Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-01-29
The Presidents Message on the chilian
Affair.

President Harrison, on Monday, sent his
long expected message regarding our
trouble with Chill TO Congress.
After quoting what he said in his annuai
message regarding the killing OF the sailors
of the Baltimore on the streets of Valpa-
raiso, and the legal Investigation then be-
ing held, he goes on to fully sustain
Minister Egan in his conduct during tne
revolution: his conduct Of the correspond
ence. and his action in sheltering political
refugees.
He thinks the Chiian government re-
opened the examination held at Nalpa-
raiso, after it had been practically closed
aud continued it indefinitely, in order to
gain time, and he awaited their report
which has but recently been made.
On the 2lst of this month he caused to
be communicated to the government OF
Chilli, his conclusions in the matter as
follows:
First-That the assault is not relieved OF
the aspect which the early information OF
the event gave it viz: That OF an attack
upon the uniform Of the United States
navy, having its origin and motive IN
feeling o. hostility to this government and
not in any act of the sailors or OF any oil
them.
Second-That the public authorities OF
Valparaiso fagran tly failed in their duty
to protect our men, and that some OF the
police and some of the Chilian soldiers and
sailors were themselves guilty of unpro
voked assaults upon our sailors before and
after arrest. He (the president)thinks the
preponderance of the evidence and the
inherent probabilities lead to the con-
clusion that Riggin was killed by the
police or soldiers.
Third-Thst he (the presldent) is there
fore compelled to bring the case back 10
the position taken by this government IN
the note of Mr.. Wharton, of OCTOBER 20
last, and to ask for suitable apology, and
for some adequate reparation TOR the in-
Jury done to this government.
He also called their attention to the
offensive character of the note they sent to
other foreign governments, and states
that he has notified the Ohilian govern
ment that unless it withd raws this note
he will terminate diplomatic relations with
it.
He refuses to consider the request for
the recall of Minister Esgan, until this
matter is settled.
He is of opinion that if the dignity, as
well as the prestage and influence of the
United States are not to be wholly sacri-
feed we must protect our colors and those
who wear them in foreign ports against in
suit brutality and death, inflicted IN resent
ment against our Government, and not for
personal reasons.
He has endeavored to cultivate friendly
relations with all governments, but this
Government, while exercising the utmost
forbearance with weaker ones, must pro-
tect its people against wantonness and
cruelty abroad.
Besides the evidence in the Baltimore
case he also transmits that in regard to the
outrage committed upon one of the sailors
Of a United States merchant steamer.
He has as yet received no reply to his
note of the 2lst inst. and brings these
matters before Congress for such action as
may be deemed appropriate.
The correspondence, which dates back
as far as August 18th 1890, is very volu-
.minous, and would probably fill 100 pages
of an ordinary newspaper.
1t is divided into three portions, the first
comprising the correspondence between
Sec'y Blaine and Minister Egan; that be-
tween the Chilian Minister under Balma-
ceda and our Government; and that be-
tween President Montt and our Goverr-
| ment.
| CHILL SENDS A REPLY.
Since the message was sent to Congress,
the Chilian government has answered
| Presto dent Harrison's note of the 21st as
| follows:
| Chilli agrees to withdraw the offensive
note sent by Senior Malta to all the Chilian
| Ministers abroad, and Acknowledges that it's
| issuance was due to an error of Judgment.
| Chilli also withdraws its request for the
| withdraw of United States Minister
Egan.
| In addition to this the Gillian govern
ment in its answer proposes that the affair
| of the attack on the Baltimore sailors in
Valparaiso be submitted to the arbitration
l of some neutral nation.
If this proposition is not acceptable to
the United States government, the Chilian
government suggests that the matter be
submitted to the decision of the supreme
court of the United States.
The dispatches from Washington Thurs