Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-02-06
CHfLE's ANSWER.

The Friendly Tone of the Reply Apparent
Anxious to Avoid War.
Chile's answer to the ultimatum was
then Laid before congress, The Chilean
minister of foreign affairs ~recites the
terms of the ultimatum and continues:
The undersigned can assert that the as
sault upon the Baltimo e sailors was not
caused by n hostile feeling towards the
uniform of the navy of the United States.
The undersigned admits that the occur
renee of October 10 was of greater gravity
than those which usually occur in the
same district and the fact that two deaths
have resulted from it among the sixteen
wounded men of the Baltimore, has in
duced the government of Chile to hasten
measures necessary to discover and pun
ish the guilty parties. 10 offer in due time,
If there should be ground for so doing,
such reparation rs might be due.
Cause of Delay.
The preliminary examination was COM
menced OF the morning which followed
the night Of the conflict, but the investiya-
ton could not be finished with the rapidity
that the government of Chile desired, be-
cause the rules of procedure in criminal
matters are of slow application. This de-
lay, which was inevitable, owing to the in
dependence with which the judicial au-
thorities must act, has compelled the gov
eminent to delay. greatly to its regret, the
settlement of the difficulty pending with
your government, and n spontaneous offer
of reparation for any injury done to the
sGilors of the Baltimore.
VIII Leave 1t to the Supreme Court.
In view Of your communication, and con-
sidering that up to date it has been impos-
sible for the trial initiated by the Judge of
the crimiual court of Valparaiso to be de-
cided, the undersigned regards it as his
duty TO declare once more that the gov
of Chile laments the occurrence
of October 10, and by way of showing the
sincerity of his feeling and the confidence
his cause, he declares his willingness not
TO avail the decision of the examining
Judge and proposes to the United States
government that the case be submitted to
the consideration of the supreme court of
justice at Washington, to the end that
that high tribunal, with its learning and
impartIality, may determine, without ap.
peal, whether there Is any ground for rep
a~ration, and in hat shape it should be
made.
Police Force Weak.
The undersigned would remind You, re-
ferring to the conduct of the Valparaiso
authorities, that it appears from the pre-
liminary examination that they sent with
out delay to the scene Of the conflict all
the forces at their disposal belonging to the
special guard and to the police. Swanson,
Case, Nichols, Darony, Ponies, Cunning,
ham, William, Talbot, Holland, Hodge,
Butler, etc. seamen belonging to the crew
of the Baltimore, stated to the interpreter
Of that vessel that the object of the police
In arresting them was to shelter them
from any attempt at attack by the excited
people.
action of the police in this mat
ter should be given due allowance for the
civil war which had recently been brought
to a close. The body was not yet properly
organized. nor did 1t have the
force that was required to put down n
disorder of such proportions In a short
time. In this connection IL Is proper to
recall the words used by the honorable
secretary of state at Washington in his
note addressed to the marquis imperiali
and bearing date OF May 81, ls9i:
Out OF Our Own Mouth.
'sThere is no government, however civil
lied it may be. however great may be the
vigilance displayed by its police aud how
ever severe its criminal code may be, and
however speedy and iufie xibie may be its
administration OF justice, that can
guarantee its own citizens against
violence growing out Of individual
malice or a sudden popular tumult"
This was precisely the situation Of the
administrative authorities Mt Valparaiso
on the occasion Of the occurrence WIFI. IA
took place In October.
Importance OF the Trouble Understood.
The undersigned hopes that the forego-
ing will convince the honorable secretary
of state that the government of Chile at
taches due importance to the question now
under discussion; that he does not for q
moment hesitate 10 condemn in vigorous
terms the act committed on the 10Th OF
October, or to offer such PREPARATION as Ii
just, and that he has not neglected the
opportunity 10 express these sentiment
before now, since on various occasions
and through the plenipotentiavies Of both
countries, he has forwarded explicit de-
clarations on the subject to Washington.
The undersigned takes the liberty
70 recall the fact that five
days after he had taken
charge Of the department. Of foreign re-
~iations, he addressed TO the minister Of
Chile In the unttDd States . telegram