The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-12-19


frequent indirect appeals were made to
this government TO extend belligerent
rights to the Insurgents and to give
was declined and that policy was pursued
throughout, which this government when
wrenched by civil war so strenuously insisted
upon on the part OF European nations The
Itata, armed vessel commanded by naval
uncer OF the insurgent fleet, manned by its
sailors and with soldiers on board, was seized
under process OF the United States court at
San Diego, Cal, for violation OF our neutral.
ity laws. While in tho custody of an onlcer OF
the court the vessel was forcfbly wrested from
his control, and put to sea. IT would have been
inconsistent with the dignity and selfrespoct
OF this government not to have insisted that the
Itata should be returned to San Diego to abide
the Judgment OF the court. This was so clear
to the Junta OF the congressional party estab
lished at Iquique. that before the arrival Of the
1tata at that port the secretary Of foreign re-
lations Of the provisional government decided
toread Admiral Brown commanding the United
states naval forces, communication, from
which the following is an extract:
The provisional government has learned by
the oablegrams of the Associated Press that the
transport 1tata detained In San Diego by order
OF tho United States for taking on board munt.
tions OF war and In possession OF the marshal,
lett the port carrying on board this official.
VINO was landed at point near the coast and
then continued her voyage II this
news be correct this government would deplore
the conduct of the ltata and as an evidence
that 1t is not disposed TO support or agree to
the infrnction OF the laws OF the United States,
the undersigned takes advantage of the per
sonal relations you have been good enough to
maintain with him since your arrival in this
port to declare to you that us soon ns she IS
within reach OF our orders his government will
put the Itata with the arms and munitions she
took on board at San Diego, at the disposition
OF the United States
A trial in the district court OF the United
States, for the southern district OF California
has recently resulted in decision holding
among other things. that, inasmuch as the Con.
gressional party had not been recognized as
belligcrant the acts done in its interest could
not be violation of our neutrality laws From
this judgment the United States has appealed,
not that the condemnation OF the vessel is
matter OF Importance, but that we may know
what the present state of our law is for, IL this
construction of the statute is correct, there is
obvious necessity for revision and amendment.
During the progress of the war in Chile this
COVE nment rendered its good offices to bring
bout peaceful adjustment and IL was at one
time hoped that O good result might be
reuched but in this we were disappointed.
The instructions to our naval officers and to
last of this struggle enjoined upon them the
most impartial treatment and absolute non
interference. L am satisfied that these instruc-
tions were observed that our representatives
were always watchful to use their influence
impartiully In the interest OF humanity and, on
more than one occasion did so effectively We
could not forget however, that this govern
ment was in diplomatic relations with the
then established government of Chile as It is
now in such relations with the successor of
that government am quite sure that Presi
dent Montt, who has, under circumstances of
promise for the peace of Chile been installed as
president of that republic, will not desire that
in the unfortunate event of any revolt against
his authority the policy OF this government
should be other than that which we have re.
Gently observed. No official complaint of the
conduct of our minister or of our naval officers
during the struggle has been presented to this
government anu 1t is matter of regret that
80 many of our own people should have given
ear to unoffi ial charges and complaints that
manifestly had their origin in rival interests
and In wish to peryert the relations
of the United States with Chile.
THE COLLAPSE OF THE GOVERNMENT oV nAIc
MACEDA
brought about condition which IL unfortunate.
ly too familiar in the history OF the
Central and South American states With the
overthrow of the Balmaceda government. he
| and many OF his councillors and officers became
at once fugitives for their lives and appealed to
the commanding officers OF the foreign naval
| vessels in the harbor of Valparaiso and to the
resident foreign ministers at Santiago for
| asylum. This asylum was freely given, accord
| ing to my Information, by the naval vessels of
| several foreign powers and by several OF the
| legations at Santiago. The American minister.
| as well as his colleagues acting upon the
impulses OF humanity, extended asylum to
| political refugees whose lives were in peril
| have not been willing to direct the surrender OF
such OF these prisoners as are still in the Amer
| can legation without suitable conditions. 1t
| Is believed that the government of Chile is not
\ in position, in view of the precedents with
which 1t has been connected, to broadly deny
| the right OF asylum. and the correspondence
| has not thus far presented any such denial
| The treatment of our minister for u time was
such as to call for decided protest. and it was
very gratifying to observe that unfriendly
\ measures, which were undoubtedly the result
| of the prevailing excitement, were at once re.
| scinded or suitably relaxed
| THE ASSAULT ON AMERICAN SAILORS AT VAL
PARAISO.
On the 10th OF October au event occurred In
Valparaiso so serious and tragic in its circum.
stances and results MS to very justly excite the
indignation OF our people and to call for prompt
and decided action on the part OF this govern
| ment. considerable number Of the sailors OF
| the United States steamship Baltimore, then
| In the harbor of Valparaiso, being upon shore
leave and unarmed, were assaulted by armed
| men nearly simultaneously In different lucali
ties in the city. One petty officer was
killed outright and seven or eight sea
men were seriously wounded, OF
whom has since died. So savage and brutal
was the assault that several or our sailors
| received more than two, and one as many as
| eighteen stab wounds. An investigation OF the
| affair was promptly made by a board of officers
| OF the Baltimore, and their report shows that
| these assaults were unprovoked. that our men
| were conducting themselves in peaceable and
| orderly manner, and that some Of the police OF
the city took part in the assault and used their
| weapons with fatal effect, while few Others
| endeavored to protect our men. Thirty six OF
| our sailors were arrested and some OF them
while being taken to prison, were cruelty
beaten and maltreated. The fact that they
| were all discharged, no criminal charge being
| lodged against any one OF them. shows very
clearly that they were innocent of any breach
| able TO learn no other explanation of this
| bloody work has been suggested than that it had
us origin IN hostility to these men as sailors Of
| the United States, wearing the uniform OF theil
| government and not in any individual act oil
| personal animosity. The attention of the
| Chilean government was at once called TO this
| affair and statement of the facts obtained by
| the investigation we had conducted was sub
mitted, accompanied by request to be advised
OF any other OF. qualifying facts in the posses
| sion OF the Chilean government that might tend
to relieve this AFFAIR OF the appearance OF an in
suit to this government The Chilean govern
ment was also advised that IL such qualify
would confidently expect full and promp1
| reparntion. II is TO be regretted thai
the reply OF the secretary for foreign affair
Of the provisional government was couched ii
an offensive tone. To this no response has beer
made. This government is now awaiting tn,
result OF an Investigation which has been con
Quoted by the criminal court at Valparaiso II
is reported unolicially that the investigation IL
about completed, and 1t is expected that the
result WIN soon be communicated to this gov
ernment, together with some adequate satisfac
tory response TO the note by which the atten
tion OF Chile was called to this incident, Il
these lust expectations should be disappoin tee
or further needless delay intervene WIN by /
special message, bring this matter again to the
attention OF congress for such action as may bC
necessary. The entire correspondence with the
government OF Chile will at an early date bt
submitted to congress-
THE SPANISH EXPOSlTIoN
The government and people OF Spain propose
to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary o
the discovery OF America by holding the exposi
| tion at Madrid, which will open on the l2th o
Septehber and continue until the 3lst of De
cember, 1899. A cordial invitation has been ex
tended TO the United States TO take part in thil
| commemoration, and, as spain was one of thu
| first nations TO express the intention to par
ticipate in the worlds fair at Chicago it woult
be very appropriate for this government to Civ,
this invitation its friendly promotion.
RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
The late outbreak against foreigners in va
| rious parts OF :he Chinese empire has been !
cause OF deep concern In view of the nuDp 1rous