Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-02-05

President Harrison's message on the
Chilean situation, accompanied by the
documents, correspondence, etc., in the
case, has been sent to Congress. The
message reviews all the evidence in the case
and says he feels compelled to stand upon the
demands of the note of January 81 to
Minister Egan. These demands are
that the Chilean Government must
apologize and make reparation for the
assault upon the Baltimore sailors that
the Malta circular note of December Ii must
be withdrawn, that the language in the note
must be withdrawn and the language dis
avowed with as much publicity as it was cir
culated, or diplomatic relations with Chi
will cease, that Mr.. Egan's recall will not be
considered until these matters are disposed
OF. The President in stating his reason for
making these demands advised that they be
confirmed and enforced by Congress. The
President says:
81 do not deem it necessary in this com
municaton to attempt any full analysis OF
the correspondence or of the evidence. A
brief restatement of the international ques-
ticns involved and of the reasons why the
responses Of the Chilean Government are IN
satisfactory is all that deem necessary.
sit may be well, at the outset, to say that,
whatever may have been said in this coun-
try in Chile in criticism of Minister
Egan, the true history of this exciting
period in Chilean affairs, from the outbreak
of the revolution until this time discloSes no
act on the part of Mr.. Egan unworthy Of
his position or that could justly be the
casion of serious animadversiOn o. criticism.
He has, [ think on the whole, borne himself,
in very trying circumstance, with dignity,
discretion and courage, and has conducteI
the correspondence with ability, courtesy
and fairness.
1T is worth while also, at the beginning,
to say that the right Of Mr.. Egan to give
shelter in the legation to certain adherents
of the Balmaceda Government, who applied
to him for asylum, has not been denied by
the Chilean authorities, nor has any demand
been made for the surrender of these refU-
gees
"precedents cited by Mr.. Egan, particu-
larly the case Of the revolution in Peru in
1865, did not leave the Chilean Government
in position to deny the right of asylum to
political refugees, and seemed very clearly
to support Mr.. Egan's contention that q safe
Conduct to a neutral territory was a neces-
sary and acknowledged incident Of the
asylum.
"These refugees have very recently, with
out formal safe conduct but by the acquies-
cence of the Chilean authorities, been placed
on board the Yorktown and are now being
conveyed to Calao. Peru. This incident
might be considered wholly closed, but for
the disrespect manifested toward this Gov
eminent by the close and offensive police
surveillance of the Legation premises"
serious incident was the attack upon the
sailors Of the Baltimore, and he is still of the
opinion that cur sailors were assaulted,
beaten, stabbed and killed. not for any
had done, but for what the Govern
ment OF the Uuited States had done
or was charged with having DONE by its
civil officers and naval commanders. If that
be the true aspect of the case the in jury
to the Government Of the United States
NOT these w
in a manner SO brutal and SO cowardlY.
The President then goes on to consider the
legal aspect of the case, and declares that
our Government must take notice of the
event as one involving an lnfractiOn of its
rights and dignity, precisely as if its minis
ter O. consul, or the flag itself, had been the
the object of the same character of assault.
''On the 21st inst" says the President,
81 caused to be communicated to the Gov
eminent of Chile, by the American Minister
at Santiago, the conclusions of this Govern
ment after full consideration of all the evil
dence and of every suggestion, affecting this
matter. and to these conclusions l adhere"
(These conclusions are given below under
the head 1.-THE Ultimatum)"
In the same note, the message continues,
the attention of the Chilean Government
was called to the offensive character of
note addressed by Mr. Malta, its Minister
its Minister at this Capital, on
the 18th ult. This dispatch was not
officially communicated to this Gov
ernment but as Mr.. Montt was directed
to translate it and give it to the press of this
country it seemed to me that it could not
pass without official notice. 1t was not only
undiplomatic but grossly insulting to our
naval officers and to the Executive Depart
ment, as - directly imputed I'M
truth and insncerity to the reports
of the naval officers and to the official COM
munications made by the Executive De-
partment to Congress- It will be observed
that | have notified the Chilean Govern
ment that unless this note is at once with
drawn and an apology as public as the
offence made, l will terminate diplomatic
relations.
The requesU for the recall of Mr.. Egan
upon the ground that he was not persona
grata was unaccompanied by any suggestion
that could properly be used in support OF 1t,
and infer that the request is based upon OF,
hclal acts Of Mr.. Egan which have received
the approval of this Government. But, how
ever that may be, l could not consent TO
consider such question until it had first
been settled whether our correspondence
with Chile could be conducted upon a basis
OF mutual respect.
:, In submitting these papers to Congress for
that grave and patriotic consideration
which the questions involved demand, de-
sire to say that am of the opinion that the
demands made of Chile by this Gov
eminent should be adhered to and
enforced. Ii the dignity as we'll as
che prestige and influence of the United
states are not to be wholly sacrificed we
must protect those who. in foreign ports.