The record-union., 1891-10-26
Special to the REcoRD-USrox.


! WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-Further and
persistent inquiry of the officers of the
government in regard to the VALPARAISO
incident shows conclusively that the Ad
mlnlstration does not regard it as a sim
pie street brawl, for which the Chilean
Government cannot be held responsible.
put as an insult to the honor and flag Of
the United States, calling for the most
vigorous diplomatic treatment The Off
clal report by Captain Schley shows
! clearly that not only was the assault
upon tho American sailors cowardly and
unproyoked, but it was inspired purely
by hatred for the uniform they wore and
the country it represented, or, in other
words, it was not an attack on them as
individuals, but as representatives of the
United States. The report also indicates
that the local police, instead of protecting
the Americans from the violence of tho
mop, IN several instances Joined in the
onslaught. This, the report saws. is
demonstrated by the fact that several of
the sailors were wounded by bayonets,
such as ara usually carried bv the Chill
can police. The fact that the only per
sons arrested We're thirty-five American
sailors who escaped injury at the hands
OF the mob strengthens the view that the
aSsault was intended as an insult to the
United States
The information at hand shows that so
Tar none of the ChileanS concerned in fbe
attack have been arrested, and SO far as is
known, no steps have been taken to pun-
Isn tneili IN any way for their action. The
authorltleS at w aShington are very indir-
nant at the apparent indifference dis
played by the Chilean Government, and
Minister Egan has been instructed TO take
prompt and vigorous measures to secure
proper reparation. He has been ff,llv ad-
Vlsed OF the position of this Government,
and instructed to acquaint the Chilean
Government Herewith i'll the hone the
matter may be amicably adjusted without
detrlment to the honor OF either country.
1t is understood the President insists
upon proper redress for the supposed
insult to our national honor, and unless
IL is given within a reasonable time Min
ister Egan will be recalled and all diplo-
matte relations with Chile suspended.
WAR TALK AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-Not since the
threatened complications with Italy last
spring has so much war talk been heard
IN naval and Administration circles as
over the brutal assault on our sailors at
Valparaiso. That the Administration is
| in earnest is evinced by the peremptory
instructions cabled to Minister Egan on
Friday evening. The Administration
IS not disposed to act arbitrarily in
demanding a speedy reply from Chile.
President Harrison appreciates the en-
barrassments attending such inquiries,
but, on the other hand, he is determined
that there shall be no unnecessary delay.
Congress will assemble six weeks from
tomorrow. BY that date we shall have
four cruisers at Valparaiso, and if neces-
sary the number can be materially in
creased. If, in the meantime, Chile has
fl To safi fiSfxr Il I,
dent will lay matters before Congress,
and, like President Buchanan on a SINH
lar noteworthy occasion, he will no doubt
request that "the Executive shall have
authority TO use other than peaceable
means" In the event that Chile still de-
cllneS to make proper reparation, it can
not be doubted that this power would be
given to him, and that, too, with all the
speed consistent with so grave a matter.
This being done, Chile must come to
terms or our fleet will be ordered to shell
the city OF Valparaiso. 1t is quite prob
able II so extreme a course as this were
necessary, that the monitor Miantono-
nah would be quickly dispatched TO
and kept at the scene of the trouble until
the battle-ships were completed. The
M1antonomah will stand alone as the
most formidable fighting ship we have in
our navy The Philadelphia, Kearsarge
and Concord, comprising Rear Ad-
mlral Gherardps squadron; the Chi
cago, Atlanta and Bennington, of
Admiral Walkers squadron; the New
ark, fitting out at Boston for the South
Atlantic, and the Petrol at New York
could all, if the emergency demanded, be
sent from the home station to Valparaiso
within ninety days. These, with the
Baltimore already at Valparaiso.
the San Francisco at Callao, the
Boston and Yorktown, en- route to
Valparaiso; the Yantic, en- route to
Montivideo, and the Thetis, Ranger and
Mohican, at San Francisco, would give a
fleet of sixteen serviceable ships.
A CLEAR BRUTAL OUTRAGE.
? LONDON, Oct. 25.-The Times, referring
to the Baltimore affair at Valparaiso,
says clear brutal outrage was COM
mitted, and the Washington Government
has good prima facie case to demand
satisfaction, but the time has not yet come
when such q demand could be properly
pressed. If made now it would be made
in hot blood and based upon incomplete
information. 1t is not for great and
powerful nation like the United States to
deal in this high-handed fashion with
weak neighbors. Arguing that Chile is
recovering from a regime of bad gov
ernment, the attack on the Baltimores
sailors may be regarded as not in the
same drama. Americas strong aggres-
sive policy will tend to enhance tho
difficulties of a government having
already hard enough time to main
tain law and order.