The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-10

| growing out Of such incidents, tie re sarded IN
such sense as federal agents as 10 make tuls
| government answerable for their acts ~ cases
| where H. would be answerabla Ii the United
| States had used its constitutional power 10 de-
fine and punish crimes against treaty rights.
| CHILI's TROUBLE.
The civil war in Chill, which began in Janu-
airy last, was continued, but fortunately with
infrequent and not important armed collisions,
! until August 28, when the congressional forces
landed near Valparaiso and, after bloody en-
| gagement, captured that city. President Bal.
maceda at once recognized that his cause was
lost, and provisional government was speedily
established by the victorious party. Our minis
| ter was promptly directed TO recognize and put
himself 70 communication with this government
| so soon as is should have established It's defacto
character, which was done. During the pen.
dency OF this civil contest, frequent and direct
/ appeals were mado TO this government TO ex-
tend beligerant rights to the insurgents and TO
give audience to their representatives. TnlS
| was declined and that policy was pursued
throughout which this government when
Wrenched by civil war, so strenuously insisted
| upon the part OF European nations.
HOW THE ITATA WAS RETURNED.
The Itata, an armed vessel commanded by a
naval oficer of the insurgent feet, manned by
Its sailors aud with soldiers on board, was seized
under process of the United States court at San
Diego, CAL, for a violation Of our neutrality
laws. While in the custody of an officer of the
court, the vessel was forcibly wrested from his
| control and put to sea. 1t would have been In
consistent with the dignity and self respect OF
| this government not TO have insisted that toe
| Itata should be returned to San Diego to abide
| the judgme OF tbs court This was so clear
i to the Junfa of the congressional party estaD-
lished at Iquique that, before the arrival OF the
Itata at that port the secretary OF foreign rela-
| tions of the provisional government, addressed
70 Rear Admiral Brown, commanding the united
States naval forces, communication from
| which the following Is an extract: the pro-
1 visional government has learned by the cable
| grams of the Associated Press, that the trans
port Itata detained in San Diego by order OF the
| United States for taking on board munitions OF
war. and In possession OF the marshal, LETT that
| port carrying on board the official who was
| landed at a point near the coast and then con-
| tinued her voyage If this news be correct. this
/ government would deplore the conduct OF the
Itata and, as an evidence that 1t is not disposed
to support or agree to the infracrion OF the laws
| OF the United States. the undersigned takes ad-
| vantage of the personal relations you have been
| good enough to maintain with him since your
arrival in this port. to declare to you that as
| soon as she is within reach of our orders, this
| government will put the Nltata with The arms
and munitions she took on board IN san Diego
| al the disposition of the United States.
THAT QUEER DECISION.
| trial In the district court of the United
| States for the southern district of Cali ornla
has recently resulted In a decision holding,
among other things that, inasmuch as the con-
| gressional party had not been recognized rs
belllgerent, the acts done In Its interest could
not be violation Of our neutrality laws. From
| this judgment the United States has appealed,
not that the condemnation Of the vessel Is a
matter of Importance but that we may know
what the present state OF our law is. for, II this
construction nj the Statute is correct, there Is
an obvious necessity Tor revision and amend
ment.
AMERICAN IMPARTIALITY IN CHILL.
Il he a f,,f
| government rendered Its good offices to bring
about peaceful adjustment and it was at one
| time hoped that a good result might be reached;
but in this we were disappointed. The instruc.
tions TO our naval officers and to our minister at
Santiago from the first to the last of this slrug.
| gle enjoned upon them the most impartial treat
ment and absolute n0n.interference. l am sat
lsfed that these instructions were observed and
t mat @ our M urrepresentstiVes were always watchtul
est OF humanity, and, on more than one oecas-
ion. did so effectively. We could not forget how
ever, that This government WAS in diplomatic
| relatons with the then established government
OF Chill as i is now In such relations with the
successor OF that government. am qui'e sure
that Preside M0ntt who has under circum-
stanceS of promise for the peace of Chill, been
| installed as president OF that republic will not
desire tnat, IN the unfortunate event of any re-
volt against bis authority the policy of this gov
ernment should be other tina that which We
have recently observed.
