received from the nation.

If my abnegation is not sufficient to strengthen the foundations of peace, yours will be the blame, if you do not know whom to elect with coolness as the person worthy of directing your destiny.

Compatriots, I promise you by the word of a gentleman and soldier you shall have all the liberty conceded by the law to exercise that most precious right a free people can have, the right of suffrage.

The public force shall be no obstacle, only a worthy assistant to the free expression of your will, and my complete and irrevocable renouncement of the election is one more pledge of the loyalty of my intentions.

People of Peru, never forget that respect to law and authority is the first base of the greatness of nations. Divided in the past, we could not obtain victory on the battle-field. Occupied to-day in fratricidal struggles, spilling precious blood not shed by a foreign enemy, each day weaker, we will see the Republic humiliated by the odious tyranny of disorder and an easy prey to foreign ambition.

To improve the realization of this scene of destruction and shame is what has obliged me to take the step which I now inform you of. I expect the assistance of all to put in practice this unity which is the salvation of Peru.

I gave you external peace, and to-day, sacrificing all that to me is personal, I lay the foundation for internal peace.

Your compatriot and friend,

MIGUEL IGLESIAS.