The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-01-27

Ut UIIHCK HUV1btU
them would be made upon them when darkness
came on In report OF Capt Schley
TO the navy department.. he says :
In the only interview that I had
case relative to the disturbances, before he was
aware OF the entire gravity Of the matter, he In
formed me that the assault upon my men was
the outcome OF hatred for our people, among the
lower classes, because they thought we had
sympathized with the Chilean government on
account OF the Itata matter. Several OF our
men sought security from the mob by such com
plete or partial changes In their dress as would
conceal the fact OF their being seamen OF the
Baltimore, and found 1t then possible to walk the
streets without molestation These incidents
conclusively establish that the attack was upon
the uniform-the nationality--and not upon the
men. The origin OF this feeling is probably
found In the refusal OF this government 10 give
recognition TO the congressional party before II
had established itself In the seizure OF the Itata
for an alleged violation OF the neutrality law In
the cable incident and In the charge that Ad'
miral Brown conveyed information TO VAL
paraiso OF the landing at Quintero II is not my
purpose TO enter here any defense of the action
OF this government in these matters
1t is enough for the present purpose TO say
that II there was any breach OF international
comfy or duty on our part II should have been
made the subject of official complaint through
diplomatic channels, or OF reprisals for which
full responsibility was assumed. We cannot
consent that these incidents and these peryer-
SlOllS OI IUe Wulu SNAIL Ue uStu 70 bAClle u
murderous attack upon our unoffending sailors,
and the government Of Chile go acquitted OF
responsibility. In fact, the conduct OF this gov
ernment during the war in Chile pursued those
lines OF international duty which we had so
strongly impressed upon the part of other nations
when the country was In the throes OF active
conflict. We continued the established diplo'
matte relations with the government in power
until II was overthrovn, and promptly and cor
daily recognized the new government when 1t
pstahighpd Tho UOOl offices of this
ernment was offered to bring about peaceful
adjustment and the interposition of Mr.. Egan to
mitigate seventies and TO shelter adherents OF
the congressional party were effective and fire.
quent. The charge against Admiral Brown is
too base to gain credenco with anyone who
knows his high personal and professional char
acter.
Referring to the evidence of our sailors,
think II is shown that there were several dis
tinct assaults and so nearly simultaneous as TO
show that they did not spread from one point
A press summary OF the report OF the fiscal
shows that the evidence OF the Chilean officials
and Others was In conflict as TO theplace OF origin
several places being named by different wit
nesses US the locality where the first
outbreak occurred This, II correctly re.
ported, shows that there were several
distinct outbreaks and 30 nearly at the
same time as TO cause this confusion. The La
Patria, In the same issue from which l have al
ready quoted, after describing the killing OF Rig
gin and the fight which from that point extended
10 the Mole, says: "At the same time In other
streets Of the port the Yankee sailors fought
tiercely with the people OF the town, who be.
lieved TO see In them incarnate enemies OF the
Chilean navy" The testimony OF Capt. Jen.
kins OF the American merchant Keweenaw,
which had gone to Valparaiso for repairs, and
who was witness OF some part OF the assault
upon the crew OF the Baltimore, is
strongly corroborative OF the testimony OF
our own sailors when he says that he saw
Chilean sentries drive back seaman seeking
al III.
officers and men OF Capt Jenkins ship furnish
the most conclusive testimony as to the indlgni.
ties which were practiced toward Americans In
Valparaiso. When American sailors, even OF
denying their nationality II must be time 10 re-
adjust our relations with government that per-
tnitS such demonstrations. As 70 the particlpa-
tion OF the police, the evidence Of our sailors
shows that our men were struck and
beaten by police ofhcers before and after
arrest and that one, at least, was dragged with
a lasso about his neck by mounted policeman
That the death OF Riggin was the result OF q
rifle shot fired by policeman or soldier on duty
is shown directly by the testimony OF Johnson
In whose arms he was at the time, and by the
evidence OF Charles Langen, an American sailor
not then member OF the Baltimore's crew, who
stood close by and saw the transaction. The
Chilean authorities do not pretend TO fix the re.
sponsibility OF this shot on any particular per-
son, but ayow their inability 70 ascertain
who fired IT, further than that IL was fired
from a crowd. The character OF the wound, AS de
scribed by one OF the surgeons Of the Baltimore,
clearly supports his opinion that IL was made
by q rife ball. the orihce OF exit being as much
as an inch or an inch and q quarter In width.
