Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-12-19

such cases to intervene either
for the protection of for
cign citizen, or for the punishment Of
his slayers. 1t seems to me to follow in
this state of law that the officers of the
state, charged with police and judicial
powers in such cases must in the consid-
Grafton of international questions growing
out of such incidents be regarded In such
sense as federal agents as to make this
government answerable for their acts in
cases where it would be answerable If the
United States had urged its constitutional
power to define and punish crimes against
treaty rights.
The Chilean War.
The civil war in Chile, which began in
January last, was continued, but forum
ately with infrequent and not important
armed collisions until August 2s, when the
congressional forces landed near Val
paraiso, and after bloody engagement
captured that city. President Balmaceda
at once recognized that his cause was lost,
and a provisional government was speed
lily established by the victorious party.
Our minister was promptly directed TO
recognize and put himself in communica-
ton With this government so soon as il
should have established de facto char
acter, which was done During the
pendency of this civil contest frequent in
direct appeals were made TO this
government to extend belligercnt rights
to the insurgents, and TO give
audience to their representative.
This was declined, and that policy was
pursued throughout which this govern
ment, when wrenched by civil war, so
strenuously insisted upon on the part of
European nations.
Itatt Incident.
The Itata, an armed vessel commanded
" "a All nf bn i'm
manned by its sailors aud with soldiers on
board, was seized under process of the
United States court at San Diego, Cal,
and for violation of our neutrality laws.
While in the custody of an officer of the
court the vessel was forcibly wrestcd from
mis- control and put TO sea. 1t would have
been inconsistent with the dignity and
self-rcspect 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 was SO clear TO the
junta of the congressional party estab-
lished ut 1quique that before the arrival
of the Itata at that port the secretary of
foreign relations of the provisional gov
ernment addressed Rear Admiral Brown,
commanding the United States naval
forces, communication, from which the
following is an extract:
'The provisional government has
learned by the cablegrams of the
Associated Press that the trans
port Itata. detained In San Diego
by order of the United States for taking
on board munitions of war, and in posses
sion of the marshal, left the port, carr wing
on board this official, who was landed ut "A
point near the coast, and then continued
her voyage. If this news be correct this
government would deplore the conduct of
the Itata, and as an evidence that il is not
disposed 70 support or agree to the infrac-
ton 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 as soon as
she is within reach of our orders his gov
ernment will put the Itata, with the arms
and munitions she took on board in San
Diego, at the disposition of the United
States"
A trial in the district court of the United
States for the southern district of Cali
fornia has recently resulted in a decision
holding, among other things, that, mas
much as the congressional party had not
been recognized as a beligerent power, the
acts done in its interest could not be a
violation of our neutrality laws. From
this judgment the United States has app
pealed, not that the condemnation of the
vessel Is matter of importance,
but that we may know what is the
present state of our laws, for, if this con-
struction of the statute is correct there is
obvious necessity for revision and amend
ment.
During the progress of the war in Chile,
this government rendered its good offices
to bring about peaceful adjustment, and
IL was at one time hoped that n good re-
suit might be reached, but, in this we were
disappointed. The instructions to our
naval officers and to our minister at San
tiago, from the first to the last of this
struggle, enjoined upon them the most inn
partial treatment and absolute non-inter-
ference. | am satisfied that these instruc.
tions were observed and that our repre-
sentatives were always watchful to use
their influence impartially in the interest
Of humanity, and on more than one occa-
sion, did SO effectively.
We could not forget, however, that this
government 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 President Montt,
who has, under circumstances that prom
ise peace for 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 OBJ
served.
Egan Defended.
No official complaint of the conduct of
our minister or of our naval officers during
the struggle has been presented to this
government, and il is q matter of regret
that SO many of our own people should
give ear to unofficial charges and com
plants that manifestly had their origin in
Ijval interests and in wish to pervert the
relations Of the United States with Chile.
Right OF Asylum.
The collapse OF the government of BAL
maceda brought about condition which
is unfortunately too familiar in the history
of the Central and South American states.
With the overthrow of the Balmacedan
government, he and many of his counsel
ors and officers became at once fugitives
for their lives and appealed to the com
manding officers of the foreign naval ves-
sels in the harbor of 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 pow
at Santiago. The American min
lister, as well as his colleagues,
acting under the impulses OF humanity,
extended asylum to the 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 a suitable under standing
1t is believed that the government of Chile
is not in a position, In view of the preced-
ents in which it 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 a time was such rs 10 call for
a decided protest, and it was very crafty
ing to observe that unfriendly measures
which were undoubtedly the result of the
prevailing excitement, were at once re-
scinded or suitably relaxed.
Valparaiso Tragedy.
On the 10Th of October an event occurred
in Valparaiso SO serious and tragic in its
circumstances and results as TO very Justly
excite the Indignation of our people and
to call for prompt and decided action on
the part of this government. A consider
able number of the sailors of the United
States ship Baltimore, then in the har-
Dor of Valparaiso, being upon short
leave and unarmed were assaulted
by armed men nearly multaneously
IN different 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 assault that
several Of our sailors received more than
two, and one as many as eight stab
wounds. An investigation of tho affair
H.. L.