The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-12-09

w,
in this state of the law, that the officers of the
state charged with police and judicial powers
in such cases, must, in the consideration of in
ternational questions growing out of such in
cidents, be regarded in such sense as federal
agents as to make this government answer
able for their acts in cases where il would be
answerable If the United States had used its
constitutional power to define and punish
crimes against treaty rights.
The Cbilian MuddIe.
The civil war In Chilli which began in jan
uary last, was continued, but fortunately
with infrequent and not important armed col
lisions, until Aug. %, when the congressional
forces landed near Valparaiso and. after
bloody engagement, captured that city. Presi-
dent Balmaceda at once recognized that his
cause was lost, and provisional government
was speedily established by the victorious
party. Our minister was promptly directed to
recognize and put himself in communication
with this government as soon as it should have
established its de facto character, which was
done. During the tendency of this civil con-
test frequent Indirect appeals were made 10
this government to extend belligerent rights
to the insurgents and to give audience to their
representatives This was declined, and that
policy was pursued throughout, which this
government, when wrenched by civil war. so
strenuously insisted upon on the part of Euro
pean nations.
The Itata, an armed vessel &C IN handed by q
naval officer of the insurgent feet, 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
neutrality laws. While in the custody of an
officer OF the court the vessel was forcbly
wrested from his control and put TO sea. 1t
would have been inconsistent with the dig
nifty and self-respect of this government not
to have insisted that the Itata should be re-
turned to san Diego, to abide the judgment of
the court. This clear to the junta OF
the Congressional party, established at Iqui-
que, that before the arrival of the ltata at
that port the secretary of foreign relations of
the provisional government addressed to Rear
Admiral Brown, commanding the United
States naval forces, "a communication, from
which the following is an abstract.
1.-The provisional government has learned by
the cdblegrams of the Associated Press that
the transport 1tata, detained in San Diego by
order of the United States for taking on board
munitions of war and in possession of the
marshal, left the port, carrying on board this
official who was landed at a point near the
coast, and then continue her voyage. 1t this
news be correct. this government would de-
plore the conduct of the Itata, and, as an evil
dence that it is not disposed to support or
agree to the infraction of the laws of the
United States, the undersigned takes advan-
tage of the provisional relations you have been
good enough to maintain with him since your
soon as she is within rea ch 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 n decision holding,
among other things, that, inasmuch as the
Congressional party has not been recognized
as belligerent, the acts done in its interest
could not be a 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, If this construction of the statute
is correct, there is obvious necessity for re.
vision and amendment.
A Disappointment.
During the progress of the war in Chill this
government rendered its good offices to bring
about a peaceful adjustment and II was at
one time hoped that good result might be
reached: but in this we were disappointed.
The instructions to our naval officers and to
our minister at Santiago, from the first to the
last of this struggle, enjoined upon them the
most impartial treatment and non-interfer-
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 and,
on more than one occasion, did so effectively.
We could not forget, however, that this gov
ernment was in diplomatic relations with the
then established government of Chill, 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 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
ernment should be other than that which we
have recently observed.
No official complaint of the conduct Of our
minister or of our naval officers during the
struggle has been presented to this govern
ment; and it is matter of regret that so
many OF our own people should have given cor
TO unofhcial charges and complaints that man.
lfestly had their origin in rival interests and
in wish to pervert the relations of the United
States and Chill.
The collapse OF the government of Balma-
ceda brought about a condition which ls nm
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 fugitves 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 minister's
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
Inc American minister, well as his col
leagues, acting upon the impulses of human
ity, extended asylum to political refugees
whose lives were in peril. l have not been
willing to direct the surrender of such of these
persons as are still in the American legation
without suitable conditions.
The Baltim ore 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 call for
prompt and decisive action on the part of this
government. 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
bv 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 as 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 a few others,
with some well-disposed citizens, endeayored