The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-03
THIS UNsCRUPULoUs EGAN.
Chileans Suspect Him of Helping in a
Spohation Scheme.
From the Net0 York Times.

From the Netg York Times.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3O.-For reasons Of
policy, which the public may or may not
assume are wise, the state department is
preserving the strictest secrecy about such
correspondence as it is ha.ing with Minis
ter Egan, and with the result of a season of
calm and confidence at the state depart
ment in the restoration at Santiago of bet
ter relations between the government of
Chile and our incompetent and irritating
representative there.
1t is assumed, from all the facts that can
be obtained, that the administration is now
devoting some effort to finding out how
much of Egan's story about the affront sup
posed to have been offered to us was justi-
fed and how much was attributable to per-
sonal alarm as the result of warran ted
NEEDING with the affairs of the Chileans.
The row that he has apparently kicked up
has furnished a reason, until the facts are
more clearly presented, for postp0ning his
recall, if there has been studied indignlty
to the United States that must be apollo
gized for, without regard to the feeling
that Egan may have aroused against him
self personally. II he is no longer person
ally acceptable to the Chilean authorities,
that is matter 10 be ascertained and at
tended to later.
Although none of the dispatches from
Chile has to-day been made known, enough
of the character of the news from that
country is learned to make it plain that,
while there has been a relaxation of the
restraints placed about the United States
legation at Santiago, the situation is one of
imminent disorder, requiring the utmost
prudence on the part OF the minister to pre-
serve the peace and secure fair treatment
for Americans.
One dispatch is snid to have br ught the
infoi nation that after the Chilean guard
had been withdrawn, there had been reN
newal of the demand for the surrender of
the refugees, and that the answer to that
from Washington was the proposition that
the refugees should be assured of safe
transit after surrender, should they desire
to leave the country. This is like the pro-
ceeding Of a case in Hayti, where Minister
Baasett harbored refugees, and where, after
much correspondence touching the PROPOSE
ton to give them up, au agreement was
reached by which the Haytians and the
United States representative escorted the
refugees to the vessel that was to take them
away from the republic.
There Aas been no complaint from Capt.
Schiey of annoying sucve llauce over the
Baltimore. Tho fact reported by him that
the harbor of Valparaiso was patrolled by
a large number of boats carrying armed
men, and that there was evidently q close
watch for persons seeking to escape to
foreign vessels, no doubt led to the story
about the surrounding of the Baltimore by
the police. The captain of the Baltimore
could not, it Is known. protest against the
exercise by the Chueans of any police pre-
cautions the government chose TO provide
Ia their own harbor, and it is assumed from
what is known of Capt. Schley that he
would not permit any insolent annoyanc,
to himself on the part of the police.
There was a laugh at the navy depart
msnt about the report attributed to New
York paper that the Baltimore had been
ordered to proceed Immediately from VAL
anywhere that Capt. Schley can take Der,
but she cannot yet skate over dry land, and
there is no snip railway from Valparaiso TO
Santiago.
Until there is greater urgency for The
dispatch to Chile of additional vessels, the
white squadron will be permitted to rest in
the neighborhood of New York, but its
vessels will be liable to immediate orders
should the diplomatic controversy that has
now begun take an unfavoreble turn.
The asset ton is made here, and it is re-
peeted for what it IS worth, that the ri EST
dent will not find it an easy matter to re.
| move Minister Egan, for the reason that his
removal may uncover a scheme that in
wolves Mr.. Blaine and many prominent
persons OF Ootu parties, VINO nave Dsen eX-
pecting to secure profitable concessions In
the event of the success of the Balmaceda
party. but who are now, through the victory
Of the congressionalists, thrown into con-
fusion and threatened with exposure.
The existence of this commercial" alli-
auce is said to be well known to the junta,
and the knowledge is said to account for the
hostile demonstration at the legation of the
United States, as the cougressionalists have
obtained the impression that Minister Egan
was supporting the schemes CT the Ameri-
cans. who hoped to gain by Balmaceda's
triumph.
Further than this. the gossip about the
conspiracy asserts that it has exerted much
influence in the American press to support
the cause Of the dead president, and that
this course was well marked out and pro-
tected at every point. The congressional
lists have become bitter toward Egan in the
belief that he was friendly to purpose of
spoliatioa of thu Chileans. and this feeling
has undoubtedly been encouraged by the
English business community, which has al
ways regarded Americans as intruders upon
field to which they considered themse yes
entitled by prior occupation.