336 EVENTS SUCCEEDING THE ELECTION. 



their mayordomos take charge of the certificates of qualification when they are issued. If 

 "by chance the soldier or tenant he disposed to vote adversely to the will of his superior, the 

 paper is withheld, and he cannot present himself at the polls. Again, the fact was notorious 

 that certificates thus withheld were given to inmates of hospitals and paupers, and that others 

 were openly hought and sold adjoining the polls. Another ground of complaint was, that the 

 whole surplus receipts of the treasury were expended on the provinces of Santiago and Valpa- 

 raiso, to the neglect of the more necessitous and distant confederates. The capitals of the former 

 were adorned and their roads improved, whilst the thoroughfares and highways about those 

 at a distance remained in the primitive condition of the last century ; or, if improved, it had 

 been done by treasure obtained from local resources, not from the national coffers. And the 

 third grievance alleged was, that the powers of the municipal boards had been encroached upon 

 until, in fact, they were but nominal assemblages. 



When the term of the late President was drawing to a close, there was doubt, during some 

 months, whom he would name as his successor. The cabinet were divided in opinion, and 

 perhaps opposed to the candidate it was his interest to support. Probably his predilections 

 would have led him to select General Cruz, a relative ; but Seiior Montt was the favorite of a 

 large number of the wealthiest miners, and some of the haciendados, and from the former of 

 these General Bulnes had borrowed large sums of money. Some maliciously said that the 

 miners threatened to withdraw their funds unless he would support their favorite ; and as the 

 money was already embarked in extensive landed and business speculations, it would not have 

 been convenient to pay just then. At this time two ministers known to be in opposition to Seiior 

 Montt were dismissed ; a third resigned ; and others, favorable to his pretensions, were chosen 

 in their places. This settled the question as to the policy of the administration. 



Up to this time the candidate of the opposition Or democratic party was Seiior Errazuriz, a sen- 

 ator who had filled with distinction various posts of honor, and was noted for enlightened and 

 liberal views on all questions of public policy. Unfortunately, he was truly appreciated only 

 by the more intelligent and patriotic of his countrymen ; and therefore, when the mass of the 

 party, comprising all who wanted offices, found that the money of the miners was likely to 

 secure the election, they cavalierly dropped him and took up General Cruz, whose military 

 prestige would be of vast weight in case of a battle for the succession. When the latter came 

 from Concepcion for the purpose of remonstrating at head-quarters against the course pursued 

 respecting the troops under his command, he was well aware of the antipathy felt by the 

 majority towards the candidate opposed to him. Desirous to obviate the difficulty he probably 

 foresaw, and to secure some one who would measurably be acceptable to all, it is believed that 

 he proposed to the administration that both Seiior Montt and himself should withdraw, and a 

 third person be chosen by government from those who had been prominently mentioned among 

 its citizens. In this he was honest ; for up to that time it was well known he had no desire to 

 occupy the Presidential chair. 



But the proposition was not acceptable to the Monttistas ; they were unwilling to sacrifice 

 personal interests and aspirations on the altar of patriotism ; and Cruz returned to Concepcion 

 to be incited to more active opposition by his immediate removal from the post of Intendente. 

 A military man only, somewhat obstinate (according to the account of friends), with no 

 remarkable amount of talent as a statesman, and at best but limited administrative capacity, 

 his nomination was received with great apathy by a large number of those who could have 

 exercised influence, and the preparations for the electioneering campaign were only prosecuted 

 vigorously by the Montt party. Moderate energy might have secured success to the others; but 

 more than one of them remarked to me, "It is useless to attempt it: the government always 

 elects its candidates by force, if need be ; and why shall we risk imprisonment or banishment 

 by openly organizing opposition?" And in this manner they actually suffered the election to 

 go by default, three fourths of the voters either staying away from the polls voluntarily, or by 

 the will of their superiors. 



