The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-01-16
SITUATION BECOMING GRAVE.
Disclosures Made at the Baltimore IN
vcstigatiOn Strained Matters
Considerably.
Sentiment in Congress That the Exec
utivr Must Not Be
Harasscd.
Both Parties Will Unite in Demand
ing Speedy R%eparation
from Chill.
Gravity OF the CHILEAN situation.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-There can be
little doubt that Developments of the
last few days in the investigation now
being conducted at San Francisco b,
Judge Advocate General Remy in the at.
tack upon the Baltinore's crew, the
publication of the testimony in the
Shields case and the ugly demonstration
at Valparaiso against the Yorktown's gig
crew, have had the effect to create a very
uneasy feeling at the capital. Senators
and representatives who have all along
derided the idea of any serious result
following the Chilian correspondence
and have had the greatest con
tidence that Chill would soon ten
der dn ample apology and make
reparatiOn for the misdeeds of her citi-
zens are o willing to admit privately
that the situation is full of the gravest
difficulties. One ominous sign is the
great inactivity of congress in the mat
ter. Heretofore it has been customary
whenever a matter of the smallest public
interest is the subject of diplomatic
correspondence for one of the two houses
of congress to call upon the president
for all information in the possession of
the state department in relation to these
matters, but no senator or member of the
house has yet been venturesome enough
to Introduce Il resolution calling for the
Gillian correspondence, although il has
been apparent to all Of them that the
relations of the United States with Chill
have been strained nearly to the point of
rupture within the last few weeks. The
very gravity of the situation appears to
have had a repressible effect upon con
gress. Republicans are indisposed to
embarrass a republican president bv
calling for the correspondence. having in
view his significant promise to transmit
1t to congress at an early day.
The president might decline to fur
nish the correspondence, as he has in
other cases, on the ground that it would
not be eXpcdient or in the public inter
est to publish it, but he would find it
hard to do so after the strong EXPIRES
SONS upon the subject contained i'm his
annual message to congress. Very nat
urally senators and members who are
members of committees having the for
eign relations of the government in their
charge are unwilling to express them
selves at this juncture upon the merits
of the controversy with which they may
have to deal officially, but from their
private expressions it is clear no party
lines are to be drawn, and that the presi-
dent will have the united support of con-
gress in the adoption Of any measures he
feels to be necessary for the preservation
Of the dignity of the United States.
Senator Morgan, who is the leading
democratic member of the senate com
mittee on foreign relations is particular
ly indignant at the revelations in the
case of Patrick shields, fireman of the
American steamer S%eweenaw, who was
cruelty treated in a CHILEAN prison. He
declares Shields is undoubtedly entitled
to the protection of the American gov
eminent as he was serving on an Amer
lean vessel. He predicted the Gillian
government would never raise the ques-
ton Of Shields citizenship as had been
suggested in view of the fact that he is
an lrishman and has not been natural
lied as a plea for refusing reparation.