Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-12-18

| would, | believe, be entirely competent fol-
congress to make offenses against the
treaty rights OF foreigners domicied in the
United States cognizable in the fedora
courts. This has not, however, been done
and the federal officers and colttts rave nc
power in such cases to intervene either
for the protection of a foreign cit
zen, or for the punishment Of
his slayers 1t seems 10 me TO follow IN
this state OF law, that the officers OF the
state. charged with the police and judicial
powers in such cases must. in the consider
alton OF international questions. growing
out OF such incidents. be regarded in such
sense as federal agents as to make this gov.
eminent answerable for their acts in cases
where 1t would be answerable IL the United
States mad used its constitutional power 10
define and punish crimes against treaty
rights.
The Chilean complications.
The civil war in Chile, which began in
January last was continued, but for.
tunately with infrequent and not impor-
tant armed collisions unit August %,
when the congressional forces landed near
Valparaiso, and after a bloody engagement
captured that city. President Balmaceda
ut once recognized that hi, cause was lost
and provisional government was speedily
established by the victorious party. Our
minister was promptly directed to recog
nize and put himself in communication
with this government so soon as it should
have established do facto character, which
was done. During the tendency Of this
civil contest. frequent indirect appeals were
made to this government TO extend belliger
ent rights to the insurgents and TO
give audience to their representatives.
This was declined, and that policy was
pursued throughout, which this govern
ment, when wrenched by civil war, so
strcnuOusly insisted upon the part of
European nations. The Itata, an armed
vessel commanded by naval officer of the
insurgent fleet. 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 forcbly wrested
from his control and put tn sea. 1t would
he inconsistent with the dignity and self
respect of this government not to have in
sisted that the ltata should be returned to
San Diego, to abide the Judgment of the
court. This was so clear TO the junta of
the congressional party, established at
lquiqne, that. before the arrival of the
ltata at that port, the secretary of foreign
relations Of the provisional government ad-
dressed Rear Admiral Brown, command
ing the United States naval forces, a COM
munication, from which the following Is
an extract: The provisional government
has learned by the cabegrams of
port luata, detained in San Diego,
by order OF the United States for taking
On board munitions of war and iE. posses
sion of the marshals left the port, carrying
on board this official, who was landed at a
point near the coast and there continued
her voyage. If this news he correct, this
government would deplore the conduct OF
the Itntl and pviIpnpp fla "a IL il an
to support or agree TO the infrac-
tioQ of the lays of the Upited States, the
takes advantages OF the per
sonal relations you have been good enough
20 maintain with him since your arrival in
this port, to declare to you that as soon as
she is within reach of our orders his gov
eminent will put the ltata, with the arms
and munitions she took on board in San
Diego, aI the disposition of the United
Ststes,"
A trial in the district court OF the United
States for the southern district of Cali
fornia has recently resulted In n decision
holding, among other things. that, mas
much as the congressional party had not
been recognized as a belligerent, the acts
done in its interest could not he violation
Of our neutrality laws From this judg-
ment the Unite States has appealed, not
that the condemnation OF the yes
sci IS "a matter of import
present state of our laws, for, If this CON
struction of the statute ia correct, there is
obvious necessity for revision and amend
ment. During the progress of the war in
Chile, this government rendered its good
Offices to bring about peaceful ad just-
ment, and 1t was at one time hoped that
good result might be reached; but in this
we were disappointed The instructions
to our naval officers and to our minister at
Santiago, from the first to the last of this
this struggle, enjoined upon them the most
impartial treatment and absolute non
interference. ! ain satisfied that these in
structions we're observed, and that our rep
resentatlves we're always watchful to use
their influence impartialy in the interest
of humanity, ana on more Ihan one occa-
sion, did so effectively.
We could not forget. however, that this
government was IN diplomatic relations
with the then established government OF
chile as 1t is now in such relations with
the successor OF that government. | am
quite sure that President Montt, who has
under circumstances of promise tor the
peace of Chile, been installed as
president OF that republic, will not
desire that in the unfortunate
event of any revolt against his authority.
the policy Of thi, government should bc
other than which we have recently OBJ
served. No official complaint of the con
duet OF our minister or of our naval of
tcers during the struggle has been pre-
scented TO this government and it Is
matter of regret that so many of our own
people should have given ear TO the I'M
Official charges and complaints that mani
testify had their origin in rival interests
and in wish to peryert the relations of
the United States with Chile.
The collapse OF the government OF Bal
maeeda brought about condition which
II, unfortunately, too familiar in the Ills
tory of the Central and South American
states. With the overthrow of the Balma-
ceda government he and many of his
counselurs ana officers became at once
fugltlves for their lives, and appealed to
the commanding officers of the foreign
naval vessels in the harbor of Valparaiso
and to the resident foreign ministers at
santiago for asylum. This asylum was
freely given, according to my information
by the naval vessels of several foreign
powers aud by several of the lega-
tiuns at Santiago. The Amer
can minister, as well as his colleagues,
acting under the Impulse OF humanity. ex-
tended asylum TO political refugees, whose
lives were in peril. have not been will
ing to direct the surrender of such of these
persons as are still in the American legation
without suitable understanding. 1t is be-
lleved that the government OF Chile Is not
in position in view of the precedents
i'll which 1t has been connected, to broadly
ueny tne right Oh asylum. and the cores
pondence has not thus far presented any
such denial. The treatment of our minis
ter for time was sucn as 10 call for de-
clded protest. and it was very gratifying to
observe that unfriendly measures, which
were undoubtedly the result of the pre-
vailing excitement, were at once re.
scinded or suitably relaxed.
Tho Baltimore Incident.
On the 10th of October an event occurred
in Valparaiso so serious and tragic i'm its