Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-01-28

FROM that point extended to the mole, says:
AT the same time in other streets Of the port
the Yankee sailors fought tereely with the
people OF the town, who believed to see in them
inearnate enemies OF the Gillian navy"
The testimony Of Capt Jenkins, OF the Amer
lean merchant ship keweena, which had gone
10 Valparaiso for repairs, and who was a wit
ness OF some part of the assault upon the crew
Of the Baltimore, is strongly eorrobOrative OF
the testimony of our own sailors when
ne says that he saw Gillian sen
tries drive back a seaman seeking shelter
from mob that was pursuing him. The officers
and men of Capt jenkins ship furnish the
most conclusive testimony as TO the indignities
which we're practieed towards Americans in
Valparaiso. When American sailors, even OF
merchant ships, can only secure their safety by
denying their nationality, il must be time 10 re
adjust our relations with a government that
permits such demonstr tons. "a AS 10 the par
ticipation of the police, the evidence Of our sail
ors shows that our men were struck and beaten
by police officers before and after arrest and
that one, at least, was dragged with lasso
about his neck by mounted policeman. That
the death of Riggin was the result Of q rifle
shot fired by q policeman or soldier in duty is
shown directly by the testimony q Johnson in
whose arms he was at the time, ana by the evil
denee Of Charles Langen, an American
sailor not then a member of the Balti-
more's crew who stood close by and saw the
transaction. The Gillian authorities do
not pretend to fix the responsibility OF this shot
ON any particular person, but ayow their inabil-
ity to ascertain who fired IT, further than that il
fired in crowd. The character the
wound, as described by one OF the surgeons OF
the Baltimore, clearly supports his opinion that
il was made by q rife ball, the orifice OF exit
being as much as an inch or an inch and quar-
ter in width. When hot the poor fellow was I'M
conscious and in the arms o. a comrade. who was
pudpaVorinv a carry him 10 n MATCHMAKING drug
store for treatment The story Of the police
that in coming up the street they passed these
men and left them behind them lis inconsistent
with their own statement as to the direction OF
their approach and with their duty TO protect
them and is clearly disproved. In fact Riggin
was not behind, but in front Of the advancing
force, and not standing in the crowd
but was unconscious and supported in the arms
of johnson when he was shot
The communications OF the Gillian govern
ment in relation to this cruel and disastrous at
tack upon our men, as will appear from the
correspondence, have not in any degree taken
the form of mighty and satisfactory expires
sion OF regret, much less of apology.
The event was OF so serious character that,
II the injuries suffered by our men had been
wholly the result OF an accident IN Chlian
port, the incident was grave enough to have
called for some public expression Of sympathy
and regret from the local authorities
fair was lameniable. for humanity would
require that expression, even II the
beating and killing of our men had been iustiti-
able. 1t is not enough 70 say that the incident
is regretted, coupled with the statement that the
affair was not of an unusual character IN ports
where the foreign sailors are accustomed 10
meet 1t is not for generous and sincere gov
ernment to seek for words OF small or
equivocal meaning In which TO convey 10
friendly power an apology for on Of
Tense SO atrocious as this. In the case
of the assault by mob In New Orleans
upon the Spanish consulate in 1851 Mr.
Webster wrote 10 the Spanish minister Mrl
Calderon that the acts complained Of were "a
disgraceful and fragrant breach Of duty and pro-
priety," and that his government deplorcs
them as deeply as Minister Calderon and his
government could possibly do that these
acts have caused the president great pain and
he thinks proper acknowledgement Is due TO
her majesty government"
He invited the Spanish consul to return TO his
post. guaranteeing protection, and offered to sa-
lutte the Spanish flag II the consul should come
in Spanish vessel. Such treatment by the
government OF Chill Of this assault would have
been more creditahle TO the CHILEAN authorities
and much less can hardly be satisfactory
to government that values its dignity
and honor In our note of October
% last, which appears in the correspondence
after receiving the report Of the board Of on
GERS appointed by Capt. Schley to investigate
the affair. the CHILEAN government was advised
Of the aspect which IL then assumed and called
upon for any facts In its possession that might
tend 10 modify the unfavorable Impressions
which our report had created II is very clear
from the correspondence that, before the re-
ceipt Of this note the examination was re-
garded by the police authorities as practically
closed 1t vas however reopened and pro
tracted through period Of nearly three
months We might justly have com
planned of this unreasonable delay but In
view Of the fact that the government Of
Chill was still provisional and having disposi-
ton 10 be forbearing and hopeful Of a friendly
termination, have awaited the report which
has but recently been made. On the Dist inst
/ caused TO be communicated to the government
OF Chill by the American minister AT Santiago
the conclusion Of the government after full ex
animation, and every suggestion affecting this
matter, and to these conclusions / adj
here they were stated as follows:
First-That the assault is not relieved
OF the aspect which the early information
OF the event gave TO it, viz: that Of an attack
upon the uniform Of the United States navy
having its origin and motive in feeling OF hos
tility 70 this government and not in any act Of
sailors or Of any of them
Second. That the public authorities OF Val.
paraiso tlagrantly failed in their duty 70 protect
orr 1aGI. and that some of the police and some
Of the CHILEAN soldiers and sailors were them
selves guilty Of unprovoked assault upon our
sailors before and after arrest He (the presi-
dent 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.-That he tthe presidenD is therefore
compelled to bring the case back 70 the position
taken BY this government, by the note Of Mr..
Wharton Of October % last, and to ask for a
suitable apology and for some adequate repara-
ton for the injury done 10 this government"
In the same note the attention OF the Chilian
government was called to the offensive char
acter of a note addressed by Mr. Malta, its
minister of foreign affairs, 70 Mr.. Montt its
minister at this country on the nth ult This
dispatch was not officially communicated to
this government: but as Mr. Montt was di-
rected so translate It and give it to the
press Of this country, IL seemed 70 me
that il could not pass without official notice
II was not only undiplomatIc, but grossly in
sulting 10 our naval officers, and TO the execu
tive department, as it directly imputed untruth
and insincerity 70 the reports of naval officers
and TO the official communications made by the
executive department 70 congress II viii be
observed that have notified the CHILEAN govern
1aent that unless this note Is at once with
drawn and an aFtolopv "a utfhiff tTa oWavco