The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-01-30

IL III HOoC "h5 hC was " IL
time. and bv the evidence Of Charles
Langen, an American. not then q
member OF the Baltimore's crew, who
stood close by and saw the transaction. The
CHILEAN authorities do not pretend to fix the re-
sponsibility OF this shot on any particular person.
but avOw their inability to ascertain who fired
il. further than that il was fired from q crowd
The character Of the wound, as discovered by
one of the surgeons of the Baltimore, clearly
supports his opinion that it was made by a rife
ball the orifice of exit being As much As an inch or
an inch and a quarter in width. When shot the
poJr fellow was unconscious and in the arms ola
comrade. who was endeavoring to carry him to
d neighIoring drug store for treatment. The
story Of the polirc. that ii coming up ths
street they passed these men ans, left them be-
hind them is inconsistent with their own
statement as to the direction o. heir approach.
clearly disapproSed: In fast. Riggin was not
behind. but in front of the advancing fore.
and was not standing in the crowd, but was
unconscious and supported in the arms OF
johnson when be was shot.
Communications Of the Gillian government
in relation to this cruel and disastrous attack
upon our men, as will appear from the CORE
spondence, have not in any degree taken the
form of nmity and satisfactory expression OF
regret. much less of apology. The event was
of 81 serious 4 character that. if the injuries suf-
an accident in a CHILEAN port, the incident was
grave enough to have called for some pubhr
local authorities. II was not enough TO say that
the affair was lamentabie, for humanity would
require that expression. even if the beating and
killing of our men had been justitiable. Its
not enough to say that the incident is regretted.
coupled with the statement that the affair was
not of an unusual character in ports where for
eign sailors are accustomed 10 meet. 1t is not
for n generous and sincere government to
seek for words of small or equivocal meaning
in which to convey to q friendly power an
apology for an of .nse 40 atrociOus as this. In
the cISe 81 the assault. by a mob in New Or
leans upon the Spanish consulate In lsol, Mr..
Webster wrote to the Spanish minister. Mr..
Calderon, that the acts complained Of were "a
prupriety. and that his government deploreS
them a. deeply a. Minister Calderon and his
government could possibly do tina.
these acts have caused the president
great pain, and he thinks a proper acknowl.
edgmrnt is due to her maj"stys government
H. invited the Spanish consul to return to his
post. guaranteeing protection. and offered to sa-
late the Spanish flag il the consul should come
in Il Spanish vessel. Such a treatment by the
government of Chill of this assault would BE-
more crtslitahle to the Chilial authorities. and
much less ran hardly be satisfactory to a gov
eminent that values it, dignity and honor.
IN oar note of October last. which appears
in the correspondence. after receiving the
report Of the board of officers appointed
by Capt. Schley to investigate the affair:
the Chilian government was advised OF
the aspect which it then assumed and
called upon for any facts in its possession that
might tend to modify the unfavorable impress
son which our report had created. 1t is clear
from the correspondence that, before the receipt
Of this note. the examination was regarded by
the police authorities a. practically closed Ii
was. however. reDpaned and protracted through
Il period Of nearly three months. We might
ju sly have complained Of this unreasonable
delay. lat in view Of the fact that the
government of Chill was still provisional. and
having Il disposition to he forbear1nS and hope
FIJI Of a friendly termination. | have awaited
tn report which has hut recently been made.
On the 2lst inst. ! CAUSED to h" communicated
Ia the government of Chill. by the American
minister at Santiago. the conclusions of thr
govrrnm mt after - full examination of all evil
dencr. and every suggestion affecting this mat
ter. and TO thee cOncluSlOIs | adhere. They
whr. stated Is follows:
FIRST. That til, assault is not relieved Of
tn aspect which the early Information Of thu
event gave to II. viz: That of an attack upon
:ia uniform OF Tn United States navy. having
it, origin and motive IN 81 feeling of hostility
IL tai- government, and no; IN any at If sail
ur~. or nf any Ct them.
Second. That tine public authorities Of Val
paradise fiagrant!y failed III their duty Ia pro.
tect our men. and that some OF the police and
themselves guilty of unprovoked assault
upon our sailors hefOre. and after
arrest. lie tthr pTcsidentl thinks the prepon-
irrinc. Of the evidence ami the inherent prob
abilities lead to the conclu sion that Rigyin was
killed 10y III. police or soldiers
Third. That he 1.-THE presidentI is therefore
compiled To- bring tn" case hack to the position
taken 10y thi> government. 10y the note OF Mr..
whIrt m uf Ortnirrr - lISt-and to ask for a
suit Ille Apology and for some adequate repara-
tioI for tn injury done to this government.
