Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-11-07
TIE rnornLE wIru cnILl-

are It IA unwige TO record any estimate OF
the probable consequences Of the strained
relationship which exists. But the super
Rcial facts at hand fire the American heart
and arouse q spirit Of belligereucy Inc
murder Of two Of our sailors at Valparaiso
cannot he regarded as short of a very seri'
Gus affair. Statements from Minister
Eean indicate that these sailors were
dragged out Of a CHILEAN street car and
slaughtered in cold blood without the
sliphte,t pro~ocation. They we're stuck
full Of knives and stilettos and bayonet5
simply because they were sailors OF the
United STATES and the United States had
recently seized a Gillian vessel that bad
broken all the laws governing the actions
Of neutral powers.
This malireatmeut, it is asserted, was the
work ros merely Of city mob, but Of the
Valparaiso police force But the original
trouble, az every one knows, goes far back
Of that. When the outbreak came be-
tween the forces Of Balmaceda AMI those
Of the parliamentary party, so.called, the
latter seemed to expect the actiye SYM
pathy and cooperation Of the United
States, and 10 feel it personal wrong and
deliberate cfferse that we did not choose
10 disreyard the Law Of nations, and our
own consistent practice in such cases ~
recognizing the insurgent party. The
hostility enlendered toward this country
by its position found frequent expression
during the contest, and has been open and
almost defiant ever since the CHILEAN junta
repained power after the defeat and death
of Balmaceda.
However tho insurgents may have
,houaht that this coun ry would aid them
in accomplishing the overthrow OF the dc
sator, Balmaceda, they ought to have
snown tlat the international war code
absolutely forbade interference on oul
part. We could not but remain neutral
under the circumstances, and twas en- ca
bihiticn Of gross assumption trat they
should nave supposed that we would per
init them 10 make this country base OF
operations for tie purchase Of munitions
OF war and their shipment TO the scene Of
trouble,
Balmacedp was no doubt a tyrart and the
congressional party which opposed him
the representative Of the republican the
DRY. Naturally we should have sustained
the latttr, and Of course would have done
90 had it been possible without staining
cur honor. Dur treatment Of tn ltata
was strictly in accordance with the nation
al honor; and We have, since the luut'
vindicAted its power over dangeIan.
administration, eyinced spirit Of cor
diality to the Hbtrating party whist mus
have proved its own sincerity
But the Sranish.lndian combination u
The lillian renders him II bot, impulsiv.
and uniorgiying character He oyerlook'
.eoent exhibitions If friendliuess and re
members only that one Of his vessels, SO
necessary 10 hts once desperate cause, wa
seized by that great republic " the norti
from which succor rather than neutrality
was expected. Revenge is in the soul &
strong that the appearance in his very
metropolis of some marines from wa,
vessel Of the disappointing neutral fire
the blood. The stletto does the rest.
The complication, il the correct fact
are at eand, is an uely one. The muir
dered citizens were not citzene Of Chill
nor even residents Of that republic. The,
we're ir fa,t not only subjects Of the Uni
ted states but agents, one might almos
say. % this country An unproyoktd as
sault on ihgm can be only in degree les
serious than would be one on the Ameri
can legation itself at Santiago, tho capi
tai.
But tho ar,oeaut attitude Of the Chilin
government othc United States Is e.pee
iully offensive As far as our present IN
formation goes the iauta paIeuptorily re
fuses to assume responsibility for toe ont
rage or to guarantee tmat others q hk
nature viii not be tolerated, IFS reply Z
the demands 81 Oils government is sand Z
he couuhcd ia very STRONG language, =
the language presumably ct angry, excite
and yeagcful statesmen.
Id rtmuus to BE- seen what Che laite
States government viii DIP. War won't
be deplurut b. lit Ulwal 10 and every rsa
snnuhe concession IL warranted 10 avert 4.
but tha honor ana dignity q,
great nation appear % b. NJ sax