Diario La Nación
- The address delivered by the Minister of War
- Free cinema performances
- Notice from the undersigned banks and savings institutions
An Army Day speech defends the political transition and invokes constitutional order. Free films entertain children, while banks announce Monday closures with a collections exception.
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Translation
The address delivered by the Minister of War
After the renewal of our republican institutions during the period of de facto rule, the fortunate star that guides Chile’s destiny has ordained that this memorable date should find us fully enjoying the guarantees of a normal political order, in which the broadest respect for the Constitution is the rule of the public authorities, the watchword of national institutions and the sacred obligation of citizens.
Let us remember that the solidity and stability of its institutions and the profound civic spirit of its inhabitants have forged this Republic’s greatness and raised its standing among foreign nations.
In Chile, as in every country of excessive parliamentarism, misgovernment undermined the foundations of our fundamental institutions and produced a revolution which, judging by the sympathy it found in public opinion, was necessary to correct, at least in part, the vices and defects of that system. Now that the sovereign authority of the Constitution and the laws has been restored, we can only express the hope that the armed institutions, today entirely devoted to their noble mission, will continue to dedicate themselves exclusively to securing for the homeland a future of respect and greatness.
Free cinema performances
The programme of municipal festivities included numerous free cinema performances for children yesterday. These took place in several theatres in the capital, with large audiences of children who enthusiastically applauded the amusing films shown.
Notice from the undersigned banks and savings institutions
The undersigned banks and savings institutions inform the public that, duly authorized by the Minister of Finance, they will close all their offices on Monday the 20th of this month.
Collections falling due that day will be handled in the customary manner by the relevant departments.
Context
The new constitution behind the minister’s address
Chile’s 1925 Constitution replaced the parliamentary order with a stronger presidency. The president gained authority to appoint and dismiss ministers without parliamentary approval, while Congress lost the practice of bringing down cabinets through ministerial censure. Promulgated on September 18, 1925, this constitution was the immediate background to the speech’s attack on excessive parliamentarism and its celebration of a restored political order.
Justifying intervention while asking the army to return to its mission
The minister’s argument has two movements. He defends the recent revolution as a necessary response to misgovernment, then says the armed institutions should now concentrate exclusively on their proper task. That combination tries to give past intervention a legitimate place in the nation’s history without making permanent military involvement in politics the stated ideal. The appeal to constitutional respect holds those two positions together.
Children’s cinema as a municipal celebration
The free screenings brought the city’s festivities into theatres and made children an organized audience for the celebrations. Municipal provision removed the ticket charge for these performances, while comic films offered an experience very different from an official speech or parade. The account of crowded theatres and applause shows how public celebration could be built around shared entertainment as well as ceremonies of state.
Original
El discurso que pronunció el Ministro de la Guerra
Después de la renovación de las instituciones republicanas, operada en el período de facto, ha dispuesto la buena estrella que rige los destinos de Chile, que esta fecha memorable nos sorprenda en el pleno goce de las garantías de un régimen político normal, en que el más amplio respeto a la Constitución del Estado, es norma de los poderes públicos, consigna de las instituciones nacionales y obligación sagrada de los ciudadanos.
Recordemos que lo que ha forjado la grandeza de esta República y lo que ha levantado su prestigio en el concierto de las naciones extranjeras, han sido la solidez y estabilidad de sus instituciones y el alto sentimiento cívico de sus habitantes.
En Chile, como en todos los países de exagerado parlamentarismo, el desgobierno socavó las bases de las instituciones fundamentales y produjo una revolución que, a juzgar por las simpatías que encontró en la opinión pública, fué necesaria para corregir, siquiera en parte, los vicios y defectos de ese régimen; restablecido ya el imperio soberano de la Constitución y de las leyes, sólo cabe hacer votos porque las instituciones armadas, consagradas hoy por entero a su noble misión, sigan dedicadas exclusivamente a asegurar a la patria un futuro de respetabilidad y de grandeza.
Las funciones de biógrafo gratuitas
El programa de fiestas municipales consultaba para ayer numerosas funciones de biógrafo gratuitas para los niños. Estas se efectuaron en varios teatros de la capital, con una numerosa asistencia de público infantil, que aplaudió con entusiasmo las graciosas películas proyectadas.
Los bancos y cajas de ahorros que subscriben
Los bancos y cajas de ahorros que subscriben avisan al público que, debidamente autorizados por el señor Ministro de Hacienda, cerrarán todas sus Oficinas el Lunes 20 del actual.
El servicio de las cobranzas que deban pagarse ese día, se atenderá en la forma de costumbre por las Secciones correspondientes.
Source: Source: Internet Archive