Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-11-12
THE CHILEAN QUESTION.

peaceful. The prejudices raised in the
minds OF the lower class against Ameri-
cans do not seem to have any serious
lodgment in the feelings of the domi-
nant class. Senior Malta has said en-
phatically that there is no feeling of
animosity against Americans amongst
the educated and well-informed people
OF Chile. 1t is stated that when the
Itata returned to Valparaiso, Captain
Mannzen and his officers spoke very
favorably of the way they were treated
here by the people, and declared that
the cause of the revolution in Chile was
extremely popular with US, but that the
American administration had taken
position on the subject that was alto
gether at variance with that of the peo-
pie. Such truthful representations as
all the Chileans who have been here
since the outbreak of the revolution will
be compelled to make when they 90
home will do much to dispel the preju-
dices that were raised by the laundering
course of our government.
But there seems to be determination
in English quarters to resort to all sorts
OF false reports to create bad blood be-
tween our country and Chile if possible.
The London Times has entered into this
dirty business with great gusto.. Re-
ports that are calculated to fan the
| flames OF prejudice are sent from Val
| parais0 to London and then telegraphed
to this country, where they are paraded
in the newspapers as sensations. No
one knows how the report was started
that there was secret movement on
foot to attack the Baltimore but it is
believed that this also came from Eng
lish sources. These British news manu-
facturers are playing shrewd game.
Whilst they are trying to exasperate the
Chileans by circulating libels about
Yankee plots against them, they also
dish up such roorbacks as that about
the intended attack on the Baltimore,
so as to exasperate Americans. If, by
this little game, they can get the two
countries into irreconcilable trouble, the
Britishers would be the gamers.
No one here believes the cock and
bull stories sent to the London Times.
charging that Minister Egan had an
understanding with Balmaceda that for
the friendship of the United States gov
eminent the dictator would, when the
insurgents were put down, make hand
some concessions to US in the nitrate
islands-such as coaling stations. etc.
1t is bad enough that Egan allowed
himself to be deceived by Balmaceda as
to the weakness of his military strength,
and thus to lead him into leaning with
too much partiality to the side of the
usurper; but no one will accept as true
the accusation that Egan has been in
tluenced by any corrupt motives
in his course. The great trouble
place that required more astuteness
and cunning to successfully fill than he
possessed. No doubt he was indirectly
responsible for all the serious plumbers
of the administration in the affairs OF
Chile. Our cabinet saw the posture of
affairs in that country through Egan's
spectacles, and these were set with very
near-slghted glasses.
A little patience on both sides will
soon bring this Chilean difficulty to sat
isfactory conclusion. The junta is sur
rounded by difficulties, but that it wants
to do right, we are fully convinced.
The organization of the new govern
ment yesterday will enable Chile to
treat all international questions with
calm consideration, and the serious
grievance we have with that country,
on account of the murderous attack
upon our sailors in Valparaiso, will now
receive that serious attention which so
grave an episode deserves. The policy
OF the United States inculcates the Gull
tivation OF real friendship with all the
South American republics, and wher-
ever we can avoid hostile complications
with any OF them with honor, it is our
duty and to our highest interest to do SO.