The record-union., 1891-10-31
THE VALPARAISO AND THE NEW
ORLEANS INCIDENTS.

IHE VALPARAISO AND THE NEW
ORLEANS INCIDENTS.
Two London journals have taken the
Chile incident to be parallel to the New
Orleans riot, and with the suggestion of
sarcasm, say that we ask the Chilean
Junta to do that which we were unequal
TO in the Crescent City case.
While the London newspapers are. as
rule, conservative, and are always ably
edited, yet they are repeatedly falling into
error concerning American affairs. 1t is
amusing to see the London Post, and the
Times as well, attempting a comparison
between the New Orleans and the Chilean
incidents. No two cases could be more
dissimilar, and it is provocative of smiles
to find the Times straining to put them
upon the same footing.
All nations having treaties of peace and
friendship existing between them are
bound by such conditions, as well as by
the unwritten law of international codes,
TO receive in their harbors the men-of-
war and official flag g-bearing ships of
each other. They are bound to afford
such visitors due protection, and insure
themen wearing the naval uniform the
usual security when on shore on liberty
leave. No greater protection is, how
ever, asked or due to them than to the
citizens of the same nationality dwelling
in the foreign port under the treaty, or
the citizens of the locality.
Infthe Chilean case, our unarmed blue
jackets were, without provocation, as
saulted in the streets of Valparaiso by
Chilean mob and the assaiIants were
aided and abetted by the local police
Many of our men were wounded in the
affray and Two were killed. Thereupon
our Government, after satisfying itself
thatour men were not in the wrong. had
violated no local law and refused submis-
sion to no local authority, and finding
Chile inactive in the matter, demanded
reparation and an apology, and that NAV
mean that the families of the murdered
menishall be awarded damages.
That is all there is in the Chilean case.
But in the New Orleans incident a mob
stormed Jail, overcame the local author
lty and put to death several prisoners
who had the same protection afforded all
our people. Two of the men were sub
]ects Of the King of Italy This mob was
not inspired by hatred of Italy or of
Italians, but by the fierce passion aroused
by the assassination of New Orleans citi-
zens by the agents of band of cutthroats
representing an organized society of
thugs and robbers having its headquar-
ters in an italian province.
Precisely the same demonstration of
mob passion might have occurred, and
several such have been known. where
the victims of hot blood were all Ameri
can citizens. Italy demanded of the
United States inquiry and reparation for
the two italian subjects killed at New
Orleans, and our Government in re-
sponse took steps, already ordered, to
promote investigation and judicial re-
search by the established authorities and
the courts of the State of Louisiana.
1t will thus be seen that we are not do
ing in Chile anything rebuked by our
action in the New Orleans case. IF the
Chllean Junta expresses its regret. and
asks time III which to have local author
ity investigate the case and bring Offend
ers to trial, our Government will not re-
fuse it. The United States could not dis
cipline New Orleans or compel Louisiana
to do SO. But it could and did appeal to
the State to do its full duty in ferreting
out the offenders, and it could and did
direct its own agents to inquire into and
report upon the case.
Chileans assaulted and killed our men
out of hatred for the uniform they wore.
and were abetted by the Chilean police.
The New Orleans mob was an uncon-
trollable body of rioters, reused by a Grim
inal assault upon the people. Our Gov
ernment within day expressed its sor-
row at the occurrence and communicated
its regret to Italy with the promise to aid
in investigation. Chile in the latter case
did nothing, took no steps to aid justice,
and did not even express regret to the
UnitedSStates Government for the occur
renee.
The cases are wholly dissimilar, and
Chile can find in the New Orleans Incl
dent no precedent for inaction, the Lon
don Post and ''the thunderer'' to the con-
trary notwithstanding.