The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-12

thls government Will put the Itata with the
arms ana munitions she took on board IN San
blego, at the disposition of the United States
A trial IN the district court of the United
states ior the southern District of California
mas recently resulted IN decision holding
among other things, that, inasmuch as the con,
sresslohal party had not been recognized as a
belllgerant, the acts done i'll its interest could
not be violation of our neutrality laws From
thls Judgment the nited States has appea led
not that the condemnation of the vessel i q
matter Of importance, but that we NAV know
what the present state of our law is: for if this
construction OF the statute is correct. there is
obvious necessity for revision and amendment
onrlnS the progress of the war in Chill this
government rendered its good offices to bring
about peaceful adjustment and it was at one
me hoped that good result mig hit be reac he'd.
Out IN this We were disappointed. The in
structions TO our naval officers and to our mi H.
lSter al santiago, from the first TO the last of
TINS struggle, enioined upon them the most i'm
partial lreaimeE. and absolute non interfer-
ence. / am satisfied that these instructions
were observed, and that our representatives
were always watchful to use their influence i'm
partially 10 the interest of humanity, and on
more than one occasion, did so effectively We
could not forget, however that this govern
ment was IN diplomatic relations with the then
established government of Chill. as il is
now III such relations with the successor of that
government. | am quite sure that President
Monft, who has, under circumstances of promise
Tor the peace of Chilli, been installed us presi-
dent of that republic, Will not desire that in
the unfortunate event of any revolt against his
authority, the potlcy OF this government should
be other tnan that which we have recently OBJ
served No official complaint of the conduct of
our minister or of our naval officers during the
struggie has been presented to this government
ana II Is n matter of regret that so many of our
own people should have given ear 10 unofficial
charges and complaints that manifestly had
their origin in rival interests and in a wish to
perVert the relations Of the United States with
Chilli.
The collapse OF the government of Balmnce-
da brought a bout condition which is unfor-
tuneately too familiar in the history of the Cen
ral and south American states. With the
overthrow OF the Baimaceda government, he
ana many of his councillors and officers be.
came ut once tugives for their lives and
appealed to the commanding officers of
the foreign naval vessels in the harbor of Val
parai>o and to ths 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 ut Santiago. The
American minister, well as his colleagues
acting upon the impulses of humanity, extend
ed asylum To political refugees whose lives
were in peril. | have not been willing TO direct
the surrender of such of these persons as are
stIlI IN the American legation without suitable
conditions
not in q position, in view OF the precedentS
with which il has been connected, 10 broadly
deny he right OF ylum and the correspond
ence has not thus far presented any such denial.
The treatment of our minister for time was
such as to call for II decided protest, and it WAS
very gratifying 10 observe that unfriendly
measures, which were undoubtedly the. result
OF the prev aiIing excitement, were at once re-
ScInded or Iitably relaxed.