The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-12-11

sentatives were always watchful to use
their influence impartially in the inter
est of humanity and, on more than one
occasion, did SO effectively. We could
not forget, however, that this govern
ment was in diplomatic relations with
the then established government of
Chill, as il is now in such relations
with the successor of that government.
Right of Asylum.
The collapse of the government of
Balmaceda brought about condition
which is unfortunately too familiar IN
the history of the Central and South
American states. With the overthrow
of the Balmaceda government, he and
many of his councillors and officers be-
came fugitives for their lives and APP.
pealed to the commanding officers of the
foreign naval vessels in the harbor of
Valparaiso and to the resident foreign
ministers at Santiago for asylum. This
asylum was freely given, according to
| my information, by the naval vessels Of
| several foreign powers and by several Of
the legations at Santiago. The American
minister, as we'll as his colleagues, act
| ing upon the impulses of humanity, ex-
tended asylum to political refugees
whose lives were in peril. | have not
been willing to direct the surrender of
such of these persons as are still in the
| American legation without suitable
conditions.
1t is believed that the government of
Chill is not in position, in view of the
| precedents with which it has been con-
nected, to broadly deny the right Of
asylum, and the correspondence has not
thus far presented any such denial. The
| treatment of our minister for time
was such as to call for decided protest,
and it was very gratifying to observe
that unfriendly measures, which were
undoubtedly the result of the prevailing
excitement, were at once rescinded OF
suitably relaxed.
The Baltimore Accident.
On the 10th of October an event oc-
Cured in Valparaiso so serious and
| tragic in it's circumstances and results
as to very justly excite the Indignation
| of our people and to call for prompt and
| decided action on the part of this gov
eminent. A considerable number of
| the sailors of the United States Steam
ship Baltimore. then in the harbor of
| Valparaiso, being upon shore leave and
| unarmed, were assaulted by armed men
nearly simultaneously in different local
tiles in the city. One petty officer was
killed outright and seven or eight sea-
men were seriously wounded, one of
whom has since died. So savage and
brutal was the assault that several of
| our sailors received more than two, and
one as many as eightcea- stab wounds.
| An investigation of the affair was
| promptly made by board of officers of
| the Baltimore, and their report shows
| that
These Assaults Were Unproyoked,
that our men were conducting them
selves in peaceable and orderly man
| ner, and that some of the police OF the
| city took part in the assault and used
| their weapons with fatal effect, while a
! few others with some well-disposed citi-
zens, endeavored to protect our men.
| Thirty-SiX of our sailors were arrested,
and some of them, while being taken to
| prison, were cruelty beaten and NAL
| treated. The fact that they were all
| discharged, no criminal charge being
lodged against any one of them. shows
very clearly That they were innocent Of
any breach Of the peace.
Was an Insult to Uncle Sam.
So far as have yet been able to learn
no other explanation of this bloody
work has been suggested than that it
had its origin in hostility to these men
as sailors in the United States navy,
wearing the uniform of their govern
ment, and not in any individual act or
personal animosity. The attention of
the Gillian government was at once
called to this affair and statement of
the facts obtained by the investigation
we had conducted was submitted. &C
companjed by a request to be advised Of
any other or qualifying facts in the pos
session of the Gillian government that
| might tend to relieve this affair Of the
appearance of an insult to this govern
ment. The Gillian government was
also advised that if such qualifying facts
did not exist this government would
confidently expect full and prompt re
paration.
An Offensive Reply.
1t is to be regretted that the reply of
| the secretary for foreign affairs of the
provisional government was csuched in
an offensive tone. To this no response
has been made. This government is
now awaiting the result of an investi-
cation which has been conducted by the
criminal court at Valparaiso. 1t is re-
ported unofficially that The investiga-
ton is about completed, and it is ex-
pected that the result will soon be COM
municated to this government together
with some adequate and satisfactory re-
spouse to the note by which the atten-
ton of Chill was called to this incident.
If these just expectations should be dis
appointed or further needless delay in
tervene, l will, by special message,
bring this matter again to the attention
of congress for such action as may be
necessary. The entire correspondence
with the government of Chill will at an
early day be submitted to congress
The Chinese Riots.
The late outbreak against foreigners
in various parts of the Chinese empire
has been cause of deep pain in view of
the numerous establishments of our
citizens in the interior of that country.
This government can do no less than
insist upon continuance of the pro-
tective and punitory measures which
the Chinese government has heretofore
| applied. No effort will be omitted 20
protect our citizens peaceably adjourn
ing in China, but recent unofficial in
formation indicates that what was at
first regarded as an outbreak of mob
violence against foreigners has assumed
the larger form of an instruction
against public order.
Inter. Continental Railway Surveys.
Surveys for the connecting links of
the projected inter continental railway
l