Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-05
Our Neutrality In Chill.
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| Considerable light is thrown upon the
attitude and actions of our naval and
diplomatic representatives in Chill, during
the late war in that country, by letters and
| other mater published In CHILEAN and
Peruvian newspapers which we have Just
received. First comes letter of Admiral
Brown, giving his explanation of the sus-
piciouss act of his flagship the San Fran
CISCO in going up to rcconoitrc the posi-
ton of the Congrcssionalists in Quintero
bay. This letter is addressed to Minister
Egan in reply to note received from that
] functionary, and hence would seem to
show that the Washington government
had requested an explanation from the
admiral. At any rate, the publication of
the letter in Valparaiso newspaper shows
tnai there was strong popular sentiment
on the subject which it was desired to
correct.
Admiral Browns letter Is general dis
claimer Of any improper motives. He
says that the landing of the insurgents was
known in Valparaiso before he sailed with
his vessel; that, in fact, he himself learned
OF u when on shore from member of the
Balmaceda's government, and also from the
.hilian admiral, Wei. Going aboard, he
decided though he does not say why, to go
out to inspect the Congressionalists' posi-
ton, notifying both the English and Ger
man admirals of his intention. Reaching
tluintero at 2 in the afternoon, he was
back i'll Valparaiso at 5, and sent boat
ashore for the purpose of forwarding
cablegram to Washington. He says the
men who manned the boats were under
orders not to exchange word with any,
one on shore; while his message was IN
cipher. His conclusion is, therefore. that
II is ALA mistake tosuppose that the Ameri-
can man-of-war rendered Balmace,la any
assistance.
We regret to say that this explanation is
not satisfactory. With no reflection on
Admiral Browns motives, accepting fully
his assertions on that point, it yet seems
clear that he did foolish and uncnlled-for
thing II such a way that aid and comfort
were, in fact. given TO Balmaceda He
himself would probably admit that he
was indlscreet-to so straight from men,
bcrs of l'almaceda's government to Ouin-
tero, and then send boat ashore with All
the news, was certainly u course of con-
duct open to the gravest suspicion. espcci-
ally as Admiral Brown himself gives M
reason for his going to Quintero bay. And
as matter of fact, valuable news did get
ashore from the San Francisco. The
balmaceda organ came out the next morn
ing and said: From Trustworthy news
brought by the United States war shin.
san Francisco, we know for a fact
that the Revolutionists have from their
y.
Here is the place TO put In what Admiral
brown says he learned from Admiral Wei,
namely, that the Revolutionists had landed
from 1--WE transports and three or four
small steamers" In other words. there
was vague and inaccurate knowledge in
Valparaiso before the San Francisco left
me harbor, which became precise and
highly valuable on her return. Evidently
the more exact information came In the
way the paper just quoted said it did.
The admirals business in Valparaiso
was to protect Americans and American
interests, and il has never been alleged
that there was anything of that sort to do
at Quintero bay. Nor did he go I'm there
to pay ccremonious visit to the insurgent
heet.. one Of the Congressionalist officers,
who is publishing an account of the opera.
ton. of the war in La Ratria, writes of the
affair as follows:
There was only one disagreeable
moment in the whole day. About 3 in
the afternoon man-of-war appears from
tnc direction of Valparaiso. 1t is the
Yankee cruiser, San Francisco, which
comes TO the harbor, inspects the bay,
seems to be counting the number of trans.
ports, and so estimating our forces, and
then disappears as it had come, that is to
say, with no regard whatever to the ole.
mentary rules of naval courtesy. What is
the meaning of this visit, so opposed to
internatlonal practice. Because il the
American cruiser had anchored among us,
studied the Decentralization and observed
The, movements of the troops, or even If il
had sent forward two or three officers and
shown, in short, that its object was simply
connected with naval technics, we should
not have thought its conduct strange. But
II did not proceed IN that way. Ii came
with every. appearance of being n scout
sent from the hostile camp to carry back
speedy news of our movements. Ii came
as spy, .wretched spy Of the Dictator's,
and It has brought stain upon the flag of
the United States. In no civilized country
do neutrals or sailors conduct themselves
i'll that way
As to Egan and his constant aid to Bal
maceda, we find a striking statement in
the course Of an article In the PfyUpian
Mail in his defence: probably the only
substantial ground for complaint was the
position Of Mr.. Egan in standing by the
Bnlmaccda government to the end. In
This Mr.. Egan claims he was following the
instructions of his government, and. ii this
be so, the responsibility is removed to the
American government at Washington,
rather than its representative in Chili.n
Clearly, our worthy minister does not pro-
pose TO allow himself to be made n scape-
goat. When Mr.. Blaine and the President
ma out that he is throwing all the blame
Of our huge plumbers in Chill upon their
the Tribune that IL is a case of ministers
Usefulness Ended" Indeed, now that
those 100000 of nitrate exports'' are
not to be thrown open to Americans" Il
is difficult to believe that Egan can SEQ any
.'rhnuuals In which ba oap ha ,,sof,I ~ -