MINISTER EGAN COMMENDED.
| No official complaint of the conduct OF our
minister or of our naval officers during the
| struggle has been presented to this government
| and it is matter of regret that so many OF our
| own people should have given ear to unofficial
charges and complaints that manifestly had
their origin in civil interests and in wish to
pervert the relations of the United States and
Chill. The collapse Of the government of Bal
maCe0a brought a fc
unfortunately, too familiar in the history of the
Central and South American states. With the
oyerthrows OF the Balmaceda government, he
and many OF his councillors and officers became
at once fugttiyes for their lives aud appealed 10
vessels in the harbor OF Valparaiso aud TO the
resident foreign ministers at Santiago for an
| log to my Information, by the naval vessels OF
l legations at Santiago. The American minister
as well as his colleagues, acting upon the i'm
pulses Of humanity. extended asylum to poll
tical 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. 1t is BE-
lieved that the government OF Chill, is not ia
position, 10 view OF the precedenIs with which
1t has been connected, TO broadly deny the right
OF asylum and the correspondence has bot thus
far presented any such denial. The treatment
of our minister for time was such as to call for
decided protest and 1t was very gratifying TO
observe that uIfriendly measures. which were
undoubtedly the result Of the prevailing ex-
cit-ment, were at once resciuded or suitably re-
laxed.
UNITED STATES SAILORS MURDERED,
On the 18th of October an event oc urred In
Valparaiso so serious and tragic In It's circum-
stances and results as to very justly excite the
indignation of our people and to call for prompt
action on the part OF this government. A con-
siderable number of the sailors of the United
States steamship Baltimore, then in the harbor
OF Valparaiso, being upon shore leave and un-
armed. were assaulted by armed men nearly
simultaneously In different localities in the city,
One petty officer was killed outright and seven
or eight seamen Were seriously wounded, one
of whom has since died. So savage and brutal
was the assault that several Of our sailors re-
eevea w more n tnan two ana y one az many as eigh,
affair was promptly made by board of officers
OF the Baltimore and their report shows that
these assaults were unprOvoked that our men
were conducting themselves in peaceable and
orderly manner, and that some Of the police OF
| the city took part In the assault and used their
weapons with fatal effect, while few others,
with some well disposed citizens, endeavored to
protect our men. ThiTty-six of our sailors were
| arrested and some OF them. while being taken
The fact that they were all discharged, no GRIM
| lnal charge being lodged against any one of
them. shows very clearly that they were inno-
cent OF any breach OF the peace.
So far as have yet been able to learn no 9TH
| er explanation of this bloOdy work has been
suggested than that II had its origin In hostility
| wearing the uniform Of their government and
| not In any individual act or personal animOsity
PREPARATION REQUESTED
The attention Of the Chilian government was
| at once called to this affair and statement of
the facts obtained by the investigation we had
conducted was submitted, accompanied by a
request to be advised Of any other or qualifying
facts in the possession of the Chilian govern
ment that might tend to relieve the affair Of the
| appearance of an insult to this government.
The Gillian government was also advised that
| If such qualifying facts did not exist, this
| government would confidently expect full aud
prompt reparatioD.
1t is to be regretted that the reply of the sec.
retary Of foreign affairs of the provisional gov
ernment was cOuched in an offensive tone. 70
| this no response has been made This govern
ment Is now awaiting the result OF AN inyestiga-
| lion which has been conducted by the criminal
| court at Valparaiso. 1t Is reported unoficIally
that the investigation is about completed aud it
1 Is expected the result will soon be cOmmuni-
| Gated TO the government, together with some
adequate and satisfactory response to the note
by which the attention of Chill was called 10 The
| incident. IL these just expectations should be
| disappointed or further needless delay inter-
i vene, will, by special message. bring this
/ matter again TO the attention of Congress for
such action as may be necessary. Tue entire
correspondence with the government of Chill
will, at an early dsy, be submitted to Congress.
| TONNAGE DUES AND SLAVE TRAFFIC.
| renew the recommendation of my special
message, dated January 16. 1890, for the adop-
tion OF the necessary legislation to enable this
| government TO apply in the case of Sweden and
| Norway, the same rule In respect to the levy
ing of tonnage dues as was claimed and secured
| to the shipping of the United States in 1928
4 q OF tba