Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-10
MESSAGE.
TCOntt,ued From First Page.l

detained In San Deigo by order OF sDe
Tr,ited States for taking on board mu-
nitions OF war, and in possession OF the
Marshal. left the port, carrying on
hoard this official, who was landed at a
roint near the coast and then continued
her voyage III this news be correct, TINS
government would deplore thecondueto OF
the Itata as an evidence that II Is not dis
posed TO support or agree TO the lnlrae-
tioD of the laws OF the United States.
The undersigned takes advantage OF the
personal relations yon have been goOo
enough 10 maintain with Nun since
your arrival in this port TO declare to
won that as soon as she is within reach
of orr orders his government viii put
the Itata. with the arms and munitions
She took on board at San Diego at the
disposition of the United States"
A trial in the District Court OF the
United States for the Southern Dlstrict
OF California has recently resulted IN
decision holding, among other things,
that inasmuch as the Congressional
party had not been recognized as a bel
iigerent the acts done in its interest
c0uld not be a violation of our neutral
ity laws. From this Judgment
the United States has appealed,
not that the condemnation OF
the vessel is a matter OfimpOrtance, but
that we may know what the present
state of our law is; for, il this construe-
ton Of the statute is correct, there is
obvious necessity FOR revision and
amendment. During the progress OF the
war In Chile this government rendered
its good Offices 20 bring aOOuta peaceful
adjustment; and 10 was at one time
hoped that a good result might be
reached; but ia this we were diSap-
pOinted. The instructions 10 our naval
officers and TO our Minister at San
tiago, from the first to the last
OF this struggle, enjOined upon them
the most impartial treatment and
absolute nOn-interference, and
am satisfied that these instructions we're
presented, and that our representatives.
were always watchlul 20 use their intu-
ence impartially in the interest OF hu-
manity, and on more than one occasion
did so effectively. We could not forget,
however, that this Government was in
diplomatic relations with the then eS-
tabhshed government Of Chile, as II Is
now in such relations with the successor
of that government. I am quite sure that
President MOntt, who has under cir
cumStauces OF promise for the peace OF
Chile, been Installed President OF that
Republic, will not desire that In the uu-
fortunate event Of any revolt against
his authority the policy Of this Govern
meat should be other than which we
have recently observed.
so OFFICIAL COMPLAINT.
No official complaint Of the conduct
Of our Minister or Of our naval officers
during the struggle has been presented
go this Government; and 10 is matter
OF regret thai so many OF our own peO-
pie should have given ear 10 unofficial
charges and complaints that manitestly
had their origin in riva. interests and in |
y wish 90 porverJ the relations OF the /
United States with Chile.
The collapse of the government of /
BaImaceda brought about a condition /
which is unfortunately too familiar in .
the history OF the Central ard South f.
American States. With the overthrow /
Of the Balmaceda government he and .
many OF his councillors and officers .
became 10 once fugitiveS for their lives
and appealed TO the commanding OIL /
GERS OF the foreign naval vessels in the /
harbor OF Valparaiso and 70 the resi-
dent foreign Ministers 40 Santiago for .
asylum.
This asylum was freely given, accord
ing 90 my information, by the naval
vessels OF several foreign powers and by .
several of the legations 0t Santiago.
The American Minister, rs well as his ,
colleagues acting upon the impulses Of .
humanity, extended asylum TO political I
refugees whose lives were in peril. l I
have not been willing 20 direct the sur /
render of such Of the persons as are still I
In the American legation without suita-
bic conditions.
10 is believed that the government Of
Chile is not In % position, In view of the
presidents with which it has been con-
leeted, 20 broadly deny the right of asy-
um, ald the SD0ndenCe has not
thus far presented any such denial.
The treatment of our Minister for
time was such as TO call for a decided
protest, and 10 was very gratifying to OBJ
serve that Unfrendly measures, which
were undoubtedly the result of the pre-
,ailing excitement, were az once re-
,c.udcd or suitably relaxed.
THE EAIrMoEE INCIDENT.
On the sixteenth Of October an event
occurred ia Valparaiso 50 serious and |.
tragic Ga its circumstances and results |
as 20 very justly excite the Indignation |
Of our people, and 60 call for prompt and /
decided action on the part Of /
this government. y consider /
able number of the sailors
Of The United States steamship Balti- /
more, then In the harbOr OF Valparaiso,
being upon shore leave and unarmed,
were assaulted by armed men nearly
In different localities In
the city. one petty officer was killed
and seven or eight seamen
were seriously wounded, one or whom
has since died. So savage and brutal
was the assault that several OF our
sailors received more than two, and one
as many as eighteen, stab wounds. An
OF the affair was promptly
made by guard officers Of the BaltI-
more and their report shows that these
assaults were UnprOvOked, and
that our men were conducting
themselves 10 q peaceGbe 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-diS-
posed citizens, ende8vored to protect
our men. Thirty-SiX of our sailors were
arrested, and some of theH while being
taken 20 prison, were cruelty beaten aud
maityeated.
The fast that they were all discharg
ed, no criminal charge being lodged
against any enc of them, shows very
clearly that they were innocent OF any