CHAPTER XL 
POLITICAL HISTORY OF CHILL 
18 39. 
Of the early political history of Chili, we found it difficult to 
obtain any correct information. There is no publication existing at 
this date, which furnishes any satisfactory account of the republic in 
its first struggles to establish itself. 
Nearly all the principal actors in its busy scenes are yet living, 
and not so old but they entertain hopes of a change from day to day 
that may restore them to power and importance. These, together 
with the factions that were connected with them, watch with anxiety 
every turn of public opinion, and with one or the other of them, most 
of the educated Chilians, who alone are capable of giving an account, 
are more or less identified. 
For this reason only partial statements can be obtained from any of 
them. Those who keep aloof from party, are too timid to express 
any opinion on political subjects, as it might involve them in 
difficulty. The few foreigners whose long residence in the country 
would enable them to furnish facts, so distort them by their preju- 
dices towards different administrations, that no dependence can be 
placed upon their statements. The inequality of rule of the Chilian 
administrations makes it difficult to follow their history, and one is 
left to the barren sources of information afforded by government 
proclamations, and the official reports of the day, always more or less 
erroneous and exaggerated, in favour of the ruling party. 
After the battle of Chacabuco and Maypo, in which O'Higgins 
commanded, he was unanimously proclaimed Supreme Director of 
Chili, in April, 1817. He continued to fill the situation until 1823, 
when, in consequence of his allowing great abuses to exist in the 
vnr.. t. *>«'* 
