“’Now I am a simple citizen.  During my government, that I have exercised with full authority, I may have committed mistakes, but believe me when I say that they were due to the very difficult circumstances when I took up my charge, and not to evil passions.  I am ready to answer any accusations which are made against me.  If these faults have caused evils which can only be purged by my blood, take what revenge you will upon me.  Here is my breast.’  The people cried out:  ‘We have nothing against you, Viva O’Higgins!’ ’I know well,’ he added, ’that you cannot justly accuse me of intentional faults.  Nevertheless, this testimony alleviates the weight of those which I may have unknowingly committed.’  Turning to the Junta, he added:  ‘My presence has ceased to be necessary here.’  It was in this noble and dignified manner that the great hero of Chilian independence retired into private life.  It was, perhaps, the most glorious action of his career.  He could certainly have plunged Chile in a civil war, and perhaps retained the power.”

After this Chile underwent a period of that unrest from which no single one of the independent States of South America succeeded in escaping.  In Chile, nevertheless, although civil war occurred, and much blood was spilled, the anarchy and chaos were of far shorter duration than elsewhere.  Doubtless the barrier of the Andes, which had shut off the country to such a large extent from the rest of the world, had added not a little to the tranquillity and self-reliance of the Chilian character, determined as this has always shown itself.

In any case, such revolutions as occurred failed to exercise the same baneful influence on Chilian affairs as was the case with almost every other State at that period.  The condition of the Republic, although far from tranquil, might be considered as peaceful when compared with that of its neighbours.  In financial matters, moreover, the Republic made astonishing progress, paying the interest on the loans raised abroad with a praiseworthy regularity, and thus maintaining her financial credit unimpaired.

The short war which occurred between Spain and the allied forces of Peru and Chile has already been referred to.  Officially, the four Republics of Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia were leagued together into an alliance to resist this aggression on the part of Spain.  Owing to their lack of warships, however, the two latter States were unable to take any active share in the operations.  On the whole the part played by the Chilian navy was entirely satisfactory; nevertheless, the naval force of the young Republic was not sufficient to drive the aggressor’s vessels from the coast, and Valparaiso was bombarded on March 31, 1866.  This misfortune, like so many others, eventually proved itself something of a blessing in disguise, for from that time may be said to date the modern Chilian navy.  Determined to allow no foreign nation the opportunity of bombarding any of its ports with impunity again, the Chilians energetically betook themselves to the forming of efficient national squadrons—­a feat which was simple enough in the case of a nation of born sailors as are the Chilians.