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CHAPTER V THE ADMIMSTRATION OF PRESIDENT ERRAZURIZ The year 1871, was signalized by a very active pres- idential election. The more radical wing of the liberal party, so long out of power and unsuccessful in all its attempts at regaining the ascendency lost with Freire, made a determined effort at the polls. This party had been active in the last year of Perez' administration, so much so that the president had felt compelled to make several important concessions ; legislative reforms, too, had been fostered until the clericals and conser- vatives were now thoroughly aroused. The struggle was of unusual significance, as the liberal party com- prised much of the wealth and intelligence of Chile, and boldly announced in its platform several reforms, notably the determination to curb the power of the clergy, secure freedom of religious worship and ere long a separation of church and state, a struggle which has at different times agitated all the South American na- tions. They named as their candidate Don Jos6 To- mis Urmeneta ; the conservatives put up Don Fred- erico Errazuriz. The enormous patronage in the hands of the govern- ment enabled the conservatives and moderate liberals to elect their candidate, for the government employed all the means at its disposal in Senor Errdzuriz' inter-