The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-10

the Italian people nor in any iisrssoacf to
the governmsnt of Italy. with which onr
relations were OF the most friendly charac-
Ter. Inc Jury OF the mob was directed
asaiust these men as the supposed partici-
pants or accessories in the murder OF a CITY
ofhcer. l dc not allude to this as mitiOat.
ing In any degree this offeuse against TIE
law ana humanity, but only as affecting the
International questions which grew out OF
IT, IL was at once represented BY the Ital-
ian minister that several OF those whose
llves had been taken by the mob were Ital-
ian subjects. demand was made for the
punishment OF the participants and for az
indemnity to the families OF those
VINO were killed. It is regretted that
the manner in which these claims were per-
sented was not such as to promote a calm
discussion OF the questions involved. but
this may be attributed TO the excitement
and indignation which the crime naturally
evoked. The views OF this government as
70 It's obligations TO foreigners domiciled
nere were fully stated IN the correspond
ence, as well as its purpose to make an In
vestigation Of the affair with view to de-
termlne whether there were present any
circumstances that could. under such rules
OF DUTY as we had indicated, create an OBJ
legation on the United States The tempo
rary absence Of a minister plenipotenti ary
or Italy at this capital has retarded the
further correspondence, but it is not
doubted that friendly conclusion is attain
able.
Some suggestions growing out OF this I'M
happy incident are worthy the attention of
congress. 1t would, believe, be entirely
competent for congress to make offenses
against the treaty rights Of foreigners dom
iciled in the United States cognizable in the
federal courts. This has rot, however, been
done, and the federal officers and courts
have no power in such cases
10 intervene either for the protection
of foreigner or for the punishment OF his
slayers. 1t seems to me TO follow in this
state Of the law, that the officers of the state
charged with police and judicial powers in
such cases must, in the consideration OF iu-
ternationel questions growing out Of such
incidents be regarded in such sense as fed
eral agents as TO make this government an
swerable for their acts In cases where it
would be answerable if the United States
had used its constitutional power to define
and punish crimes against treaty rights.
CHILE's CIVIL WAR.
The civil war in Chile, which began in
January last, was continued, but fort-
unately with infrequent and not important
armed collisions. until Aug. %, 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 speedily estab-
listed by the victorious party. Our minis
ter was promptly directed to recognize and
put himself In communication with this
government so soon as it should establish its
de fdcto character, which was done. Dur-
lug the tendency of this contest frequent
indirect appeals were made to this govern
ment to tender bellIgerent rights to the in-
surgents and TO give audience to their reps
resentatives. This was declined, and that
policy was pursued throughout, which this
government. when wrenched by civil war,
so strenuously insisted on on the part of Eu-
ropean nations. The Itata an armed YES
sci, commanded by naval officer Of the in
surgent feet, manned by its sailors and
with soldiers on board, was seized under
process of the United States court at San
Diego, CAL, for a violation of our neutral
ity laws. While In the custody of an
officer OF the court the vessel was
forcibly wrested from bis control and
put TO sea. 1t would have been
inconsistent with the dignity and self-re-
spect OF this government not to have in
sisted that the Itata should be returned TO
San Diego to abide the judgment OF the
court. This was so clear to the juGta of
the congressional party established at
lquique that before the arrival Of the Itata
at that port the secretary OF foreign relations
OF the provisional government addressed
TO Rear Admiral Brown, commanding the
United States naval forces, communica-
tiol from which the following isan extract
THE provisional government has learned
by the caolegrams of the Associated Press
that the transport Itata. detained in San
Diego by order of the United States for
taking on board munitions of war and in
possession of the marshal, left the port,
carrying on board this official, who was
"A - Aiv,f khn or,A kha,
continued her voyage. If this news be COR
rect, this government would deplore the
conduct of the Itata, and as an evidence that
it is not disposed to support or agree to the
infractton Of the laws Of the United States
the undersigned takes advantage of the
personal relations you have been good
enough to maintain with him since your ar
rival in this port 10 declare to you that as
soon as she is within reach Of our orders his
government will put the Itata with the arms
or munitions she took on board in San
Diego at the disposition of the United
States.n A trial in the district court Of the
United States for the Southern district Of
California has recently resulted In a decis-
ion holding, among other athings, that mas
much as the congressional party had not
been recognized as belligerent. the acts
done In its interest could not bea violation
of our neutrality laws. From this judg-
ment the United States has appealed,
not that the condemnation is
a matter OF Importance but that we may
know what the present state OF our law is;
for If this construction Of the statute is cor
rect there is obvious necessity for revision
and amendment
THE ANTI-AMERICAN FEELING.
During the progress Of the war in Chile
this government rendered its good offices to
bring about a peaceful adjustment and il
was at one time hoped that a good result
might be reached, but in this we were dis
appointed. The instructions to our naval
officers and to our minister at Santiago
from first to last of this struggle
enioined on them the most impartial
treatment and absolute non-interference.
l am satisfied that these instructions were
observed and that our representatives were
ALWAYS watchful to use their influence i'm
partially in the interest Of humanity and on
more than one occasion didso effectively. We
could not forget, however, that this govern
ment was in diplomatic relations with
the then established government of
Chile, as 1T is now in SUCH re-
lations with the successor OF that
government. l am quite sure that Presl-
dent Montt, who has under circumstances
of promise for the peace of Chile. been in
stalled as president of that republic, will
not desire that in the unfortunate event Of
any revolt against his authority the policy
of this government should be other
than that which we have recently observed.
No official complaint of the conduct of our
minister or of our naval officers during the
struggle has been presented to this govern
"a l.. Of en-