Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-12-17

matte relations with the then established
government Of Chill as it is now in such
relations with the successor of that govern
ment.
No official complaint of the conduct of
our minister or of our nav al oflicers during
the struggle has been prasented to this
governm, nt.
1t is believed that tn. government Of
Chill Is not iu apusltiuu, In view of the
| precedents with which it has been connect
ed, to broadly deny the right of asylum
and the correspondence has not thus far
| presented any such denial. The treatment
! OF our munster for a time was such as to
| call for decided protest and it was very
| gratifying to observe that unfrendly meas
ures, which were undoubtedly the result of
| the prevailing excitement were at once re-
scinded or suitably r,laxed.
| On the 10th Of October an event occurred
in Valparaiso to very justly excite the in
dignation of our people, and to call for
prompt and decided action on the part of
this government.
A considerable number of the sailors Of
the T. s. s. Baltimore then in the harbor
of Valparaiso, being upon shore leave and
unarmed, were assaulted by armed men
nearly simultaneously in different localities
in the city. One petty officer was killed
outright and seven or eight seainen were
wounded one of whom has since died. So
savage and brutal was the assault that scy-
eral of our sailors received more than two
and one as many as Is stab wounds. An
Investigation of the affair was promptly
made by board of officers OF the Bati
more and their report shows that these as
saults were unprovuked, that our men were
conducting themselves in a peaceable and
orderly manner and that some of the po-
lice of the city took part in the assault
and used their weapons with fatal effect
ThirtysiX Of our sailors were arrested
and some of them while being taken to
prison were cruelty beaten and maltreated.
| he fact that they were all discharged. no
criminal charge being lodged against any
OF them, shows very clearly that they were
innocent of any breach of peace. SO far
as have yet been able to learn, no other
explanation of tins bloody work has been
suggested than that it had its origin in hos
tility TO thesr men a. sailors Of the United
States. and not In any individual act or
personal animosity.
The attention of the Cbilian government
was at once called to this affair aud
statement Of the facts obtained By the in
vestigation We had conducted was submit
ted accompanied by a request to be advised
of any other or qualifying facts In the pos
session of the Chilian government that
might tend To relieve this affair of the ap-
pearance of an insult to this government.
The thiian government was also advised
that If such qualifying facts did not exist
this government would confidently expect
full and prompt reparatiOn.
1t Is to be regretted that the reply wa,
had
response has been made. This government
Is now waiting the result of an investiga-
ton which has been conducted by the Grim
inal court at Valparaiso. IL is reported un-
officially that investigation is about com
pleted and it j. expected The result " i'll soon
be communicated to this government to.
gether with some adequate and sati,fac-
tory response to the note by which the at
tention OF Chill was called To this incident.
If these just expectations should be di-ap-
pointing or further needless delay inter
vene | will by special message bring this
matter again 10 the attention OF Congress
Tor such action as may be necessary.
The entire correspondence with the gov
eminent OF Chilli will al an early day be
submitted 10 Congress. renew the recon-
mendatlon of my special message dated
January l6, 1890. for the adoption of the
necessary legislation to euable this govern
ment To apply in the case of Sweden and
Norway, the same rule in respect to the
levying Of tonnage dues as was claimed
aud secured to the shipping of the United
states In 1928, under article of the treaty
of ls21.
The adjournment Of the Senate without
action on the pending acts for the sup
preston of the slave traffic in Africa, ana
FOR the reform of the revenu" tariff of the
independent state of the Congo left this
government unable to exchange those acts
on the date fixed July 2nd, 1891. BY agree
ment of all the siguatories 10 the general
slave trade act the time for the exchange
OF ratlhcations on the part of the United
States has been extended TO February 2nd
1892.