The morning call., 1891-10-25
CHILE'S INSULT.
The Matter Considered as an bfTODt to
the United States.


had an interview with the President this
morning in regard to the Chilean difficulties,
but refuses positively to say what plan Of
action has been agreed upon. 1t IS known
that the Administration rAg Tds the situa-
ton rs most serious, and that the incident
is not one that can be overlooked as q
simple street row. While no other vessels
have been ordered to proceed TO Chile to
enforce the demand for reparattO that Will
probably be m de, it is likely the naval
force in Chilean waters Will be speedily re-
enforced unless this Government receives
some assurance from the Chilean Govern
ment that proper justice shall De meted out
to the offenders. Minister Egan has been
advised of the views Of the Admins tration,
but the exact nature of the message sent
him cannot be ascertaiued
AN INSULT TO NATIONAL HONOR.
Further and persistent inquiry of the Off
GERS of the Government in regard to the
Valparaiso incident shows cODclusively
that the Administration does not regard 1t
as simple street brawl, for which the
Chilean Government cannot be held re-
spOnsble, but as all insult to the honor and
flag OF the United States, calling for the
most vigorous diplomatic treatment. The
official report by Captain Schley shows
clearly that not only was the assault upon
the American sailors cowardIy and unprO-
v0ked, but it was Inspired purely by hatred
for the uniform they wore aud the country
it represented, or, in other words. 1t was not
an attack on them as individuals, but as rep
Tesentatves of the United States. The re-
port also indicates that the local police, in
stead of protecting the Americans from the
violence Of the mob, IN several Instances
joined in the onslaught. This, the report
says. is demonstrated by the TACT that sever
al of the sailors were wounded by bayonets,
such as are usually carried by the Chilean
police. The fact that the only persons ar
rested were thrty-fYe 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
ONLY AMERICANS ARRESTED.
The information at hand shows that so
| far none of the Chleans concerned in the
| attack have been arrested, and so far as is
known, no steps have been taken to punish
| them in any wav for their action. The
I authorities at Washington are very indtg,,
| nant at the apparent indifference displayed
| by the Chilean Government, and Minister
| Egan has been instructed to take prompt
| and vigorous measures to secure
proper reparatiOn. lie has been fully
advised Of the position Of this
| quaint the Chilean Government there
with in the hope the matter may be amica-
| bly, adjusted without detTiment to the honor
| of either country. 1t is understood the
! President insists upon proper redress for
| the supposed insult to our national honor,
aud unless 1t is given within a reasonable
! time Minister Egan will be recalled and all
diplomatic relations with Chile suspended.
THE LOCATION OF THE NAVY.
Secretary Tracy said this afternoon that
no more vessels had been ordered to Chile,
and he did not know that any would be
sent. The Yorktown is now on the way
| there and the Boston started to-day.
| Neither can reach there within month.
| The San Francisco is at CallaO, only four
| days sail from VALPARAISO, but has not
been ordered there. Neither has another
| available vessel, the Thetis, which is
now at San Francisco. The sailing or
! ders of the Boston and the Yorktown
were issued before the attack on the sailors
and the main purpose Of their detail WAS to
| relieve the Baltimore and the San Frau
cisco, which vessels are to 20 TO San
| Francisco when relieved TO be dOcked and
| oveThauled. 1t would seem, therefore, that
| the Government does not care to make any
| belligerent demonstration toward Chile,
| but refers to show its dlspleasure through
| diplomatic channels.
An official thoroughly familiar with all
the facts in the possession of the Govern
ment in regard to the Valparaiso affair
pointed out this morning that it was alto
| gether different in its material feature from
the Italian affair at New Orleans. In the
| latter case men were assaulted who were
| dOmciled here, and were practically clti-
zens of the United States. At any rate
they bore no official relation to the Govern
ment of Italy. In the Valparaiso case, on
the other hand, the men attacked wore the
uniform Of the United States Government,
| and were attacked simply because they
were Americans. The official said the at
tack on them was deliberate insult 10 the
American flag, and could be regarded IN no
| other way.
| THE SAILORS WERE UNARMED.
Secretary Tracy said this morning that
further study Of the cipher dispatch re-
ceived from Captain SchIey of the Balti-
more, Thursday, in regard 10 thu recent as
sault on the American sailors at Valparaiso,
showed, in addition to the killing of one
man and the serious wOunding of six
others, that thirty-five other American
seamen were arrested and detained by
the Chilean authorities at the same
time, and they were afterward examined
aud dismissed as there was no proof that
they had been guilty Of any msbehavior.
This confirms Captain Schley's other state
ment that the Americans were unarmed
sober and well-behayed at the time of the
trouble. and also indicates that at least forty
men out of the Baltimore 5 contingent of 2T5
men were objects Of the rage OF Chilean
mob 1t also appears now that up to the
date Of Captain Schley's report the Chilean
authorities had taken no steps to arrest and
punish any OF the Chlleans responsible for
the affair, or, at any rate. no Chileans had
| been arrested and the wheels uf justice had
| operated in no other direction than against
| Americans