When shot the poor fellow was unconscious and
In the arms Of a comrade, who was endeavorng
TO carry him to neighboring drugstore for
treatment. The story OF the police that In com
Ing up the street they passed the men and left
them behind them is inconsistent with their
own statement as. TO the direction OF
their approach and with their duty to
protect them and Is clearly disproved In
fact, Rlggin was not behind but In front OF the
advancing force and was not standing In the
crowd, but was unconscious and supported In
the arms OF johnson when he was shot
The communications OF the Chilean govern.
ment In relation 10 this cruel and disastrous az
tack upon our men as will appear from the cor
have not In any degree taken the
form OF mighty and satisfactory expression OF
regret, much less OF apology.
The event was OF so serious character that
II the injuries suffered by our men had been
wholly the result OF On accident in q Chilean
port, the incident was grave enough 10 have
called for some public expression OF sympathy
and regret from the local authorities. II Is not
enough 10 say that the AFFAIR was lamentable,
for humanity would require that expression, even
II the beating and killing OF our men had been
justitable. II IL not enough 10 say that the
Incident Is regretted, coupled with the state.
ment that the aiiair was not OF an usual
accustomed TO meet II Is not for q generous
and sincere gOrernment 10 seek for words OF
small or equivocal meaning in which TO con-
vey TO friendly power an apology for
an ofense 50 atrocious az this. In the case OF
the assault by q mob, In New Orleans, upon the
Spanish consulate In 1851, Mr. Webster wrote 10
the Spanish minister, Mr.. Calderon, that the
acts complained OF were "a disgraceful and fla
grant breach OF duty and proprletyn and that
"his government deplores them as deeply as
Minister Caderon and his government could
possibly dO;" that these acts have caused the
president great pain and he thinks proper &C.
is due ~ her mljestys govern.
ment"
He invited the Spanish consul 10 return TO his
post guaranteeing protection, and offered TO 81.
Lutte the Spanish flag II the consul shonld come
In Spanish vessel such u treatment by the
government OF Chile Of this assault would have
been more crod.table TO thc Chilean authorities
and much less can nlrdly be satisfactory 70 o
government that values its dignity and honor.
In our note OF October - last, which appears
In the correspondence after receiving the re-
port OF the board OF ofncers appointed by Capt
Schley 10 investigate the affair, the Chilean
government was advised OF the aspect
which II then assumed and called upon
for any facts IN its possession that
pressions which our report had created
IL Is very clear from the correspondence
that, before the receipt OF this note, the
examination was regarded by the police
authorities Us practically closed II was,
however, reopened and protracted through q
period OF nearly three months We might Justly
have complained OF this unreasonable delay, but
In vicw OF ths fact that the government OF Chile
was still provisional and having q disposition 70
be forbearlng and hopeful OF friendly termi.
nation, have awaited the report which has but
recently been made. On the slst inst. l caused
10 be communicated 10 the government OF Chilo
by the American minister at Santiago the con-
illusions OF the government after n full examina-
ton OF all evidence and every suggestion affect
Ing this matter, and 10 these conclusions nd
here. They were stated as follows:
"First-That the assault Is not relieved OF the
aspect which the early information OF the event
gave 70 II, VIZ. that Of an attack upon the uni
form OF the United States navy having Its origin
and motive In o feeling OF hostility 70 this gov
ernment and not In any act OF our sailors or OF
any OF them