The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-11-05
A SERIOUS SITUATION.
INDEMNITY AND AN APOLOGY
DEMANDED.
Twill Ee Chilly Day for Chill If Uncle
sam Undertakes to Trounce Her-Naval
Officers Say That the Situation Is Really
II Serious One.
Sharn Talk To Chill.


sharp Talk To Chill.
Further persistent inquiry Of the
Ole ers of the government in regard to
the Valparaiso incident shows conciu-
Siye'y that the administration does not
regard it as a simple street row for
which the Chilian government can not
be held accountable, but as an insult to
the honor and flag of the United States
calling for the most vigorous diplomatic
treatment
The Official reIort of the occurrence,
made by Capt. Schlcy, of the Baltimore,
after careful inye- tigation of all tie
Surrounding circumstances. shows clear
ly not only that the assault upon tina
American sailors was cowardIy and un-
provoked, but that it was inspired pure
~ by hatred for the uniform they wore
and the country it represented; or. in
other words. that il was not an attack
on them as individuals but as repre-
sentatives of the United States
The report also indicates that the
local police, instead of protecting the
Americans from the violence of the mob.
in several instances assisted in the on
slanght
This, the report says. is demonstrated
by the fact that several Of the sailors
were wounded by bayonets such as are
usually carried by the Chiian police.
The outrage is not regarded by Presi-
cent Harrison a the work of an unru!y
mob. The wounds on the dead men
were made by bay0nets, and therefore
the so dicr- and police of Chilli were TIL.
butchers. Moreover, the unanimity of
the attack shows that it was prcmedi
n q
peacefully in a street car. when sudden
Iy thy were knocked down, dragged
from the car. >hOt and stabbed. Then,
not daring 10 face the Ameri ans even
though the latter were unarmed, the
Savagcs shot and bayonetted them in
tn" back.
There is bnt one YES e in Chill now,
the Baltimore hut the san Francisco is
at Callao, only four days off, and unless
an immediate answer Of a favorable
kind is made b. the Chiian Government
to the demands OF President Harrison
she will be ordered to sail at once for
Valparaiso. The Yorktown is now on
her way there and the ioston will sail
at once from New York for the sccne of
the trouble.
1t is stated at the Navy Department
that there is decided difference be-
tween this case and that of the Malta
tr gedy at New Orleans The Italians
who were killed there were residents of
this country or intended to become so,
and the United States caused the arrest
Of the leaders who participated in the
atTray, and an investigation was made
OF the affair but IN the case of the
American sailors who were killed and
assaulted no action whatever has been
taken, as far as can be ascertained, by
the Chilian authorities toward inveSti-
eating the riot caused by the Chilian
saiorS. and as the attack was upon
American sailors it is considered q direct
insult to the American flag
The tion Of the CHI. ian Government
in the present diiicu ty with the United
States was similar tt the position of
Paraguay in 1s5.. when that country
was brought to terms BIZ the vigorous
act on OF President buchanan The
Government o. Paraguay had, upon friv-
30 s and even insulting pretexts, re-
fus d TO ratify the treaty of friendship,
commerce and navigation concluded
with it March i. l>5f. as amended by
tie United states Senate. Ii had seized
and appropriated the property of Amer
lean citizens residing in Paraguay,
in a Violent and arbitrary manner,
and finally on Feb. !, 1855, by
order Of President Lopez, it had
fired upon the United States ship Water
Witch. under Commander Thomas j.
Iage. of the navy. and killed the sailor
at the hem. while the vessel was peace
fully employed in surveying the Parana
River. to ascertain its iitn ss for steam
navigation. The honor as well as the
interests of this country demanded salts
faction. The President brought the
subject to the notice of Congress in his
first annual message, Dec :, 1857. In
this he informed Congress that he would
I make demand for r, dress on the Gov
ernment of Paraguay i'll Il firm but con-
ciiatory manner. but at tha same time
observed that this will the more prob
abiy be granted if the Executive shall
have authority 10 use other means in the
event Of refusal. This is accordingly
recommended.
Congress responded favorably to this
recommendation. On the d OF .iune.
is :, Congre passed a Joint re :olutiCn
au1horiz ng the President "to &opt such
measures and use such force as. in his
Judgment. may be necessary and advisa-
bic in the event of a refusal of just sat
iSfaction by the Government of Paraguay
in connection with the attack Oh the
United States steamer Water Witch, and
with other matters referred to in the an
nual message" Congress also made an
appropriation 10 dcfray the expenses of
a commissioner to Paraguay, should lie
de III it proper to appoint one "for the
adjustment of difficulties" with that re-
public.
Paraguay is situated far in the interior
of South America. and its capi al. the
city of Asuncion. on the left bank of the
Rv. Paraguay. is more than thou
SAID miles from The outh of tfe La
Plate. Protected by his reno and Sc
cludcd position. President Lopez but
little appr"hendod that navy from a
far dista I country could ascend 1Ec La
Plate, the i'ara a and lhc Paraguay AMI
reach the capital This was doubtless
the reason why h. had ycntured 10 place
us at defiance. Under these circum-
stances President En- .hanan deem d it
advisable to send W I'll Jam B. Fowl
g, our Commissioner to a"agGay, a
laval force Suflc ent to cxac, justice
Should negotiation fail. This consisted
Of l inctccn armed vessels, great and
small. carrying 2on guns and ,, 800 sail
ors ard marines. al under the C mmand
| of Commodore Shubrick.
Soon after the arrival of the eXpoli,
| tion at Montevidco. Commissioner Bowl
ing and Commodore Shubr;ck proceed d
to ascend the rivers to Asuncion in the
steamer Fulton, accompanied by the
Water Witch. Meanwhile the remain
ing vcssc's rendezyoused n the Parana,
| near Rosario, 4 position from which
they could act promptly in case of need.
The commiSS oner arrived at Asuncion
on Jan. o5, 1859, and left it Feb. 10.
Within this brief Period he had ably and
successfully accomplished all the OBJ
jccts of his mission. In addition to am
pie apologies. he obtained from Prcsi-
dent Lopez the payment of $1,000 for
the family Of Seaman thaney. who had
been killed in the attack upon the Water
Witch. and also concluded satisfactory
treaties of indemnity and of navigation
and commerce with the Paraguayan
government
Odds and Ends.