The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-10-27
THE GILLIAN AsFAIR.

This government is altogether to blame |
for the ugly and unsatisfactory relations !
between the United States and Chilli. Mr.. /
HARRISON and Mr.. BLAINE wanted to
please the Irish voters. They wanted to
men in this country to think that they
were especially recognized and favored by !
the G. o. p. Now there are scores of able /
and patriotic American citizens of Irish |
birth, but as rule they have no sympathy
with the present administration or its
party. They believe in the generous prin-
ciples of Democracy, and came to this
country to escape just such doctrines
put in actual practice as the
Republicans are trying to establish here by
heir centralizing efforts intended to con-
Centrate the government into the hands Of
few, the many being ruled after the
fashion of Imperialism. OF course it would
not do to show favor to one of these pa
triots. PATRICK EGLN had been in Amer
lea only long enough to acquire citizenship
by the swiftest process known to the law,
and because he was an agitator in the land
of his birth and a politician here, he was
selected to fill q post of honor. His
ability was never taken into account. No
body ever thought anything about his
qualifications. I he administration wanted
to 90 something which would
bring IL credit with our citizens of Irish
Rntecedents, and EGAN, in all his rawness
and indiscretions, with his predisposition
to trouble and his aptitude for meddllug
was sent to represent this nation at the
capital OF Chilli. There is very little for an
American minister to do in that country.
His chief duty, legitimstely, consists in
mindiug his own business and avoiding the
taking sides in the political quarrels which
are incident to the South Ameri-
can republic. We have so little to
dos with Chill commercially or dip
lomaticallv that the government at
Washington ought rarely to be in COM
munication with its representative at
Santiago except as to formal reports.
Minister EGAN, however, is q born dis
tUrber, an agitator and it is utterly impos-
sible for him to be in the neighborhood of
q political quarrel without taking hand in
it. If nobody else will get up dispute he
will see to it that the contention comes. He
had scarcely arrived at the Gillian capital
when stories reached this country
of his offensive interference in local
affairs, and when the late trouble
arose between the tryrant BALMA-
cEDA and the oppressed Gillian peopls
who set out to free themselves
from the rule of the butcher, EGAN took
sides with the autocrat and became con-
spicuously active in behalf of his friend
and the brutal rule which the latter per-
sonifed. The minister continued this
course to the down fall OF BALMAoEDA, per-
sistently and Extensively showing his par
tanship when the situation demanded alb
polutely neutrality in action aud the
avoidance Of any show of sympathy for
either side in the controversy.
Under the circumstances, can there be
any surprise when the victorious Gillian
people show their dislike for Amer
leans and their resentment OF the
course pursued by our representative
The Chilisns would be controlled by other
than human sentiments and passions if
they were to feel kindly toward the United
States, which government has done that
which would naturally Cause the STRUGGLING
southern republic to feel that the grea,
power Of the north was its enemy. The
truth is the mischief has been wrought by
the indiscretion Of snd lack of diplomacy
In Minister EGAN, man who was ap-
pointed to the place solely because il was
thought that his influence with the Irish il
America would help the Republican party
At the same time, while the administers
ton has brought this troubls upon itself
every American will say that Chill must bC
brought to account for its indignities t.
our soldiers and citizens. When it comes
TO requiring q show of respect for thu
American flag and our countrymen at th,
hands Of other governments and people, i
is not question Of politics and parties a
home. The proposition appeals to Ameri
can citizens. Everybody will hope tina
President HARRISON and Secretar,
BLAINE will be equal to the occasion; tina
they will show by the prompt action whicl
they take in the case, that they und erstant
fully the great responsibility which rest
upon them. An American sailor who be
HAYES himself must be as free to walk tn
streets Of Valparaiso as any citizen o