The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-17

THE Provisional Government has learned by the
cabegTams OF the Associated Press that the trans
port Itata. detained in san Diego by order Of the
United States for taking on board munitions of
and IN possession Of the Marshal left the port,
carrying on board this official, who was landed ut
"A point near the coast. and then continued on her
voyage. Hths news be correct, this Gov
ernmeut would deplOTo the conduct OF the ltaia,
and as an evidence that - not disposed to sup
port or agree to the iufracton of the laws OF the
United States. the undersigned takes advantage OF
the personal relations you have been good enough
TO maintain with him siace your arrival In this port
To declare to you that soon she IL within reach
OF our orders his Government will put the Itata.
with the arms and munitions she took on board 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 decision holding, among other things,
that, tnasmuch as the Congressional party bad not
been recognized n be!ligeTent, the acts done IN
its interest could not be a violation Of our neu-
traliiy laws. From this judgment the United
States has appealed. not that the condemnation OF
the vessel IL matter of Importance. bat that we
may know what the present state OF our law Is;
for, II this construction of the statute IL correct
there Is obvious necessity for revision and amend
ment.
During the progress Of the war IN Chile this Gov
eminent rendered its good offices To bring about
peaceful adjustment, and it was at one time hoped
that good result might be reached; but ia this
we were disappointed
The Instructions 10 our naval officers and to our
Minister at Santiago from the first to the last OF
this struggle, enjOined upon them the most impair
tial treatment and absolute nOn-nteTieTcuce. IL am
satisfied that these ructions were observed and
that our representatives were always watchiul to
use their influence impartialy 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 relations with
the then established Government OF Chile, a. u -
now in such relations with the successor Of that
Government. l quite sure that President
Mont, who has. under circumstances of promise
for the peace Of Chile, been installed ~ President
OF that Republic will not desire that Ia the unfor-
tunate event Of any revolt against his authority.
the policy 81 this Government should be other
than that which we have recently observed No
official complaint Of the conduct Of Minister
Of our naval officers during The struggle has been
presented to this Government, and II Is matter Of
regret that many OF our own people should
have given ear to unofficial charges and complaints
that manifestly had their origin in rival interests
aud in wish to peFveTL the relations OF the United
States with Chile.
The collapse OF the Government Of Bamaceda
brought about a condition which Is unfortunately
too familiar in the history Of the Central and south
American States. With the overthrow Of the Bal
maceda Government. he and many Of his couu-
sellers and officers became at once fugitiyes for
their lives. aud appealed To the commanding ON
Of the foreign naval vessels in the haTbOr OF
Valparaiso and TO the resident foreign Ministers
at Santiago for asylum. This asylum was freely
given. according to my information, by the naval
vessels Of several foreign powers and by several OF
the legations at Santiago. The American Minister,
we'll his colleagues, acting upon the impulses
OF humanity, extended asylum to political refugees
whose lives were in peril. have not been willing
10 direct the surrender Of such Of these persons as
are still In the American Legation without suitable
conditions.
1t Is believed that the Government Of Chile Is
not ia position, in view Of the presidents with
which II has been connected, to broadly deny the
| right Of asylum, and the correspondence has not
thus far presented any such denial The treatment
Of our Minister for time was such as 70 call for
decided protest and II was very gratifying to OBJ
| serve that unfTiendy measures, which were I'M
doubleday the result Of the prevailing excitement
were at once Teseinded or suitably relaxed.
UNPRovoKED ASSAULT on AMERICAN SAIL
ORs.
On the I6th NJ October an event occurred IN
/ Valparaiso serious and tragic in its crcuDl-
stances aud results to very Justly excite the iu
dignatOn Of our people and TO call for prompt and
/ decided action on the part Of this Government. A
considerable number OF the sailors OF the United
States steamship Baltimore, then la the harbor Of
Valparaiso. being upon shore leave and unarmed,
/ were assaulted by armed men nearly simulta-
ueOusly in different localities in the city. One
petty officer was killed outright ands or eight
seamen were seriously wounded, one OF whom
has since died. So savage and brutal was the as
sault that everal OF sailors received more than
/ two, and one a. many as il, stab wounds. An in
vestigalion 81 the affair was promptly made by
board Of officers Of the Baltimore. and their report
| shows that these assaults were unprOyOked; that
our men were conducting themselves In a peaceful
| aud orderly manner. and that some OF the police
OF the city took part In the assault aud used their
weapons with fatal effect. while few others. with
we'll disposed citizens, underworld to protect
our men. Thirtysix Of our sailors were arrested,
| and some Of them. while being taken To prison,
| were cruelty beaten and naltTeated. The fact
that they were all discharged, no criminal charge
/ being lodged against any one OF them, shows very
clearly that they were innocent Of any breach Of
/ the peace.
| So far as have vet been able 10 learn no other
| explanation Of this bloody work has been sug-
| gested than that It had its origin IN hostility TO
| these men sailors Of the United States. wearing
| the uniform OF their Government, and not ia any
| individual act personal animOsity. The Atten-
ton of the Chilean Government WAS at once called
to this affair. and statement OF the facts obtained
| by the investigation we had conducted was sub
| United, accompanied by request to be advised Of
any other qualifying Eiets IN the possession OF
this affair Of the appearance OF an insult TO this
| Government. The Chilean Government was also
advised that II such qualifying facts did not exist
this Government would confidently Yect full and
prompt PREPARATION.
1t Is to be regretted that the reply OF the Seere-
| taTy Of Foreign Affairs Of the Provisional Govern
| ment was cOuched in offensive tone. 70 this
| no response has been made. This Government IL
now awaiting the result of an investigation which
has been conducted by the Criminal Court Gt Val
paraiso. IL IL reported unOiticay that the nvesti
CATION - about completed, ard 10 Is expected that
| the result will soon be communicated to this
/ Government, together with some adequate and
| satisfactory response to The note by which the at
| tentiun of Chile was called TO this incident. If
these just expectations should be disappointed or
| further needless delay intervene, i will. by a
special message. bring this matter agan TO the at
tentiOu of Congress for such action may be nee
! Government Of Chile will at early day be sub
| mitted to Congress.
CHINA AND SPAIN.
The President alludes to the Chinese troubles,
and says that our Government must insist on
China protecting our citizens. He thinks the
reason given for not accepting Minister Blair
not sound Spain is reminded that she will
have to live up to her engagements, and pro-
| tect American citizens in the Caroline Islands.
Our relations with Hawaii are in q most salts
factory condition.
RUssIA's HARSH TREATMENT OF HEBREWS
This Government has found occasion to express
In "A friendly spirit. but with much earnestness, TO
| the Government Of the Car, its serious concern
| because Of the harsh measures now being enforced
1 against the Hebrews OF Russia By the revival OF
aHtisemilic laws. long in allegiance. great numbers
Of those unfortunate people have been constrained
4 to abandon their homes and leave the Empire by
| reason Of the imEossibiity Of finding subsistence
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