The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-12-10

ing upon the impulses of humanity, ex-
tended asylum to political refugees
whose lives were in peril. have not
been willing to direct the surrender of
such of these persons as are still in the
American legation without suitable
conditions
lit is believed that the government of
Chill is not in position, in view of the
precedents with which it has been con-
nected, to broadly deny the right of
asylum, and the correspondence has not
thus far presented any such denial. The
treatment of our minister for time
was such as to call for decided protest,
and it was very gratifying to observe
that unfriendly measures, which were
undoubtedly the result of the prevailing
excitement, were at once rescinded or
suitably relaxed.
The Baltimore Accident.
On the 10th of October an event oc-
CURED in Valparaiso SO serious and
tragic in it's circumstances and results
as to very justly excite the Indignation
of our people and to call for prompt and
decided action on the part of this gov
ernment. A considerable number of
the sailors of the United States Steam
ship Baltimore. then in the harbor of
Valparaiso, being upon shore leave and
unarmed, were assaulted by armed men
nearly simultaneously in different local
tiles in the city. One petty officer was
killed outright and seven or eight sea-
men were seriously wounded, one of
whom has since died. So savage and
brutal was the assault that several of
our sailors received more than two, and
ns.w l. lie
An investigation of the affair was
the Baltimore, and their report shows
that
These Assaults Were Unproyoked,
that our men were conducting them
selves in 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 a
few others with some well-disposed citi-
zens, endeayored to protect our men.
Thirty-six of our sailors were arrested,
and some of them, while being taken to
prison, were cruelty beaten and mall
treated. The fact that they We're all
discharged, no criminal charge being
lodged against any one of them, shows
very clearly that they We're innocent of
any DFeacu Oh tue peace.
Was an Insult to Uncle Satn.
So far as have yet been able to learn
no other explanation of this bloody
work has been suggested than that it
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 or
personal animosity. The attention of
the Chilian government was at once
called to this affair and statement of
the facts obtained by the investigation
we nad conducted was submitted. ac-
companjed by request to be advised of
any other or qualifying facts in the pos
session of the Chilian government that
might tend to 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 full and prompt re-
paration.
An Offensive Reply.
1t is 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 is
now awaiting the result of an investi-
cation which has been conducted by the
criminal court at Valparaiso. It Is re-
ported unofiicially that the investiga-
tion 10 about completed, and it is ex-
pected that the result viii soon be COM