The National tribune., 1891-11-05
TIE CHILEAN AFFAIR.

In the present dispute with Chile our
Government is wholly in the right, and that
Of the Junta wholly in the wrong. There
could not be clearer case. All attempts to
befog it with assaults on Minister Egan
must be futile. Whether or not Mr. Egan
was the proper person to represent us at
Santiago is not the question. So far it has
not been demonstrated, or even made prOba-
bic, that he has done anything to bring re-
proach upon himself or this country. On
the contrary, he seems to have acted with
great moderation, and kept himself entirely
within the lines of diplomatic propriety.
The charges that he or our naval command
ers in Chilean waters aided Balmaceda in
baseless. Other naval representatives Of
other powers were not nearly so carefully
neutral as ours were. This was particularly
true Of the British Captain who received on
board his vessel the silver which Balmaeeda
had unlawfully seized, and that was intend
ed to pay for the war ships with which Bal
maceda could have crushed his opponents.
But the Itata incident seems TO have ranked
deep in the minds of the successful faction,
and melted them TO insensate action. The
result is that they have rushed into posi-
ton from which they must either back down
in a most humiliating manner, or else impose
upon us the disagreeable duty Of indicating
our National dignity by administering ex-
emplary punishment upon them.
In the irst place, they denied to our Min
lister the common diplomatic right of sanct-
nary for his legation, and actually proceeded
10 the length Of placing his residence in a
state Of siege Minister Egan behaved with
frmness aud dignity in this crisis, and finally
succeeded in having the authorities recede
| from their high-handed position. Next,
some sailors from our ships, and wearing
! the uniform Of the United States, were set
! upon by a mob in the streets Of Valparaiso.
| one was killed outright and several severely
wounded, some fatally. Acts Of studied
discourtesy to the officers OF our ships by the
local authorities followed, and there was no
disayowal of the murderous assault by the
authorities, or promises Of efforts to bring
the perpetrators TO justice. This was some
thing that no selfrespecting Government
could overlook, and ours Immediately made
a proper demand upon that Of Chile, which
has sent a reply that cannot help being re-
earded as desgnedly insulting.
There il but one course left for our Gov.
eminent, and that is to at once make de
mand upon Chile for explanation and repara
ton, and follow this up with such con
centration Of naval force in Chilean waters a,
will show that we are in earnest, and viii
submit to no triling or delay.
We do not want TO bully country so com
paratively insignificant as Chile, but she ha
left us no alternative but to deal with he
very sharply. Her attitude toward MS ha
been very unfriendly for many years, anC
she has allowed no opportunity to pass t.
speak and act most insnltingly. Her publi
men have more than once talked of sending
vessels TO lombard San Francisco, if w
should misbehave ourselves. At the tim
we sent the Commission to the South Ameri
can countries, Chile refused to receive it, an,
her officials said bluntly that they wante,
nothing to 10 with us in anyway, and woul,
thank us TO mind our own business. Tn
only reason for this is petty jealousy Of tn
superior greatness and wealth of thi
country, and umbrage at the disapprOya
! of Chile's spOliation of Peru, which wa
; freely expressed in this country. This las
act is simply intolerable. There is nOthin
left for our Government but to act with tn
greatest promptness and decision, even pro
ceeding TO acts of armed hostility if Chill
will not promptly aecede to our just de
j mands. Such course will have the supper
: Of our people without regard to party
a THE ELECTIONS.
J. As we 90 to press-Tuesday, Nov. 3
e hotly. contested elections are taking plac