Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-12-11

O.
A trial in the district court of the
United States for the southern district
of California has rer-utly resulted IN a
decision holding. among other things,
that iua.much as the congressional
party had not been recognized As bel
l--reut. the acts done IN its interest
could not be- a violation Of our neutral
ity laws From this Judgment the
United States has appealed. not that the
condemnation 0f the vessel ls a matter
of impFrtauee. but that we know what
the present state of Our law Is; for. II
this construction of the status is correct,
there Is obvious necessity for revision
and amendment.
rendered Good Ofices.
During the progre,, of the war in Chill
this government rendered it, good Of
fice- to Wing about a peaceful adjust
meut and 10 was at one time hoped that
a good result might be reached, but in
this We were disappointed.
The instructions to our naval officers
and % our minister at Santiago, from
the first 10 the last of THIS struggle, en-
iOined upon them the most impartial
treatment and obsolute non-interfer-
ence. am sStIsfied that these instrue-
tions were observed and that our repre-
sentatives were always watchful 70 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
Chilli, as it is now in such relations
with the successor Of that government
Right of Asylum.
The collapse of the government of
Balmaceda brought about q 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 ap-
pealed to tie commanding officers of the
foreign naval vessels in the harbor of
Valparaiso and 70 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 well as his colleagues, act
ing upon the impulses of humanity, ex-
tended asylum 70 political refugees
whose lives were in peril have not
been willing 70 direct the surrender Of
such of these persons az are still IN the
American legation without suitable
IL- ions.
t u.. -vo7 that the government of
Chill j. no. a position, IN view OF the
preCedeuUs with which 10 has been con-
nrCtsd % broadly deny the rlgnt Of
asylum and the correspondence has not
thus far presented any such denial. The
treatment Of our minister for a time
was such as 10 call for decided protest,
and IL was very gratifying 10 observe
that unfrIpHdlv measures. which were
undoubtedly the result Of the prevailing
excitement, were al once resclnded or
suitably relaxed.
The Baltimore Accident
On the 10th of October an event oc-
CURED in Valparaiso SO serious and
tragic In its circumstances and results
/ a. 10 verv Justly excite the Indignation
| OF our people and 20 call for prompt and
decided action ON the part OF this gov
ernment. 4 considerable number Of
the sailors of the United States Steam
ship Baltimore. then IN the harbor Of
. Valparaiso. being upon shore leave and
uuarmed. were assaulted by umed men
nearly simultaneously IN different local
ities IN the city. one petty officer was
killed outright and seven or eight sea-
men We're seriously wounded, one of
. whom has since died. 80 savage and
brutal was the assault that several of
our sailors received more than two, and
one as many AS eighteen 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 Unprovoked.
| that our men were conducting them
selves in a 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
few others with some well-dispOsed citi-
zens. endeavored 10 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 10 learn
no other explanation of this bloody
work has been suggested than that II
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 OF
j aAA1ANA1AA
the Chilian government was at once
called to this affair and a statement Of
the facts obtained by the investigation
we had conducted was submitted. ac-
companied by "A request TO be advised Of
any other OF qualifying facts in the pos
session of the Chilian government that
might tend 70 relieve this affair Of the
appearance of an insult to this govern
ment. The Chilian government was
also advised that if such qualifying facts
did not exist this government would
confidently expect FUN and prompt re
psratiOn.
An Onensive Reply.
1t il TO be regretted that the reply Of
the secretary for foreign Affairs Of the
provisional government was couched in
an offensive tone. To this no response
has been made. This government h
now awaiting the result Of an investi-
CATION which has been conducted BY the
criminal court at Valparaiso. Il Il re-
ported unofIicially that the investiga-