The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-26

| injuries suffered by our men had be.n
wholly the result of accident in a Chilian
port, the incident was grave enough TO
have called for some public expression
OF sympathy and regret from the local
authorities. 1t is not enough to saw
that the affair was lamentable. for
humanity would require that express
sion, even If the beating and killing of
our men had been justifiable. 1t is not
enough to say that the incident is re-
gretJed, coupled with the statement
that the affair was not of unusual
character in parts where foreign sailors
are accustomed to meet.
ut Is not for generous and sincere
government to seek for words of small
or equivocal meaning in which TO con-
yey to friendly power an apology for
an oHense so Atrocious as this. In the
case of
THE ASSAULT BY A MOB IN NEW ORLEANS
upon the Spanish consulate in 1851, Mr..
Webster wrote to the Spanish minister,
Mr.. Calderan, that the acts complained
OF were "disgraceful and fragrant
breach of duty and propriety," and
that his government regrets them as
deeply as Minister Colderan or his
government possibly do" That "these
acts have caused the president great
pain, and he thinks proper acknowl-
edgement is due to her maiesty's gov
ernment." lie invited tho Spanish
consul to return to his post, guarantees.
ing protection, and offered to salute the
Spanish flag if the consul should re-
turn in aSpanish vessel.
such treatm snt by the government
OF Chill of this assault would have been
more creditable to the Gillian authori.
ties, and much less can hardly be salts
factory to government that values it's
dignity and honor. In our note of o.
tooer 20 last, which appears in the cor
respondence, after receiving the report
of the board of officers, apoointed by
Capt. Schley to investigate tho affair,
the Gillian government was advised of
the aspect which it then assumed and
called upon for any facts in it's possess
sion that might tend to modify the un-
favorable Impressions which our report
had created. 1t is very clear from tho
correspondence that before tho recent
OF this note tho examination was re-
garded by the police authorities as prac.
tically closed. 1t was, however, re-
opened and protracted through n period
OF nearly three months. Ono might
Justly have complained of this unroa.
sonable delay, but in view OF the fact
that the government of Chilli was still
provisional, and with disposition to
be forbcaring and hopeful of friendly
termination, | have repeated tho report
which has but recently been made.
TIE UI.TIMATUM TO CHILL.
On the 21st instant l caused to be
communicated to the government of
Chile by. the American minister at
Santiago the conclusion of this govern
mont after full consideration of all the
evidence and of every suggestion affect
ing this matter, and to these conclus-
ions adhere. They were stated as
follows:, N..ss-
"'First. That the assault is not re-
lieved of the aspect which early .infor-
nation OF the event gave it, viz, that
OF the attack upon the uniform of the
United States navy having it's origin
and motive in feeling of hostility to
this government and not in any act OF
the sailors or Of any Of them.
"'Second. That tho public authorities
OF Valparaiso flagrantly failed in their
duty TO protect our men ard that some
OF tno police and of the Gillian soldiers
and sailors made themselves quite un-
provoked assaults upon our sailors be-
fore and after the arrest. Ito (the
Presidency thinks the preponderance of
evidence and inherent probabilities had
TO the conclusion that Riggin was killed
by the police or soldiers.
Third. That he (the Presidency is
therefore compelled to bring the case
back to the position takon by this gov
eminent in the note of Mr.. Wharton of
October 23 last and to ask for suitable
apology and for some adequate repara-
ton for the injury done to this govern
ment.
MATrA's OFFENSIVE NOTE.
I'm the same note the attention of
the Gillian government was called to
the offensive character of the note ad-
dressed by Mr.. Malta, its minister OF
foreign affairs, to Mr.. Mont, it's minis
ter at this Capital, on the 18th ultimo.
This dispatch was not officially com
municated to this government, but, as
MIR. Montt was direc ted to translate it
to give 1t to the press of the country,
it seemed to mo that it could not pass
without Official notice. 1t was not only
undlplomatic, but grossly insulting
to our naval officers and to tho
Executive Department, as it di
rectly implied untruth and in.
sincerely to the reports to the naval
officers to the official communicat lions
made by tho executive department. to
Congress. 1t will be observed that |
have notified tte Gillian government
that unless th,. note is at once with
drawn and apology as public as tho
oHense made / will terminate diplo-
matte relations
The request for tho recall OF Mr..
Egan upon the grounds that he was not
persona grata was unaccompanied by
any suggestion that could properly be
used in support of it, and infer that
the reques: is based upon tho Official
acts of Mr.. Egan, which have received
the approval of this government But,
however that may be, | could not con.