The record-union., 1891-12-22
THE TROUBLE WITH CHILE.

TALK about the probabilities Of war with
Chile. 1t is certain that there is great
activity in naval circles and that naval
officers on this coast have been inspect
ing merchant steamers and tugs to ascer-
tain their usefulness if needed for war
In the case of one tug, now nearly COM
pleted at San Francisco, the Government
has asked the owner to name his price
for the boat, and he has done so. This
looks as if the Government officials at
Washington consider the situation grave
enough to warrant preliminary steps to
be taken, to ascertain what strength we
could put afloat off the coast of Chile in
the event of war.
If the Chilean Government should de-
cline to withdraw its offensive note, or
should refuse an open investigation of
the case of the Baltimore's sailors, there
is little doubt that war will ensue. The
belief may still be entertained that the
new Chilean Government will not hazard
measuring arms with the United States,
for the new President must know that in
such a struggle the result will be dis
astrous to Chile. He must know, also,
that neither Of the great European pow
ers would intervene. They could not
find warrant for doing more than tender
ing their good offices for amicable adjust
ment of the difficulty.
The latest advices are that the Secretary
of State expresses the belief that a salts
factory settlement viii be arrived at, and
that craftsmanship, the highest Office of
which is to prevent war, will achieve a
triumph Of that order At present our
attitude is not one conducive of national
pride. We sent to Chile respectful and
dignified protest and request for open
investigation of the Baltimore affair. To
that polite note an offensive and insulting
reply was understanding to the state
ment of President Harrison. There the
matter rests; we have neither responded
to the contemptuous answer, nor through
our Minister requested its withdrawal
More than two months have elapsed
since the Baltimore's sailors were muir
dered in the streets of Valparaiso. and as
yet we have no report ofwhat the Chilean
Government finds in its secret investiga-
ton, where we are not be represented, to
be the facts
The Naval Board of the Baltimore and
San Francisco concluded its open investi-
CATION inside of ten days after the occur
renee and reported the facts to the authori-
ties at Washington.
We submit that this state Eof facts does
not reflect credit upon the United States.
War is not desired; at the very best it is
awful to contemplate. 1t means the kill
ing of human beings, the interruption of
commerce, augmented debt and fevered
state Of the public pulse. But there is de-
sired more Of rigor and speed in defend
ing the rights and lives of our citizens
abroad, and more of the manifestation of
that spirit which commands respect from
foreign powers and BELTS a great free
government.
The almost unanimous opinion of the
people Of the United States is, that while
it is the right of the Chilean Government
to investigate according to the law of the
place, a secret inquisition at which
neither the Government of their nativity,
nor the friends Of the murdered men can
be represented or confront the witnesses.
is not such an inquiry as will be satisfac-
tory if the finding is against US.
In the first place the inquisitorial pro-
ceeding is not the usual method: if the
affair was but street brawl between
drunken sailors and civilians of Chile.
the ordinary open door proceeding OF
the Valparaiso Police Court would be the
method employed, and the inquiry
would have been pushed to judgment, as
in other cases, within few days while
the witnesses could be easily reached,
and while all the facts were fresh in mem
ory.
In the second place solicitude would, in
ordinary cases, be shown to pursue the
truth and punish the offenders where
the acts involved the friendly relations
of two Governments, and in the mean
time the Government of the place would
voluntarily express its regret that such a
tragedy as the murder of the sailors of a
friendly power had taken place upon its
soil.
But in this instance there has been no
open investigation, no opportunity to see
and know who are the witnesses exam
ined, or to note what false swearing
may have been INDUCED in, or to what
extent, if any, the United States sailors
have been misrepresented. Time, mean
while, of unconscionable length has
elapsed and full opportunity been given
for important witnesses TO escape and
pass beyond the possibility of recall. and
there is very much evident to support
the theory that this delay has been pur-
poseful. Lastly, the Chilean Government
has not expressed regret that such a trag-
edy was enacted upon her soil.
Under the circumstances, therefore, it is
submitted that the United States Govern.
ment has been more than kind, forbear-
ing and patient towards weaker power
and that the limits of magnanimity havt
been exceeded.