of 1848 had in Chile, and how they motivated a young Santiago society with high

cultural aspirations but little political knowledge or direction. Benjamin Vicuna

Mackenna, a Chilean writer and historian who lived during those days in Santiago,

relates the events of the time, events in which he was a participant. He pays

special attention to how the 1848 revolutions influenced a group of young liberals

he called "Chilean Girondins." When news of the fall of Philippe d'Orleans and the

installation of the Second Republic arrived, there was an explosion of jubilation in

Santiago. Now there were no barriers to ideas, "much less to the generous ideas

proclaimed by the sincere people of France." But when a proletarian revolution took

place in France in June, Chilean public opinion became virulently

anti-revolutionary. Except, of course, among the liberal youth, the Chilean

Girondins, who were headed towards revolution--and sooner than anyone thought.When

revolution came in 1851, Vicuna Mackenna found himself sentenced to death for taking

part in the uprising. After escaping and spending some years in exile, he was able

to return in 1855. He remained active in politics, yet his account of what happened

in the 1851-52 revolution was not published until 1876.  less