The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-12-11

sumption OF supreme power by Presl-
dent Fonseca; but this government did
not fail to express to him it's anxious
solicitude for the peace of Brazil and
for the maintenance of the free political
institutions which had recently been
established there, nor to offer our adj
vice that great moderation should be
observed in the class of parties and the
contest for leadership. These counsels
were received in the most friendly
spirit, and the latest information is that
constitutional government has been re-
established without bloodshed.
The New Orleans Lynching.
The lynching at New Orleans in March
last OF eleven men of Italian nativity by
mob of citizens was most deplorable
and discreditable incident. 1t did not,
however, have it's origin in any
general animOsity to the Italian people,
nor in any disrespect to the government
Of Italy, with which our relations were
of most friendly character. The fury
of the mob was directed against three
men as the supposed participants or ac-
cessories in the murder of city official.
| do not allude to this as mitigating in
any degree this offense against law and
humanity, but only as affecting the in
ternational questions which grew out
of it. 1t was once represented by the
Italian minister that several of those
whose lives had been taken by the mob
were Italian subjects and demand was
made for the punishment of the partici-
pants and for an indemnity to the fam
lilies of those who were killed. 1t is to
be regretted that the manner in which
these claims were presented was not
such as to promote calm discussion OF
the questions involved. The views of
this government as to its obligations to
foreigners domiciled here were fully
stated in the correspondence, as well as
its purpose to make an investigation of
the affair with view to determine
whether there We're present any circum-
stances that could, under such rules of
duty as we had indicated. create an OBJ
legation upon the United States.
Suggests Change in the Law.
Some suggestions growing out of this
unhappy incident are worthy the atten-
tion of congress. 1t would, believe,
be entirely competent for congress to
make offenses against the treaty rights
of foreigners domiciled in the United
States cogniZable in the federal courts.
the federal officers and courts have no
power in such cases to intervene
either for the protection of foreign
citizen or for the punishment of his
slayers. It seems to me to follow, in
this state of the law, that the officers of
the state charged with police and judic-
ial powers in such cases must, in the
consideration of international questions,
growing out of such incidents, be re-
garded in such sense as federal agents
as to make this government answerable
for their acts in cases where it would be
answerable if the United States had
used its constitutional power to define
and punish crimes against treaty rights.
The Gillian War.
The civil war in Chill, which began
in January last, was continued, but for
tunately with infrequent and not inn
portant armed collisions, until August
%, when the congressional forces landed
near Valparaiso. and, after a bloody en-
gagement captured that city. Presi-
dent Balmaceda at once recognized that
his cause was lost, and a provisional
government was speedily established by
the victorious party. Our minister was
promptly directed to recognize and put
himself in communication with this
government so soon as it should have
established it's defacto character. Dur
ing the tendency of this civil contest
frequent indirect appeals were made to
this government to extend belligerent
rights to the insurgents and to give
audience to their representatives. This
was declined, and that policy was pnr-
sued throughout, which this govern
ment when wrenched by civil war, so
strenuously insisted upon on the part
of European nations. The Itata.
an armed vessel commanded
by a naval officer of the insurgent fleet,
manned by it's sailors and with soldiers
on board, was seized under process of
the United States court at San Diego,
California, for q violation of our neu-
trality 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 incon
sistent with the dignity and self-respect
of the government not to have insisted
that the Itata 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 Iquique. that, before the arrival of
the ltata at that port, the secretary of
foreign relations of the provisional gov
eminent addressed to Rear Admiral
Brown. commanding the United States
naval forces, communication, from
which the following 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 on board this official, who was
landed at point near the coast, and then
continued her voyare. If this
news be correct, this government would
deplore the conduct of the Itata, and as
an evidence that it is not disposed to sup
port or agree to the infraction of the laws
of the United States, the undersigned
takes advantage 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 his government
will put the Itata, with the arms and
munitions she took on board in San Diego
at the disposition of the United States.
A trial in the district court of the
United States for the southern district
of California has recently resulted in
decision holding, among other things,
that inasmuch as the congressional
party had not been recognized as bel
ligerent. the acts done in its interest
could not be violation of our neutral
ity laws. From this Judgment the