Page:A history of Chile.djvu/414

PART VI— CHILE OF TO-DAY CHAPTER I THE PEOPLE OF CHILE The Chileans have been called the "English" and the "Yankees" of the South, and they themselves take some pride in the saying, "Somas los IngUses del Sur. " For many years Chile has been understood by the outside world to have a stable government, good credit and progressive enterprise. Compared with other Spanish- American republics Chile has been remarkably free from internal wars, and has settled her party differences usu- ally with much prudence and wisdom. We have only to look into the internal affairs of neighboring repub- lics to be convinced of this. The Spanish ancestors of the present Chilean inhab- itants were hardy pioneers, Basques and Biscayans, the most rugged and indomitable of Spanish races. The Indians of Chile were the most warlike and per- severing of all the American races. From these two sources came, by intermarriage, the present virile, pro- gressive race. And it is one race, for save in the ex- treme south, an Indian is seldom seen in Chile. The mountainous country and the temperate, invigorating climate, give physical and mental vigor, and the peo- 372