Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-12-07

is correct there is obvious necessity for re-
vision and amendment.
Disappointment.
During the progress of the war in Chill this
government rendered its good offices to bring
about peaceful adjustment, and 1t was al
one time hoped that good result might be
reached: but in this we disappointed.
The instructions to our naval officers ana TO
our minister at Santiago, from the first to the
last of this struggle, enjOned upon them the
most impartial treatment and nOn-nteffer-
ence. ! am satisfied that these instructions
were observed, and that our representatives
were always watchful to use their influence
impartially, in the interest OF humanity ana,
on more than one occasion, did so effectively.
We could not forget, however that this gov
eminent was in diplomatic relations with the
then established government of Chilli as 1t
is now in such relations with the successor OF
that government. | am quite sure that Pfes1-
dent Montt, who has, under circumstances of
promise for the peace of Chill, 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 gov
eminent should be other than that which we
have recently observed.
No official complaint of the conduct of our
minister of our naval officers during the
struggle has been presented to this govern
ment; and it is a matter of regret that so
many of our own people should have given ear
to unoficia{ cllGl ses s.i.Icomplaints thatsnan-
ifestly had their origin in rival interests and
IN a Wish TO perVert the relations OF Jnt OnlIe0
States and Chilli
The collapse of the government of Balma-
ceda brought about condition which IS, I'M
fortunately, 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 Val
paraiso, and to the resident foreign ministers
at Santiago for asylum This asylum was
freely given, according to my information, by
the naval vessels of several foreign powers
and by several of the legations at Santiago.
The American minister, well as his col
leagues. acting upon the impulses of human
ity. extended asylum to political refugees
whose lives were in peril. I have not been
willing to direct the surrender of such of these
persons as are still in the American legation
without suitable conditions.
The BaItim Incident.
On the 10th of October an event occurred at
Valparaiso, so serious and tragic in its circum-
stances and results, as to very justly excite
the Indignation of our people, and to cali for
prompt and decisive action on the part of this
government A considerable number of the
sailors of the United States steamship Balti-
more, then in the harbor of Valparaiso, being
upon shore leave and unarmed were assaulted
by armed men, nearly simultaneously in diff
ferent localities in the city. One petty officer
was killed outright, and seven or eight seamen
were seriously wounded, one of whom has
since died. So savage and brutal was the as
sault that several of our sailors received more
than two, and one of them many as eigh-
teen, stab wounds.
An investigation of the affair was promptly
made by board of officers of the Baltimore
and their report shows that these assaults
were unprovOked. that our men were conduct
ing themselves in a 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
with some we1l-dlspOsed citizens endeavored
to protect our men. Thrty-siX of our sailors
were arrested, and some of them, while being
taken to prison, were cruelty beaten and NAL
treated. The fact that they were all dis
charged, no criminal charge being lodged
against any one of them, shows very cIearlv
that they were innocent of any breach of the
peace.
So far as I have yet been able to learn no
other explanation of this bloody work has been
suggested than that it had its origin in hos
tility to these men as sailors of the United
States, wearing the uniform of their govern
ment, and not in any individual act or personal
animOsity. The attention of the Chilean gov
eminent was at once called to this affair." and
a statement of the facts obtained by the in
vestigation we had conducted was submitted,
accompanied by a request to be advised of any
other or qualifying facts in the possession of
the Gillian government that might tend to re-
lieve this affair of the appearance of an in
suit to this government. The Chilean gov
eminent was also advised that if such quail
flying facts did not exist this government
would confidently expect full and prompt re-
paratiOn.
1t is to be regretted that the reply of the sec
rotary for foreign affairs of the provisional
government was cOuched in an offensive tone.
To this response has been made. This gov
eminent is now awaiting the result of in
vestigation which has been conducted by the
criminal court at Valparaiso 1t is reported,
unofficially, that the investigation is about
completed and it is expected that the result
will soon be communicated to this govern
ment, together with some adequate and salts
factory response to the note by which the at
tention of Chill was called to this incident. If
these just expectations should be disap-
pointed, or further needless delay intervene
will, by special message, bring this matter
again to the attention of congress for such ac-
ton as may be necessary.
The entire correspondence with the govern
ment of Chilli will at an early day be submit
ted to congress.
The Chinese Troubles.
The president calls the attention of
congress to the action of the Chinese gov
eminent in their refusal to receive Mr.
Blair as our representative and also to re-
cent outbreaks, which he considers are
not the result of any foreigners in partic-
ular, but an instruction against public
order, and urges the eXpediency of making
special provision by law for the temporary
admission of some Chinese artisans and
Iaborers, in connection with the exhibit of
Chinese industries at the approaching
Columbian exposition. Il regard it as de-
sirable that the Chinese exhibit be facili-
tated in every proper way"
Spanish fairs.
The rights of American citizens in the
Caroline Islands was then lightly touched
upon; IamentS the injustice to our coun,
trymen ON account of the neglect of the
Spanish government, calling further at
tention to the proposed celebration of the
4O0th anniversary of the discovery of
America, which event is to be held in
Madrid, and urging congress to accept the
invitation extended to this government to
participate in its celebration
Russian Emigration.
The Mexican treaty, the death of King
Kalakua and the influx of Russians, on
account of their expulsion from the do
mains Of the car to this country, is
referred to, ana which is likely to assume
proportions which may make it difficult
to find homes and employment for them
here, and to seriously affect the labor
market 1t is estimated that over one
million viii be forced from Russia within
q few years.
The Hebrew is never a beggar, he has al
ways kept the law, often under severe and
oppressive civil restrictions. 1t is also
true that no race, sect, or class has more fully
cared for his own than the Hebrew race. But
the sudden transfer of such a multitude I'M
der conditions that tend to strip them of their
small accumulations and to depress their en-
ergies and courage, is neither good for them
nor for US. The Punishment, whether by di-
rect decree or by not less certain indirect
methods of so large a number OF men and
women, Is not local question. A decree to
leave one country is, in the nature of
things, an order to enter another.
rms consideration, as well as the suggestions
OF humanity, furnishes an ample ground for
the circumstances which we have presented to
Russia, while our historic friendship for that
government cannot fail to give the assurance
that our representations are those of a sincere
well-wisher.
The Navassa Insurrection.
The Navassa troubles have been referred
to, and the cause of them particularly
outlined by the president, and in conclu-
sion, the president said:
recommend legislation that shall place la
Dor contracts upon this and other islands hay
ing the relation that Navassa has to the United
states, under the supervision of a court COM
missioner, and that shall provide, at the ex-
pense of the owners, an officer to reside upon
the Islands with power to judge and adj
Just disputes. and to enforce a just and hui
name treatment of the employees 1t is mex
cusao ole that American laborers should be left
WITHIN our own jurisdiction without access to