The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-10

POAO1l Va DOWel
oy President Fonseca, but this govern,
ment aid not fail to express to him its
anxious solicitude Tor the peace OF
Brazil, and for the maintainance q,
the political institutions which had
recently been established there. nor
to offer our advice that great modera-
| tlon should be exercised in the clash
! OF parties and the contest 1or leader
| ship. These cOunsels were received
in the most friendly spirit, and the
latest information is that a constitu-
tlonal government has been estab-
lished without bloodshed.
THE LYNCHING AT NEW ORLEANS
In March last OF eleven men of italian
nationality by mob of citizens was
most deplorable and discreditable
incident. 1t did not however,
nave its origin in any general ami
mostly to Italian people, nor in any
dispute of government OF Italy with
| which our relations were of the most
friendly character. The fury OF the
mob was against those men as the
supposed participants or accessories
OF The murder OF q city official. 1
don't allude to this as mitigating in
any degree this otfense against law
and christianity, but only as affecting
the international questions which
grew out of 1t. 1t was at once repre-
sented by the Italian minister That
several OF those whose lives had been
taken by the mob were Italian sub
jects and demand was made for the
punishment OF the participants and
for an indemnity to the families OF
those who were killed. 1t is to be re-
gretted that the manner in which
these claims were presented was not
such as to promote u calm discussion
OF the questions involved, but this
we'll be attributed to the excitement
and Indignation which the crime nat
urally evoked. The views of the gov
ernment as to its obligations TO for
eigners domiciled here were fully
stated in the correspondence as well
as it's purpose to make an investiga-
ton of the affair with a view to de-
termine whether there were present
any circumstances that could under
such rules Of duty as we had indi-
Gated, create an obligation upon the
United States. The temporary ab-
sence Of minister plenipotentiary at
this capital has retarded the further
correspondence, but it is not doubted
that q friendly conclusion is attain
able.
Some suggestions growing out OF
this unhappy incident are worthy the
attention of congress. 1t would, L
believe be entirely competent for
congress to make otfenses against the
treaty rights Of foreigners domiciled
in the United States, cognizable in the
federal courts. This has not, how
ever, been done, and the federal Off
GERS and courts have no power in such
cases to interfere, either for the
protection of 4 foreign citi-
zen or for the punishment of
his slayers. 1t seems to me to follow
in this state of law that the officers Of
the state, charged with the police
and judicial powers in such cases
must in the consideration of inter
national questions, growing out o
such Incidents, be regarded in such
sense as federal agents as to make
this government answerable for Their
acts in cases where it would be answer
able if the United States had used its
constitutional power to define and
punish crimes against treaty rights.
THE CHILEAN TROUBLES
The civil war in Chile, which began
in January last, was continued, but
fortunately with infrequently but not
important armed collisions, until Aug.
2S. when the congressional forces
landed near Valparaiso, and after a
bloody engagement captured that
city. President Balmaceda at once
recognized that his cause was lost and
a provisional government was speedi-
ly established by the victorious party.
Our minister was privately directed
to recognize it and put himself in COM
munication with this government.
During the pendency of this
contest, frequent indirect appeals were
made to this government to extend
belligerents' rights to the insurgents
and to give an audience to their rep
resentatives. This was declined and
that policy was pursued through
out which this government, when
wrenched by civil war so strenously,
insisted upon Oh the part of European
nations. The Itata, an armed vessel,
commanded by a naval officer of the
ipsurgent fleet, manned by its sailors
and with soldiers on board, was seized
under process of the United States
court at San Diego, California, for vio-
lation of our neutrality laws and
while in the custody Of an officer OF
the court, the vessel was forclbly
wrestled from his control and put to
sea. 1t would have been inconsistent
with the dignity and selfrespect OF
this government not to have insisted
that the Itata should be returned TO
san Diego to abide the Judgment OF
the court. This was so clear to the
Junta of the congressional party eS-
tablished at Iquique that before the
arrival of the Itata at that port, the
secretary of foreign relations OF the
provisional government sent Rear
Admiral Brown, commanding the
United States naval forces, commtl-
nication from which the following is
an extract: "The provisional gov
ernment has learned by the cable
grams of the Associated Press tnat
the transport Itata, detained in san
Diego by order of the United states,
for taking on board munitions OF war