Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-19
THE SAN SALVADOR INCIDENT.

now elaborate in particulars, of the insult
to the American flag in San Salvador. 1t
is related that Consul Tunstal was fired
upon in his official residence by troops
under General Rivas, at that time re-
bellious against General Ezeta, and also
by the troops of the latter.
1t appears that Rivas first took the Con-
sulate, but that Ezeta drove him out and
carried off the Consular flag. Then came
Rivas the second time and fired upon the
building until it became mass of ruins
For thirty-one hours our Consul was
forced to seek safety by concealment be-
hind stone bath tub, covered with the
debris of broken furniture, while bullets
played over and dangerously near to him.
Our Minister, hearing of the outrage,
recalled the acceptance of an invitation to
ride to San Salvador Ezeta sent commits
sioners begging him to come and deplorlng
the assault referred to- Finally the Min
lister, refusing to recognize Ezeta, told the
commissioners that they must see to it that
the insult to the flag was acknowledged
publicly and atoned for before he would
meet General Ezeta or accept the invita-
tion to banquet at La Libertad. The
commissioners gave the required promise.
The next day an officer from our man
of NOR tba Tbaf; ,rapf to Con Salvador IN
witness the ceremony of apology. In the
meantime Ezeta kept beseeching the Min
lister to come to the city, and he finally
consented, and in the city plaza witnessed
the raising of the Stars and Stripes by two
of Ezeta's officers, in presence of the troops
and of officers from the Thetis, and the
saluting of the flag with salvo of artillery
and the music of bands. A proper letter
of apology was also delivered to the Minis
ter, and pledge made to repair the dam
ages to the building.
All this was well enough, by way of
apology, but it would seem that some
reparation ought to be made to Consul
Tunstal, who was not only greatly incom-
moded but injured by nervous shocks.
These insults in the little Central Ameri-
can States are too frequent. Somehow,
whenever there is trouble between rival
factions there, they manage to fall upon
United States property AMI the flag, and
to pull both down.
The excuse is made that the Consulate
in this case was in the line of attack.
Possibly so, but these olive-skinned Cen
| tral American fighters know enough to
shoot clear of the American flag. If the
! case had been one Of bombardme ent, of
course the Consulate would have taken its
chances. But in such series of land
battles as Rivas and Ezeta have been
! fighting, there was no necessity to involve
the American Consulate, much less to
tear down and carry off the flag of the
| United States. Nor was there any need
whatever for razing the house, since
others stood and were not much harmed,
some not at all, though also in the line of
attack These little Central American
States should be taught greater caution by
the administration of punishment Of an
order more severe than saluting the flag
under compulsion. Consul Tunstal should
be paid damages, and the sum fixed at a
good round figure, backed by the demand
of the United States OF America. BY
such indiction of penalty the Central
Americans will be taught that when in
periodical revolutions they disport them
| selves, they must shoot high when our
flag intervenes, and wide when the resi-
! dence of a United States Consul or other
American representative is approached.