The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-06
close - Business with ch,le.

Close This Business With Chile
With the lapse OF time the fact becomes
more patent that our national adminIstra-
ton at Washington has been victimizsd and
embroiled with the government OF Chile by
tie chosen diplomatic representative Of the
department Of state under the appointment
Of Secretary Blaine. Such a conclusion is
now almost unavoidable in viewing the stu
alton from any logical standpoint Still il
isn't pleasant 20 have the foreign press pass
ing dsyaraging comments upon the dull
lack Of perception that our government is
exhibiting in the affair and the incredibly
coniding guilelessness Of our foreign depart
ment
According 20 the statements of q very
bright and intelligent and, also apparently
careful, Valparaiso correspondent of the
London Times who has thoroughly iuvssti-
gated the causes Of friction the evidence
gathered from sill hands appears conclu-
sively 70 prove that the American squad
ron acted the part Of spies for Bslmaceda,
aud that, second only TO the dictator's
troops, the most effective assistance to the
cause Of oppression was received from Min
istsr Egan, the American squadron and the
Washington administration, the two latter
having probably been deceived by Minister
Egan from the first I have absolutely
verified from ex-oficial sources Minister
Egan's intimacy with aud ohssQuiousness to
Balmaceda. The ooncensus OF documentary
aud other evidence compels belief in the
accuracy of the charge that Admiral Brown
impaired the result of bis visit % Quintero
n Aofa tell A al 10
statement that he took a British naval
officer to Quintero is untrue"
Furthermore the writer declares that the
"Chileans would be more or less than human
IL they did not resent Minister Egans hec-
toring aud broWbeating tone. Unless they
come to his assistance by departure from
the moderate attitude they now maintain
it only remains for Mr.. Blaine to climb
down as softly and gently as he can. The
| American people are certainly concerned
to discover and punish those who employed
their ships and influence in ways which, If
not absolutely corrupt, are at least ex-
| tremely irregular and mischievous."
Shrewd guesses may be made to the effect
1 that the Times merely wishes to damage
American commercial interests in Chile.
But that surmise is not tenable in view of
| all the facts adduced. Rather than to place
the American people in a light of antagon-
ism or unfriendiness to Chile they tend to
show that we have acted without prejudice
and in good faith. but have simply been
duped and betrayed into error by the
duplicity Of an unreliable representative.
To have his integrity brought into COM
mon dispute wholly destroys his usefulness
for the diplomatic service. More cannot
be expected of any people than to act fairly
upon the faith Of the best information at
command.
About the only way in which Secretary
Blaine can definitely settle this affair In a
satisfactory manner without further injuri-
Gus delay is to dispatch trustworthy and
capable special envoy down to Chile with
full authority to investigate and ascertain
the actual facts, aud proceed in accordance
with the requirements of justice aud the
conclusions to which they legitimately lead.