The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-10

81; ueclsioI, nolulng among other
Ihlngs, That i'll as much as the con-
Sfesslonal party had not been renoo-
nizeu as belligerent, the acts done
III lts interest could not be a violation
OF our neutrality laws. From this
Judgment the United States has an.
peaied, not that the condemnation nt
the vessel is a matter of importance
Dut That we may know what the pres.
ent State OF our law is, for, if this con-
structlon OF the statute is correct. then
IL IS an obvious necessity for revision
and amendment.
Durlng the progress of the war in
Chile this government rendered it's
good officers to bring about peace
iul adjustment, and 1t was at one time
hoped that q good result
might be reached, but in
this they were disappointed.
Inc instructions to our naval officers
and to our minister at Santiago from
the first to the last of this struggle,
enjoined upon them the most impair
tlal treatment and absolute non-inter-
ference. L am satisfied that hese in
structions were observed and that our
representatives 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
thls government was in diplomatic re-
lations with the then established gov
ernment of Chile, as it is now in such
relations with the sU hat
government. am quite sure that
President Montt, who has under cir
cumstances Of promise for the peace of
Chile, been installed as president of
that Republic will not desire that in
the unfortunate event of any revolt
against his authority, the policy of
this government should be other than
that which we have re.
Gently observed. No official
complaint of the conduct of our min
lister or OF our naval officers, during
the struggle, has been presented to
this government, and it is matter of
regret that so many Of our own peo-
pie should have given ear to unofficial
charges and complaints that mani
testify had their origin in rival in
terests and in a wish to pervert the
relations Of the United States with
Chile.
The collapse of the government OF
Balmaceda brought about condition
which is unfortunately too familiar
in the history of the Central and
South American states. With the
overthrow Of the Balmaceda govern
ment, he and many Of his councillors
and officers became at once fugitives
for their lives, appealing to the COM
manding officers of the foreign naval
vessels in the harbor of Valparaiso
and to the resident foreign ministers
at Santiago for asylum. This asylum
was freely given, according to my in
formation, by the naval vessels OF
several foreign powers and by several
ofthe legations at Santiago. The Amer
lean minister as we'll as his colleagues
acting under the impulses of human.
ity, extended an asylum to the politi
cal refugees, whose lives were in ;
peril. l have not been willing to direc
the surrender of such of these person
as are still in the American Legation
without suitable conditions. 1t is be
lieved that the government Of Chile is
not in position, in view of the pre-
cedents with which it has been con.
nected, to broadly deny the right OF
asylum, and the correspondence has
not thus presented any such denial
The treatment Of our minister for Q
time was such as to call for a decided
protest, and it was very gratifying tc
observe that unfriendly measures
which were undoubtedly the result o.
the prevailing excitement, were at
once rescended or suitably relaxed.
On the 10th of October an event oc
Cured in Valparaiso so serious and
tragic in it's circumstances and results
as to very justly excite the indigna
tion of our people and to call fol
prompt and decided action on the par
of this government. A considerable
number of the sailors of the UniteC
States steamship Baltimore, then il
the harbor of Valparaiso, being upor
shore-leave and unarmed, were as
saulted yarmed men, nearly simulta
neosly in different localities in the city
Gne petty officer was killed outrigh
and seven or eight seamen wounded
one of whom has since died. So saw
age but limited was the assault, thai
four of the sailors received mere thar
two or three and as many as eight
wounds. An investigation of the af
fair was promptly made by q board O.
officers of the Baltimore, and their re
ports show that these assaults were
unprovoked and that our men con
ducting themselves in a peaceablt
and orderly manner, and that some o.
the police of the city took part in
the assault and used their weapons
with fatal effect, while few Others
with some well disposed citizens en-
deavored to protect our men. Thirty.
six of our sailors were arrested
and some of them while being
taken to prison, were cruelty
beaten and maltreated. The fact that
thev were also discharged, no crimi-
nal charge being lodged against any
of them, shows very clearly that they
were innocent of any breach of the
peace. So far as / have been able to
learn no other explanation of this
bloody work has been suggested other
than that it had it's origin in the hos
tility to these men as sailors OF the
United States wearing the uniform Of
their government and not in any indi-
vidual act or personal animosity' The
attention of the Chilean government
was at once called to this afray, and
- La 4n,,nn,,t nf tho fn ntc obtained by