Pedro Valdivia, in a letter to Carlos V. of Spain, dated at La Sarena,
September 5, 1545, described the beautiful climate of Chile as one
where man could work under the summer sun without inconvenience, and
expressed the belief that there could be developed and maintained a
strong, virile, superior race of people that would be an honor to, and
the pride of the mother country. He also expressed the belief that
in the conquest of Chile he would secure territory where he and his
companions might leave a lineage that would honor their memories.
In some respects this seems to have been a prophetic view of the
situation. The mixing of the blood of those bold, intelligent, but
cruel and unscrupulous “conquistadores,” with the strong, courageous
qualities of the Araucanian Indians, has left in Chile a distinct
type, a characteristic race of people. They possess the romantic
tendencies and diplomatic qualities of the Spaniards, combined with the
independent natures of the Araucanians.
They are a hospitable people, but are clannish, and have a strong
prejudice against all foreigners. This prejudice, apparently
inherent, and deep rooted in the minds of the people, while it has
contributed materially to the maintenance of racial characteristics,
has also discouraged and restricted immigration. As a result of this
antagonistic feeling against foreigners coming to the country, the
increase in population has been small, and the progress of commercial
and industrial development correspondingly slow.
At the time of the Spanish invasion, in the sixteenth century, the
Indian population was estimated at 1,000,000. The aggregate number of
inhabitants is now calculated at 3,500,000, an increase of 2,500,000 in
two hundred and seventy years. This very slow increase in population in
a country possessing an equable and healthful climate may be attributed
to several causes.
During the period of the conquest the ranks of the indigenous races
were greatly decimated by war. Later, the utter disregard for hygienic
conditions, the proverbial uncleanliness of the common people and the
unsanitary manner in which the majority of them live, have increased
the death rate to abnormal proportions. This is especially true among
the children, many of whom die from inattention, cold or lack of proper
food. Tuberculosis is a common malady, and annually claims thousands
of victims. The prevalence of this disease is also due largely to the
manner of living. In the homes of the majority of the poor people there
are no floors, except the ground upon which the houses are built. In
the winter, or rainy seasons, the cold and dampness of the dirt floors
cause pneumonia, and colds that prove fatal to delicate children
and adults of weak constitution, or those suffering from hereditary
pulmonary diseases. The number of births in Chile in recent years has
been little in excess of the number of deaths.
As a means of increasing the population, and hoping thereby to promote
the development of natural resources and industrial interests of the
country, the government of Chile adopted a colonization law for the
purpose of inducing emigrants from Europe to settle in the agricultural
and timber regions of the south. The law contains some liberal
provisions, and attractive features, including free transportation
for colonists from European ports to their destination, one hundred
and sixty acres of land for the head of each family, and a government
subsidy of five hundred pesos, with which to buy farm implements,
build a house, etc. To promote this scheme of colonization, the
Chilean government maintains agencies in Europe, through which the
advantages to be gained, and the attractive features of colonial life
in the Republic are liberally advertised. Through this plan a number
of important foreign colonies, especially German communities, have
been established throughout southern Chile. Valdivia, which has grown
into an important manufacturing city, as well as the highly developed
and cultivated country surrounding it, are settled almost exclusively
by Germans. In more recent years the Italians have established large
communities in the southern provinces, but they have been less
successful than the Germans, and much dissatisfaction is the result.
Among the early settlers in Chile, under the colonization law, were
communities of Scotch, the majority of whom were disappointed with the
conditions and with what they claim was a lack of protection of their
personal interests, and their property rights.
A book published by an anonymous writer, entitled “La Raza Chilena”
(The Chilean Race), and signed “Chileno,” bearing date 1905,
is devoted to a discussion of the race question, population and
colonization. The writer criticises severely the colonization plan, and
the evils that have crept into the system, citing many instances of
dissatisfaction among colonists, and cases of corruption and jobbery on
the part of immigration agents, in support of his demands for reforms
in the law, and a change in the plan for encouraging colonists to
settle in the country.