ERA OF CONSTITUTION MAKING 231 Cisco Bilbao. One night while the society was hold- ing a meeting a party of administration sympathizers entered the room and dispersed the members. In 1851, Don Manuel Montt, Bulnes' able minister, of justice and public instruction, was elected president, but not without strong opposition. The liberals, en- raged at the treatment they had received, determined to make a strong fight to regain ascendency and nomi- nated as their candidate General Jos6 Maria de la Cruz, who had fought with General Bulnes at Yungay and had been his late minister of war. The efforts which the contending parties made to win in the forthcoming elections led to a revolt and armed conflicts, nearly amounting, in fact, to a revolution. The first clash came in April, the liberal forces being commanded by Colonel Urriola. There was a severe conflict with the government forces at Santiago during Holy Week, in which Colonel Urriola lost his life and between two and three hundred were killed and as many more wounded before the insurrection was put down, April 20th. In September the revolution broke out afresh, first in Coquimbo. afterward in Concepcion, headed by Gen- eral Jos6 Maria de la Cruz in person, the defeated liberal candidate. There were several unimportant combats, in which the revolutionists were usually vic- torious. But government money was freely used and intrigues were rife. Extraordinary powers were given to the president and General Bulnes was assigned the command of the government forces. The commerce and industries of the country were paralyzed and suf- fered untold injuries in these wars of the factions. For more than two months the struggle continued, then came the decisive battle of Loncomilla on December 8th, 1851. It was a hard fought, bloody struggle.
