the recent disturbance in the normal calm of Chilian politics.
The President, Senor Balmaceda, has of late been attempting to overstep the very wide powers already lodged in his
hands by the Constitution ; but the Chilians, anxious to preserve their well-earned reputation for peacefulness, were determined, if possible, to endure his usurpations of authority without provoking anything approaching civil war. Last year, however, both Houses of the Legislature almost unanimously refused to pass the Budget presented by President Balma- coda's Ministry of Presidential favourites. At this the President was so greatly incensed, that he at first meditated a coup do force, but ultimately thought better of his in- tention, finding, it is said, that the Army, though in no sense mutinous, would refuse to fire upon the Deputies. Accordingly, Senor Balmaceda was obliged to give way; but in October the President resumed his absolutism, and now the Chilian Navy is in revolt, while the Army supports the President.
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