The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-10
His Treatment of the Chilian Incident Com
mended as Evidence That All Foreigners
Must Respect the Stars and Stripes.
Those Who Expected Him to Ignore the
Silver Question Sorely Disappointed.
Recommendations Of Inspectors Looking to an
Improvement Of Service at the POST
Offices Throughout the Country.
THE MESSAGE WELL RECEIVED.

President Harrison Commended for the
Stand Taken Public Questions.
special 10 the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Men of affairs
and those in private life who keep the
closest run of current events first turned to
President Harrison's treatment of the
Chllian incident when the message was
laid before Congress this afternoon and
copies of it were distributed at the Capitol
The greatest interest was taken in this. the
first official statement of the status of the
case. The firm manner in which the case
throughout was stated in the message was
very gratifying TO every one who has the
welfare of American citizens upper
most in their hearts. and in the
estimation of almost all men in Congress
the President has added another wreath to
his crown in the effort to elevate the rights
of American citizens abroad and demand
respect everywhere for the stars and
stripes. 1t was especially gratifying to
Congress to learn that the President in
tends TO depart from the old custom of
secrecy and send to Congress the official
correspondence and thereby give to the
entire country all of the facts relating to
the killing of American sailors in the streets
of Valparaiso. because they wore the uni
form of the United States; also. that he
believes the present status of the case war
rants some sort of action on the part of
Congress. In the entire treatment of the
Chllian affair the President gave evidence
of his old-time determination to maintain
the rights of Americans in foreign lands.
War or any hostile step can only be taken
by direction of Congress and the reference
to Chilis attitude is regarded as signiti-
cant.
Next in Importance in the mind of the
public here, ana that which 1t was quickly
turned to, was the Presidents reference to
the financial condition of the country, and
the operation of the Mckinley tariff law.
Many supposed the question, so energetic
ally evaded by the Democratic leaders at
present, that of free coinage. would be
"etraddledr or ignored. Not so in this in
stance. President Harrison. while not
evincing q dogmatic disposition. earnestly
points out the disastrous effect absolute
free coinage would have upon the country
if undertaken before an international
standard was adopted. Then there were
those who expected TO see the President
light shy" of q fair and square Indorse-
ment of the tariff law as it stands, and
hoped to see him point out objections and
make suggestions of amendments. On the
contrary. the Endorsement of the law is full
and direct, and the President ex pressed the
belief that it is the best that could have
been invented, taken in connection with
its reciprocity provisions.
Presidential messages have heretofore
been largely reviews OF executive depart
ment work. dealing IN figures and stero-
typed facts. This evenings Star voices the
comment of hundreds Of statesmen ut the
capital to- day when it says that wv hlle il
is long. it is packed so full of meaty. inter
esting matter edited with nice discrimina-
tion, that it is hard to suggest where the
cut would be properly made that 1T is
not formal rehash of the department re-
ports" and that "the President has i'm
pressed his individuality upon every SEN
tence of it, and the art of putting things
effectively. of which he has shown his
mastery in the admirable, condensed
speeches which he has made from time to
time during his administration. has evil
IDENTIFY not deserted him."
The message is complimented by men in
both branches of Congress, not alone for
it's originality of ideas and new matter,
but for Its business qualities 1t IS on
every hand taken as an appeal 20 the Amer
icanism of citizens, and their better sense
of judgment rather than their political
prejudices. The message was attentive
~ listened 10 w men IN all parties WDen
read before Congress. and will have an un-
usual impression upon future legislation.
for it bears upon its own face evidence
that 1t was prepared by one who. above
all, desires the best for the American peo-
pie. The message was delivered to both
the Senate aud House at noon by Mr..
Pruden, one of the Presidents secretaries
1t required an hour and n quarter to read
it in the Senate. and when il was finished
that body adjourned. In the House the
men who showed most interest in the doc
ument were Messrs. Herbert of Alabama,
Miller of Wisconsin, and Otis and Simp-
son of Kansas
How Chilians View the Message.
VALPARAISO, Dec. 9.-The substance of
President Harrison's statement of the Val
paraiso affair was received to-day. and is
the subject of universal comment. 1t is re-
garded by the Chilians as decidedly menao-
ing q rupture between the two conn-
tries, as it is not believed that the
Chilian government will consent TO any
apologies or to pay indemnity. 1t is
now no secret that the government is
proceeding actively with warlike prepara-
tions and that artillery of the latest manu-