~ XIV -As.Nf aAllat- Nv ~ III AAAhh
government WIS called to IN" ud.nSiv- chlrar-
t"T Of a note alirr : ii 10y Mr.. Malta. it minis
ter of foreign affairs. 10 Mr.. Montt its minister
At this country. on the llth ultimO. This dis
rltch was not officially communicated to this
government: hut a. Nj. Mpuit was directed t.
trtn-iJ.c i; and give 1t t. tlr ir - nf this coun-
Try Z = s"r-i tu ne TINT It could not pass with
,,UII official notice. 1t was not n.iy undII'lomatic.
but grossly insulting t. our naval officers. and
TO II" executive department. as IL directly i'm
puted untruth and Insinrerity to the re
ports of naval officers and TO the official
communication NAL. hy the executive de
Iartment to congress. II will 10 observed tina:
| have notified the CHILEAN government that I'M
less this mote is at olce withdrawn and an
apology is made n public as the offense made. l
will terminate diplomatic relations. The re-
quest for the recall of Mr.. Efan upon the
ar,and that he was not persona grata was
u~naccompani"i 10y any suggestion that could
properly he used in support of il. and | infer
that the request l. la -rd upon official acts Of
Hr. Egln which have received the approval OF
this government But. however that may be.
could not consent to consider such a question
until it had first ta'.n %%rtt'et VIII sth"r our cor
r-,pJld-nr- with Chill could he conducted upon
a ia Is # mutual! respect.
Ia submitting these p9pers to congress for
that grave Gui patriotic consideration
which the questions involved demand.
aain GSfiT TIT tn th, d fay ihl made I Of f% Ghili IL BY t hns
government should h. adhered to and enforced.
1t the dignity Is well IS the prestige and influ-
anre If tn, United States are not to he wholly
-a-ri.iced We should protect those who in for.
.i-n ports display tn" flag ur wear the co!ors OF
this government against insult, brutality, and
Death, inflicted in resentment OF the acts of
III If government AMI not for any fault Of their
own. Il ha been desired IL every way tn cult
waite friendly and intimate relations with all the
governments Of this hemisphere We do not
COy't their territory: We desire their peace and
prnSp -ritv.
w IDOL; for To advantage in orr relations with
them excep. 10 inrrhas" cxchaag. OF commerce
upon 4 basis of mutual benefit. We regret every
civii contest that diSturbs III iii peace and para
iyz' A. their development. and are always ready
Ia give our good Offices for the restoration .:
r+'ac. II must. however. be understood that
this government. Will exercising their utmost
fDrb arance towari weaker powers. will extend
It. -tronE and ADEQUATE protection to its citi-
zciIs. to it, officers and to it, humblest sailor
when made the victims Of wantunless and cru
,.Ity in RS ,ntment no. of their personal mis-
conduct. but of thu O:hciai acts Of their govern |
mcnt.
Cuon information received that Patrick
Shields. an ITi-hmau and probably a British
subject. bot at the time = fireman of the Ameri-
can steamer k"nweenl.in the hirhOr of Naipl-
raise for repairs. had been subj .cted to personal /
inJuri"s in that city. largely by thu police.
directed the attorney general 10 cause the cyl-
dancr # the officers and crew Of that
vessel to he taken upon its arrival in San
Frcnci~Co; and that testimony IL also
herewith transmitted. The brutality and even
Savagcry nf the treatment nt the seamen by the
CHILEAN police would he incredible if the evi-
drn"t. of Shields was not supported hy other di-
rec; testimony. and by thu distressing condition |
Of II, man himself wnen he was finally able to
A'dA' a. - hfTF' ~ - 80 I
II" came back 4 wreck; black from his neck TO
hi hip from heating; weak and stupid, and is
still in 4 kind of paralyZed condition. and has
never been able to do duty since.
A claim for PREPARATION has been made in be- |
half OF this man. for while he was not 4 citizen |
Of the United States. the doctrine held by us. As !
expressed in the consular regulations is the
principles which are maintained by this govern
meut in regard To the protection as dlStin-
guished from the relief Of saamen are well set
tied. II j. held that the circumstance that the
vessel j. American. is evidence that the seamen
on holrl are such. and in every regularly docu-
meutcd mcrrhant vessel the crew will fin1 their
protection in the flag that covers them"
have aS vet received no reply to our note OF
the 2ls: inst. but. in my opinion. | ought not 10
delay longer TO bring these matters to tine at
tention Of congress for such action as may be
deemed appropriate. |
iSignedl BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Washington. Jan. p, lsR.
apricot" |
The word is familiar. but not so its