, 1891-12-09
Importance, but that wem may know what i
PRESENT STATE OF OUR LAW,

the war in Chile this government rendered
its good offices to bring about a peaceful
adjustment, and it was at one time hoped
that good result might be reached, but il
this we were disappointed. The instruc
tlons to our naval officers and to our min
lister at Santiago from the first to the last
OF this struggle, enjoined upon them the
most impartial treatment and absolute non
Inference. am satisfied that these in
structions were observed and that our rep
resentatives were always watchful to use
thelr influence lmpartially in the interest
OF humanity, and on more than one occa-
sion did so effectively. We could not for
get, however, that this government of Chile.
as 1T is now was in such relations with
the successor Of that government. l am
quite sure that President 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 which
we have recently observed. No official
complaint of the condition of our minister
or of our naval officers during the struggle
has been presented to this government,
and it is matter of regret that so many of
our own people should, have given ear to
unofficial charges and complaints that
/
tries and wish to peryert the relations of
the United States with Chile. The col
lapse of the government of Balmaceda
brought about condition which unfor-
| tunately is too familiar in the history of
the South American states. With the
| overthrow of the Balmaceda government
he and many of his counseIlors and officers
the latter became fugitives for their lives
| and appealed to the commanding officer of
| the foreign naval vessels in the harbor sof
| Valparaiso 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 Iega-
| ton at Santiago. The American minister
as we'll as his colleagues
ACTING UNDER 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 persons as are still in the
American legation without suitable under
standings. 1t is believed that the govern
ment of Chile is not in position in view
of the precedents i'll which it has been con-
nected to broadly deny the right of ASYLUM
and the correspondence has not thus far
presented any such denial. The treatment
Of our minister for time was such as to
call for decided protest and it was yery
gratifying to observe that unfriendly
measures which were undoubtedly the re-
suit Of the prevailing excitement were at
once rescinded or suitably relaxed. On the
10th OF october, an event occurred in Val
paraiso, 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 decided action on the part
Of the this government. "A considerable
number Of the sailors Of the United States
steamship Baltimore, then in the harbor of
r9IG 1cN n
armed, were assaulted by armed men near
ly simultaneously in different localities of
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 assault
that several of our sailors received more
than two and one as many as eight stab
wound. 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 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 with some
! we'll disposed citizens endeavored to pro
tect 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 ofthem, shows very
conclusively that they were innocent of
breach OF the peace. So far as I have
| yet been able to learn, no other explana-
tion Of this bloody work has been sug-
gested than that it had its origin in its
| hostility to these men as sailors of the
| United States wearing the uniform of their
| government and not in any individual
act or
PERSONAL ANIMosITY.
The attention of the Chilean government
was at once called to this affair and as
statement Of the facts obtained by the in
vestigation, we had conducted, was sub
mitted accompanied by request to be ad-
Vised by other qualifying acts in the pos
session Of the Chilean government that
might relieve this affair Of the appearance
/ of an insult to this government. The
| Chilean government was at once advised
that il such qualifying facts did not exist
this government would confidently expect
full and prompt reparation. 1t is to be re-
gretted that the reply of the secretary fol-
foreign affairs of the provisional govern
ment was couehed in an offensive tone. To
/ this no response has been made. This
| government Is now awaiting the result Of
an investigation which has been conducted
by the criminal court at Valparaiso. 1t is
is abot cnmnIeted and thst fbn resif
soon he 70 tits iie 6vsrrT mr
rHgetber with some adeonate ard eatisfao'
toTv resnonse hv which tLe atfanfion ~
Gbfle was caIed ~ this incdant Tl9f r. fheoa %
imst eynectations sbonld IL disannoinfed
nr fnrther needIeqs deiaV intergene ,iii
bu sneciaI MESSAGE bring tbis is' ,5attnI H1r
again n he attentiaS of cnnoress o
aetion az NAV he necessary Tba o entire
eoTresnondence cores with the Government ID
GbiIe Viii at an earIu daU he sm6,nifiad -
congress @sl- N"' ~ '0'i'AiO''0 "
va . e'9