The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-12-16


trality laws. While In the custody OF an of1icer
OF the court, the vessel was forcibly wrested
from his control and put to sea. II would h We
been inconsistent with the dignity and self
respect OF this Government not have insisted
that the Itata should be returned TO San Diego
TO abide the Judgment OF the court. This was 80
clear to the Junta OF tue Congressional party,
established at Iquique, that, before the arrival
OF the ltata at that port. the Secretary OF For
eign Relations OF the, Provisional Government
addressed to Rear Admiral Brown, command
ing the United States naval forces. a communi-
cation, from which the following ia an extract :
"The Provisional Government has learned by
the cableg ans OF the Associated Press that
the transport Itata, detained at San Diego by
order of the United States for taking on board
munitions OF war, ana IN possession OF IN. the
official who was landed at a point near the
coast, and thus continued'her voyage. III this
news be correct, this Government would de-
plore the conduct of the Itats, and as an evil
dence 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
personal relations you have been good enough
to maintain with him since your ARRIVAL IN TINS
port TO declare TO you that as soon as she Is
within reach of our orders this Government will
put the ltata. with the arms and munitions she
took on board in San Diego, at tho disposition
of the United States"
trial In the District Court OF the United
States for the Southern District OF California
has recently resulted in a decision holding,
among other things, that, inasmu II as the Con-
gressional party had not been rec gnized as a
beligerent, the acts done in its interest could
not be q violation of our neutrality laws. From
this Judgment the United States has appealed.
not tat she condemnation OF the vessel is
matter of Importance. but that we may know
what the present state of our law Is for II this
construction OF the statute is correct, there 10
obvious necessity for revision ana amendment.
During the progress of the war in Chill this
Government rendered its good offices to bring
about peaceful adju .tment, and 1t was at one
time hoped that good result might be reached
but in this were disappointed.
The instructions TO our naval officers ana 10
our Minister at Santiago from the first TO the
last OF this struggle, enJo1ned upon theln Jhe
most impartial treatment and absolute non
interference. am satisfied that these instruc-
tions were observed and that our representa-
tives were always watchful 10 use their intiu-
ence impartialy in the interest OF humanity,
and on more than one occasion did so effect
lively. We could not forget, however, that tlis
Government was in diplomatic relations with
the then established Government OF Chill. as 1T
is now in such relations with the successor
of that Government. l am quite sure that
President Montt who ha under circumstances
of promise for the peace or Chilli been installed
as President of that Republic, will not desire
at In the unfortunate event OF any revolt
against bis authority. the policy OF this Govern
ment should be other than that when we have
recently observed
No official complaint OF the conduct OF our
Minister our nava officers during th9 strug-
gle has been present ed to this Government, aui
Il is amatter OF regret that 30 many of our peo-
pie haYe given ear to unofficial cuarges and
complaints at manifestly had their ,origin in
rival interests and in wish to pervert the re-
lations OF the United States with Chilli.
The col Gpse OF the governmental Balmaceda
brought about condition which Is unfoftu-
nately too familiar in the hisio Of the Central
and South American States. With the over
throw OF the Balmaceda Government, he aud
many OF his councillors and officers became at
once fugitivcs for their lives aud appealed TO the
commanding officers o. the foreign naval vessels
in the harbor OF Valparaiso and to the resident
foreign ministers ut Santiago for asylum. This
asylum was freely given, according to my infor-
nation by the naval vessels OF several foreign
powers and by several OF the legations at San
tiago.
The American Minister. as we'll as his col
leagues, acting upon the impulses OF humanity,
extended asylum ID 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 suit
ablA conditions.
It's believed that the Government Of Chill is
not in position in visw OF the precedents with
which It has been connected, to broadly deny
the right of asylum, and the correspond
ence has not thus far presonted any tuch de-
NAL. The treatment OF our Minister for n time
was such es TO call for decided protest. and it
very gratifying to observe that unfriendly
measures, which were undoubtedly the result Of
the prevailing excitement, were at once rescind-
ed or suitably relaxed.
On the 10th OF October an event occurred In
Valparaiso so serious and tragic in its circum-
stances and results as to very Justly excite the
indignation OF our people and 10 call for prompt
and decided action on the part of this Govern
ment. considerable number of the sailors of
the United States steamship Baltimore, then In
the La Dor of Valparaiso, being upon shore
leave and unarmed were assaulted by armed
men nearly simultaneously in different locali-
ties in the city.
one petty officer was killed outright and
SO ven or eight seamen were seriously wounded
one of whom has since died.
So far as 1 have yet been able to learn no
other explanation of this bl ody work has been
suggested than that il had its origin in hostility
TO these men sailors of the United States,
wearing the uniform of their government, and
not IN any indfvi ual act or personal animosity.
The attention of the CHILEAN government was at
once called TO this affair, and statement of the
facts obtained by the investigation we had con-
Quoted was submitted, accompanied by a re-
quest TO be advised OF any other or qualifying
facts In the possession OF the CHILEAN govern
ment that might tend to relieve this affair Of
the appearance of an insult to this Government
The government was also advised that
IL such qualifying facts did not exist this Gov
eminent could confidently expect full and
prompt reparation.
1t Is to be regretted that the reply of the Sec
rotary OF Foreign Affairs of the provisional
government was couched in an offensive tone
To this no response Jlas been made. Our Gov
ornment is now awaiting the result of an in
vestigation which has been conducted by the
Criminal Court at Valparaiso. 1t Is reported
unofically that the Investigation is about COM
pleted, and it Is expected that the result will
soon be communicated TO this Government. to-
gether with some adequate and satisfactory
spouse TO the note by which the attention Of
Chill was called TO this incident.
If thes st expectation should be disap-
pointed or further needless delay intervene,
VIII, by speci | MESA Q, bring This mat er
again TO the attention of Congress o. such
action as may be necessary. The ontire corre-
spondence with the Cove rnmen of Chill Will at
an early day be submitted TO Congress.