The record-union., 1891-12-10

lllhe has not yet arrived when this correspond !
ence can be submitted to Congress.
POLITICAL DISTURBANCES IN BRAZIL.
Ihe recent political disturbances in the Re-
Pubic of Brazil have excited our solicitude
; ne information we possessed was too meager
70 cradle us 10 form a satisfactory judgment
OF Ihe causes leading to the temporary as
a1t1Ilpiloh OF supreme power by President
+ onseca, but this Government did not fail 10
express 10 him its anxious solicitude for the
peace OF Brazil, and for the maintenance OF
the free political institutions which had been
recently established, nor 10 offer our advice
tLat great moderation should be observed III
Se ciasm IN OF parties IN the contest lor leader
snip: These counsels We're received in the
! most friendly spirit, and the latest informa-
ION Is that the constitutional Government
LAS peen re-established without bloodshed.
NEW ORLEANS INCIDENT.
III he lynching at New Orleans in March last
OF eleven men of Italian nativity by mob of
citlzens was most deplorable and discredita-
Die incident. 1t did not, however have its
ollgl III any general animosity to the Italian
people, nor in any disrespect to the Govern
ment OF Italy, with which our relations were
OF the most friendly character. The fury of
ene mop was directed against these men as
Lhe supposed participants or accessories of the
murder OF city officer. | do not alude to
TINS as mitigating in any degree this offense
against law and humanity, but only as affect
ing the international questions which grew
out of it,
1t was represented by the Italian Minister
mat several of those whose lives had been
py LIIS iIlOD we're SUBJECTS, ana
q demand was made for the punishment of
the participants, and an Indemnity to the
IaInliles or those who were killed. 1t is to be
that the manner in which these
claims were presented WAS not such as to pro-
mote calm discussion of the questions in
vowed, but this may well be attributed to the
{ e4clIefneht ana Indignation which the crime
naturally evoked.
The views OF this Government. as 10 its OBJ
llSaIlOnS 10 foreigners dOlniciled here were
tully stated in the correspondence, as well as
iCaf int1 of %
;tiiaf, with view of determining whether
Ihefe were present any circumstances that
coIllu uhder such rules of duty as we had in
uicateu create an obligation upon the United
St lles. Inc temporary absence of Minister
PItnIpotentiary at this Capitol has retarded
tle Iurther correspondence, but it is not
doubted that friendly conclusion is attain
able.
Some suggestions growing out of this un-
nappy incident are worthy the attention of
congress, 1t would, believe. be entirely
competent for Congress to make ofenses
against the treaty rights of foreigners domi-
Glied IN the United States cognizabIe in the
euefal courts This has not however
been done, and the Federal officers and courts
nave no power in such cases to intervene
ellhef 1or the protection of foreign citizen or
Tor the punishment of his slayers II seems
10 me to follow in this state of the law. that
the ofhcers of the State charged with the
ponce ana Judicial powers in such cases. must,
IN the consideration of International cues
lions growing out OF such incidents be re-
9arqed IN such sense as Federal agents as to
make this Government answeIable for tie
acts IN cases where it would b. anSWerabIe if
the United States had urged ITS constitutionai
power to define and punish crimes against
treaty rights.
CHILE WAR.
The civil war in Chile, which BEGAN i'm Ian
uary last, was continued, but fortunately with
intrequent and not important armed COL
liSlOnS until August Sth, when the CONGRESS-
lonal 1orces landed near valparaiso, and after
q bloody engagement captured that city
President BaImaceda at once recognized tnat
his cause was lost, and Provisional Govern
ment was speedily established by the vic
torious party. Our Minister was promptly
directed to recognize and put himself in com
municatiOn with this Government so soon as
il should have established a de tactO charac-
ter, which was done.
During the pendency of this civil contest
frequent indirect appeals were made to this
Government 10 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 the part OF Euro
pean nations.
SEIZURE OF THE ITATA
The Itata, an armed vessel, commanded by
q naval officer Of the inSurgent feet manned
ty its sailors, and with soldiers on board, was
s saiZed under the process of the United States
Court at san Diego, Cal, for O violation OF our
neutrality laws While in the custody of an
officer or the court the vessel was forcibly
wIeSted from his control, and put to sea- it
would have been inconsistent with the dig
nifty and seltrespect OF this Government not
to have ms sted That the Itata should be re-
turned to san Diego, to abide the judgment of
the court. This was so clear TO the .Tunta of
the Congressional party established at
1quique that before the arrival of the Itata at
that port the Secretary OF Oreign Relations Of
the Provisional Government addressed Rear
Admii al Brown, commanding the United
States naval forces, a communication from
which the following is an extract:
The Provisional Government has learned
by the cablegramS OF the Associated Press that
the transport Itata, detained in San Diego bv
order of the United States, for taking on board
munitions OF war and in possession OF a Mar
Shal, left the port, carrying on board this Off
cal, who was landed at q point near the coast
and then continued her voyage. If this news
is correct this Government would depIore the
conduct OF the Itata, and as an evidence that
il is not disposed to support or agree to the
infraction OF the laws Of the United States
the undersigned takes advantage of the ler-
sonal relations you have been good enough TO
maintain with him since your arrival in this
port, l declare to you that as soon as she is
IN reach OF our ofuer, this Government viii
put the Itata " IL the arms aud munitions
she took 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 California
has recently resulted in q decision, holding
among other things, that inasmuch as the
Congressional party had not been recognized
as belligerentS the acts done in its interest
could not be a violation of her neutrality laws
From this judgment the United States has
vessel is q matter of importance but that we
may know what is the present state of our
law, for, if this construction of the statute is
correct, there is obvious necessity for revision
and amendment.
GOVERNMENTS POLICY IN CHILE.
During the progress of the war in Chile this
Government rendered its GOOD Offices to bring
about peaceful adjustment, and it was at
one time hoLed that a 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, enJo1ned upon them the
most impartial trl atment and absolute non
interference. / am satisfied that these in
structions were observed and that our repre-
seHtatives 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 Government was in diplomatic reIa-
tions 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 OF promises for the peace of
Chile, been installed as President OF that re-
public, viii not desire that in the unfortunate
event of any revolt against his authority the
policy of this Government should he other
than which we have recently observed. No
Official complaint of the conduct of our Min.
lister or of or naval officers during the stugple
has been presented to this Government, and il
is matter OF regret that SO many of our own
people should have given ear to unofficial
charges and complaints that manifestly had
to pervert the relations of the United States
with Chile.
The collapse Of the Government of Ralma-
CeGa brought about condition which is mn
forj dnateiy, too familiar in the history OF the
Central and South American States. With
the overthrow OF the BalInaceda Government
he and many OF his counselors ard oficerS'
bscAne fagitiVes for their lives and apoeaIed
10 the Commanding officers OF the foreion
naval vessels in the narbor of Valparaiso. and
10 the resident foreign Ministers nj Santinuo
fCT 3S3 lam. This asylum was freely riven
according 10 my Information, by the naval
vessels OF several foreign powers, and by sew
eraI of the legations ~ Santiago The Amer.i
can Minister. as we'll as his colleagues.