The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-06
WE HAVE GOT THE 1rArA.


Tie Itata has been surrendered. and
she now floats the stars and stripes.
What are We going to do with her is another
story, as Kipling says Some say that she
violated the customs laws of the United
States in going to sea with a United States
Marshal on board; and others aver that she
violated the neutrality laws in loading up
with munitions Of war 10 be used against a
power with which the United States is at
peace. II she really broke those laws she
must answer for the deed, and San Diego is
tie place where she must have her day in
court. The proceedings in admiralty are
directed against the ship and not against
the owners, vet still a ship is not a sentient
being " Lich can suffer by the execution OF
a decree Of court. The real sufferer by the
condemnation or mulcting Of a ship is the
man who owns her. And if, as appears to
be the case the Itata is owned by the South
American Steam Navigation Company, and
was seized without the cOmpany's consent
by the Chilean insurgeE &, a decree of court
FORGETTING or fning the vessel for violations
Of cur law would be Furnishing people who
are innocent for the acts Of others.
1t would appear that the short way out
of the mess is for the Government at WASH
ingt0n TO press the offer Of Intervention,
which the d spatches assure rs both parties
in Chile eyince a disposition to consider
Il IS stated positively that a conference will
shortly be held al Santiago, between repre-
seutatives of Balmaceda and representa-
tives Of the Compassionate, and that special
diplomatic agents Of France and the United
States have been invited to be present.
Such a meeting ought to be able to devise a
Oa is Of negotiations with a view TO the
restoration of peace. 1t is hardly likely that
either belligerent would insist on cOntinu-
ing the struggle in opposition to clear ex-
preston of opinion by two powers which are
interested in Chile and cannot be suspected
Of partiality.
The danger is that BaImaeeda will not ac-
cept foreign mediation if he sees the least
chance of carrying his point by the sword.
The act Of his bogus Congress clothing him
with dictatorial powers is a defiance Of pub
lie opinion throughout the civilized world
DictatOrships have been justified In many
countries when the national existence wa:
threatened by foreign foe, and it wa:
necessary to suspend the laws in order tt
conduct the defense Of the nation Will
yigCT But the controversy in Chile In
wolves no danger to the existence Of the re-
public, though it may endangeT the liber
ties of its people. 1t is simply a question
whether the President or the Congressional
shall exercise power. Balmaceda claim
that Congress refused to vote the appropria
tions which he required to carry on thu
Government; the insurgents maintain that
he was plotting a coup d'etat, and that the
withheld the supplies in order to deDTlY
him Of the use of the peoples money &
overthrow the Constitution. Nothing Il
this calls for dictatorship. The contend
ing parties have appealed to arms, and tn
strongest will win. Neither is coerced b,
circumstances into suspending the publ
liberties Of the people at large. The bogu
Balnaceda Congress has usurped authority
its action confirms the apprehension OF tn
real Congress that the Presidents aim Is I
subyert the liberties of Chile, and to max
himself permanent dictator
The act is not mere declaration Of mai
tial law 1t not only authorizes the Presi
dent to arrest and exile whom he pleases
to raise what forces he chooses, and to sus
pend the liberty of the press and the rigt
Of public assembly, but it empowers him
pledge the credit of Chile for any loans b
may contract, and absOlves him from ii
duty Of accounting to Congress for I'll
mander nor civil magistrate was ever il
trusted with such power as this. HO
Balmaceda proposes to use it, his dealing
with the suspects" indicate. Some fou,
teen or fifteen citizens of Chile were undt
arrest on the charge Of sympathy with tn
insurgents. They have bought their freedoI
by paying to Balmaceda's agents sums ranG
ing from $50, 600 to $4,000
Tie situation of affairs in Chile wOul
be worse than it is were it not for the lars
number of foreigners who are establishe
in that country, and whose Government
have sent fleets TO protect them. A larE
proportion of the inhabitants Of Valparaii
are foreigners, and more than One-half
trade of the port is in foreign hands. 1t
the property of these foreigners that b
maceda had his eye on when he got
Congress to invest him with dictatOri