The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-12-30
FOREIGN

the Australia yesterday morning
all refers to repeated outrages per-
petrated in the streets of Val
paraiso upon the persons of Ameri-
can citizens. The worst offenders
appear to be the police themselves,
who are screened by the inferior
magistrates, while their superior
officers and even the Government
itself seem unable or unwilling to
make reparation for the past, or
guarantee protection to Americans,
or good behavior of their own
officials for the future.
The story told at San Diego by
the engineer of the American ship
Keweenaw, which called at Val
paraiso on the way from New York
to San Francisco, proves the exist
ence of state of affairs in the
Chilean seaport which could not be
tolerated by the government or the
representatives of any civilized ma
ton able and willing to protect it's
citizens while peacefully engaged
in their lawful business in o foreign
country.
Patrick Shields, the engineer,
states that he went on shore on
leave, and on his way back to the
water front was stopped by two
policemen, who, after speaking
few words which he did not under
stand, arrested and took him to
jail, where he was subjected to
brutal ill,treatment and set to work
to clean horses and wash out the
place. At last, when nearly ex-
hausted by hunger and blows, he
was thrust out of the jail-yard, and
he endeavored to find his way to
the American Consulate. He lay
down on rock for the night, and
the next morning, while asking his
way to the Consulate, was again
hustled, beaten and dragged off to
the prison. Being repeatedly re-
fused an opportunity of communi-
eating with the Consul, he made
several efforts to escape, but was
overtaken and cruelty beaten. AT
length he got away and reached
the Consulate more dead than
alive, and was sent on board the
Baltimore and put under the treat
ment of the surgeon.
This is one ground of complaint,
others are the posting of Chilean
police agents in the immediate
vicinity of the American Legation,
and the attempted arrest of the
Minister'S son, Mr.. Frank Egan.
The Argentine Minister to Chile
Will call meeting of all the for
eign ministers to draw the atten-
ton of the Chilean Government
towards the action of the municipal
authorities of Valparaiso in main
tanning police surveillance over
the American legation.
On this subject the Call remarks:
american blood has been shed by
q mob and thus far no disposition
has been evinced by the she'd
ders to make atonement. The
calm and temperate remonstrance
OF this Government is met with
equiVocation and evasion, both
couched in language to which the
epithet trueulent will apply. A
strain is being put on the authori-
ties at Washington which with all
their pacific instincts, they can
hardly resist very long"
Meanwhile Secretary Tracy
hopes for the best and believes that
the difficulties would yet be set
tied satisfactorily. He says: "I do
not anticipate war with Chile.
The Yorktown is the only United
States man-of-war in Chilean
waters at present. The Boston
however is on her way there and
should reach Valparaiso this
week"
If indeed Chile intends to force
a quarrel, upon the United States it