The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-01-29
TIE MESSAGE.
CHILIGN MATTE BEFORE CON
GRESS.

Chile Mu,t Make apo Ogy and RePara-
tiOn.-Our Flag aud wearerS of our
COIors Must be Protected
WASHINGTON, ia 25th.-The Presi-
dents message ON the Chilian imbroglio
was received by Congress at 1870 p. IN,
to-day. After summarizing the most of
the correspondence on the CHILEAN dis
pute, the President declares that the as
s;iuit Oil The American sailors was of
such nature as to necessiTate an apology
from that government; but not even "A
manly or satisfactory expression of re-
greet has been offered 10y that government.
The correspondence shows clearly that
the authorities had practically closed the
investigation of the case on Oct. 23d, and
only re-Opened it ON receipt of protest
from this Government. 1t has been pro
tracted through period of three months.
ave might have justly complained of
this unreasonable delay, but, with dis
position to be fUTbearlng, and hopeful of
a friendly termination, l have awaited
the report, which has been recently made.
The conclusions Of this Government
were submitted to the Government of
Chile on the 2lst inst. These conclusions
to which the President adheres, are, first,
that The attack was upon the uniform of
the United States navy, having its origin
and motive in a feeling of hostility to
this Government and not in any act of
the sailors. Secondhand the public
authorities of ValparaisO ilagranIly failed
III their duty to Protect our men and that
some of the police and Cnilian soldiers
and sailors We're themselves guilty Of UNI
provoked assault upon our sailors before
and after arrest. The President thinks
that the prepOnderance of evidence leads
to the conclusion that Riggin was killed
by the police or soldiers. Third-that
suitable apology should be offered and
adequate reparatiOn made for this injury
done this GOvernm ynt. The attention
OF the CHILEAN Government was called to
the offensive character OF a note address
ed by Mr.. Malta, its minister of foreign
affairs to Mr.. Montt, its minister at this
capital, on Dec. 18th. This note was
grossly insulting to our naval officers
and to the Executive Department.
have notified the Chilian Government
that unless this note be at once with
drawn and an apology as public as the
| Uffense be made, / will determine diplo-
matte relations.
| A request for the recall Of Mr., Egan
on the ground that he was non persona
! grdtd was unaccOmpanied by any sugges-
! tiun that could be properly used in sup
| port of it, and | could not consent tn con-
slider such Il question until it had first
! been settled whether our correspondence
W tt Chile could he conducted on basis
| of mutual respect. In submitting these
| papers to Congress for that grave and
patriotic consideration which questions
involved demand, | desire to say that
am of the opinion that the demands of
! this Government should be adhered to,
and enforced. If the dignity as well as
the prestige and influence of the United
| States are not to be wholly sacrificed, we
must protect those who in foreign ports
display the flag or wear the cOlors of this
| Government, against insult, brutality
and death, inflicted in resentment of acts
of their Government, and not for any
| fault of their own. 1t has been my de-
sire in every way to cultivate friendly
and intimate relations with the govern
mentS of this hemisphere. We do not
cOvet their territory. We desire peace
and prosperity. We look for no advant-
age in our relations with them except in
creased exchanges of commerce upon Il
basis of mutual benefit. We regret every
civil contest that dlsturbs their peace
and paralyzes their development, and are
always ready to give our good offices for
the restoration of peace. 1t must be
understood, however, that this Govern
ment, while exercising the utmost tor
! bearance toward weaker powers, will ex-
! tend its strong and adequate protection
| to its citizens, to its officers, and to its
humblest sailor, when made victims of
wantonness and cruelty in resentment,
! not of their personal misconduct, but of
the official acts of their Government
| Upon information received that Patrick
Shields, an lrishman, and probably a
British subject, but at the time fireman
of the American steamer Keweenaw, i'll
the harbOr of Valparaiso for repairs, had
been subjected to personal injuries in
that city, largely by the police. di-
rected the Attorney General to cause
! evidence of the officers and crew of that
vessel to be taken upon its arrival in
San Francisco and that testimony is also
herewith transmitted. The brutality and
even savagery of treatment of these poor
men by the CHILEAN police would be in
credible if the evidence of Shields was
not supported by other direct testimony
and by the distressing condition of the
man himself when he was finally able to
reach his vessel. The Captain of the
vessel says: ''IIe came back wreck,
! black from his neck to his hips from
| beating, weak and stupid and is still in
kind of paralyzed condition, and has
never been able to do duty since
A claim for reparation has been made
in behalf of this man, for while he was
not citizen of the United States, the
| doctrine long held by us, as expressed i a
the consular regulations, Isl 1.-THE prin-
ciples which are maintained by this
Government in regard to the protection.
as distinguished from the relief of sea
men, are well settled. 1t is held the cir
cumstance that the vessel is American is
evidence that the seamen on board are
such, and in every regularly documented
merchant vessel that crew will find pro-
| lection in the flag that covers them.''