And how can a nation that does not assert it's right to land that is rightfully it's own seek to survive? To quote a wise Roman Ruler, "To conquer is to endure". The Bolivians hold lands that rightfully belongs to Chile, and as such, we should do everything in our power to get that land back, should we not? When the Bolivians insult us, how should we respond? By letting them keep it? Hah! Foolishness I tell you. You want us to sit in our homes and twiddle our thumbs while the rest of the Latin States fight for supremacy? Where's the honor in that? The glory? Will the people of America del Norte and Europa look upon us favorably for that? No! They will think us weak! As will our own immediate neighbors, and war will be declared on us. If we are to fight a war, I for one would rather be on the offensive.
A bankrupt nation will only be weaker, impetuous hawk. An army cannot be sustained if its arms cannot be purchased, its ranks paid, and its manpower replenished. We have neither money nor men, only your hawkish tendencies. Tell me, what will we look like if all we care about is an army, not the public welfare? A corrupt military regime, that is what! When creditors swarm our government and our institutions, will you be satisfied that we have achieved your precious lands in Bolivia, at the cost of our treasury and our fiscal sovereignty? Do not let this piece of beef make your eyes stray away from the entire herd of cattle, General. "Glory"? The humiliation of national bankruptcy is no glory, sir! What honor shall we have when our treasury lays empty, our army in a state of mutiny due to a lack of money either way, our people suffering the cruel repressions of our financial deficiencies? What voice shall we command when the powers of Europe look upon our shores and see nothing but desolate Chileans who have no gold to offer and only a voice to whimper? They will think us both weak and inept! You may command your glory, but leave us to our own devices. Our present system must provide a gentler means of redressing your hatred towards Bolivia, your vainglorious demeanor. My dear Senate you must not adopt this evil measure! It is the work of the devil! Leave it for happier times, when we can afford to put ourselves on the fiery path of total destruction: never!
Fortunately, my fellow Senators maintain a higher regard for a peace well-suited to our current circumstances. Let those petty little Bolivians, those revanchist Peruvians, those backward Brazilians, those radical Argentinians, and those extravagant European powers estrange themselves from each other by allowing the fermentation of a path towards perpetual war, while our country prospers as the merchant of the high seas, miner of God's domain! Profit from their dissent, but never tamper with their conflict. While they will weaken each other, we will grow. While they engage in the same reckless policies as our dear General would suggest, calmer sentiment will ensure Chile is protected from the influences of the Devil. The General's livelihood depends on war, the army's livelihood depends on war, but we have no war to offer them, nor the money if they shall demand the current military environment in peacetime settings. Severe your ties immediately if you are dissatisfied with sensible caution in procedure, but please let us enjoy peace and prosperity. Why should we crush our people in exchange for the army's prosperity? The army is not Chile's future, it is the people! Disturbing the peace for no good reason except for the army's interests, wasting money we do not have and men we can not afford to lose, and for what? Land of almost no value? Europe may squabble over honor and the tiniest of border adjustments, but we cannot, General! You dream that we are like our former mother country hundreds of years ago, or Great Britain at the present time. Separate dreams from reality and we shall find common ground.