Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-12-16

visional government was speedily established
by the victorious party. our minister WAS
promptly directed to recognize and put himself
In communication with this government as
as it shonld have established its de tacto char
acter, which was done During the tendency
OF this civil contest frequent indirect appeals
were made to this government to extend bell1g-
erent rights to the insurgents and to give audi
ence to their representatives, This was de-
clined, and that policy was pursued through
out which this government, when wrenched by
CIVIL war, SO streuEouSly assisted upon on the
part of European nations.
The ltata an armed vessel commanded by
naval officer of the insurgent fleet, manned by
its sailors and with soldiers on board was
seized under process of the United States court
at san Diego, Cal, for q violation of our neu-
trality laws. While in the custody of an officer
of the court the vessel was forciblv wrested
from his control and put to sea- 1t would have
been inconsistent with the dignity and self re-
spect of this government not to have insisted
that the ltata should be returned 10 San Diego
to abide the judgment of the court This was
SO clear to the Junta Of the congressional party,
established at Iquique, that, before the arrival
ofthe Itata at that port the secretary of foreign
relations of the provisional government ad-
dressed to Rear Admiral Brown, comma nd
ing the United States naval forces, a
Ing is an extract: The provisional
government has learned by the cablegrams
of the Associated Press that the transport Itata,
detained in San Diego by order of the United
States for taking on board munitions of war, and
in possession of the marshal, left the port,
carrying IN board this official, who was landed
her voyage + r If this news be correct
this government would deplore the conduct OF
the ltata, and, as an evidence that it is not dis
posed to support or agree to the infractlon of
claws of the United States, the undersigned
takes advantage of the personal relations you
nave been good enough to maintain with him
since your arrival in this port to declare to you
that as soon she is within reach Of our orders
this government will put the Itata, with the
arms and munitions she took on board San
Diego, at the disposition of the United States.'
trial in the district court of the United
States for the Southern District of California
has recently resulted In a decision holding,
among other things, that, inasmuch the con-
gress1onal party had not been recognized a
belligerant, the acts done in its interest could
not be violation of our neutrality laws From
th1s judgment the United states has appealed,
not that the condemnation of the vessel is q
matter of importance, but that may know
what the present state of our law is; for if this
construction of the statute is correct. there is
obvious necessity for revision and amendment
During the progress of the war in Chill this
government rendered its good Offices to bring
about peaceful adjustment, and it was at enc
time hoped that good result might be reached;
but in this we were disappointed. The in
structiOns to our naval officers and to min
lister at Santiago, from the first to the last of
this struggle enjoined upon them the most I'M
partial treatment and absolute non-interfer-
ence. | am satisfied that these instructions
were observed, and that our representatives
were always watchful TO use their influence i'm
partially to the interest of humanity and, on
more han one occasion, did SO effectively. We
could not forget, however that this govern
merit was In diplomatic relations with the then
established government of Chill, as it is
now ir such relations with the successor of that
government. l am quite sure that President
Montt who has, under circumstances of promise
for the peace of Chill, been install ed presi-
dent of that republic, will not desire that in
the unfortunate event of any revolt against his
authority the policy of this government should
be other tnan that which we have recently OBJ
served. No official complaint of the conduct of
our minister or of our naval officers during the
struggle has been presented to this government;
and il 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 rival interests and i'll wish to
pelvert the relations of the United States with
Chilli.
The collapse of the government of Balmace-
da brought about condition which is unfor
tuneately too familiar in the history of the Cen
trail and South American states. With the
overthrow of the Balmaceda government, he
and many of his councillors and officers be-
came at once fugives for their lives and
appealed to the commanding otficerE of
paraisO and to the resident foreign ministers al
santiago for asylum. This asylum was freely
given, according to my information, by the
naval vessels of several foreign powers and by
several of the legations at Santiago. The
American minister, well as his colleagues,
acting upon the impulses of humanity extend
ed asylum to political refugees whose lives
were in peril have not been willing to direct
the surrender of such of these persons as
still In the American legation without suitable
conditions.
not in position. in view of the precedents
with which it has been connected, to broadly
deny the right of asylum, and the correspond
ence has not thus far presented any such denial.
The treatment of our minister for q time was
such 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 re-
sci d pH or