The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-01-28
yTRE sTEARNs COUNTY. MINNESOTA THURSDAY

| rious character that if the injuries suf-
| fered by our men had been wholly the re-
cident was grave enough to have called
| for some public expression of sympathy
and regret from the local authorities. Il
| is not enough to say the affair was lamen-
expression, even if the beating and killing
/ of our men had been justifiable. 1t is not
/ enough to say that the incident is re-
| GREETED, coupled with the statement that
! the affair was not an infrequent occur
renee in ports where foreign sailors are ac-
customed to meet. 1t is not for q govern
ment to seek for words of small or equivo-
| cal meaning in which to convey to q
| friendly nation an apology for an offense
/ 60 atrocious as this. In our note of Oct.
i q last, after receiving the report of the
! board of officers appointed by Captain
Sebiey to investigate the affair, the Chill
ian government was advised of the aspect
which It then assumed, and called upon
for anvt <cts in its possession that might
tenS to n cdify the unfavorable impress
sions which our report tI d naa GreaSe1 y y
hefoore ~ To-. ~ipt of this note the exami-
nation vas re, Tded by the police author
ties ne mractica, " closed. 1t was, how
ever. reopened anu protracted through q
period of nearly thr, mo OF th; ns. ign'
justly have complain e 81 tt Sa 1870 .ths
government of Chill wa still proyisional.
and with1a disposition 10 pc iosp t;n
and hopeful of a friendly termiaaSioni
have awaited the report, "nacn ~ st pA1s
recently been made. .....---.:.... =s =
/ m sss Conclusions Reacha d- -
On the 21st inst. caused to be commu-
nicated to the government of O. ull, by the
American minister at Santiago, tho con-
lucionS of this mi afr fnII
consideration of all the evidence and OF
every suggestion affecting this matter,
and to these conclusions l adhere. They
were stated as follows: r-'- u -
"First-That the assault is not relieved
of the aspect which the early information
of the event gave to it, viz: That of an
attack upon the uniform of the United
States navy, having it's origin and motive
in feeling of hostility to this government
and not in any act of the sailors or any of
them.
''Second-That the public authorities of
Valparaiso fagrantly failed in their duty
to protect our men and that some of the
police and of the CHILEAN soldiers and sail
ors were themselves guilty of unprovoked
assaults upon our sailors before and after
arrest. He Ghe president) thinks the pre-
ponderance of the evidence and the inner
ent probabilities lead to the conclusion
that Riggin was killed by the police or
soldiers. .. ...... - :
ud1 NC \Ullc UQorc-
fore compelled to bring the case back to
the position taken by the government in
the note of Nj. Wharton of Oct. % last.
and to ask for suitable apology and for
some adequate reparation for the injury
done to this government"
In the same note the attention of the
Gillian government was called to the
offensive character of a note addressed by
Mr.. Malta, eX-minister of foreign affairs,
to Mr.. Montt, its minister at this capital,
on the 18th ultimo. This dispatch was
eminent, 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
department., as it directly imputed untrutL
and insincerity to the reports of the paval
officers and to the official communications
made by the executive department to con-
gress. 1t will be observed that have mo-
titled the CHILEAN government that unless
this note is at once withdrawn, and an
apology as public as the offense made, I
will terminate diplomatic relations.
Request for Egan's Recall.
The request for the recall of Mr.. Egan
upon the ground that he was not persona
grata was unaccompanied by any sugges-
ton that could properly be used in sup
port Of it and infer that the request is -
|.
have received the approval of this govern
ment. But however that may be, I could
not consent to consider such question
until it had first been settled whether our
correspondence with Chill could be con-
Quoted upon a basis of mutual respect.
In submitting these papers to congress
for that grave and patriotic consideration
which the questions involved demand I
desire to say that am of the opinion that
the demands made on Chill, by this, gov
ernmsnt should be adhered to and en-
forced. If the dignity as well as the pres
tige and influence of the United States are
not to be wholly sacrificed we must pro-
tect those who in foreign ports display the
flag and wear the colors of this govern,
ment against insult, brutality and death,
government and not for any fault Of their
own.
Upon information received that Patrick
Shields, an Irishman, and probably Brit
ish subject, but at the time a fireman of
the American steamer keweena in the
subjected to personal injuries in that city,
largely by the police, directed the attor-
ney general to cause the evidence of the
officers and crew of that vessel to be taken
upon its arrival in San Francisco. The
distressing condition of the man himself
when he was finally able to reach his YES
sells supports his testimony. The captain
of the vessel says: "He came back q
wreck; black from his neck to his hips,
beaten, weak and stupid, and is still in a
paralyzed condition, and he has never been
able to do duty since"
Claim for Reparation
has been made in behalf of this man, for
while he was not a citizen of the United
States the doctrines so long held and ex-
pressed in the consular regulations Is that I
the circumstance that the vessel is Ameri-
can is evidence that the seamen on board
are such, and in every regularly docu-
mented merchant vessel the crew will find
their protection in the flag that covers
them.
have as yet received no reply to our.
note of the Dist inst, but in my opinion 4
ought not to delay longer to. bring these
matters to the attention of @congressfor
such action as may be deemed appropriate.
(Signed) BENJAMIN HARRISON.
EHonnfiua ManSion Ian Ok 1900