The Indianapolis journal., 1892-01-14
Congressman 0'Neill. of Missouri, Says
War Cannot Now Be Avoided,
And an Army Officer Predicts that in Six Weeks
Force of United States Troops Will Be
Sailing Towards the Far South.
Meanwhile the President Is Not Talk
ing. but Doing a Heap O. Thinking.
Senators and Representatives Waiting for o
Message on the Subject-Minister Egan's
Refugees All on Board The Yorktown.
WAR PREDICTED.


A Congressman and Army officer Say Uncle
Sam Must Fight Chill.
Special 10 the Indianapolis Johnal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Representative
O'Neill. of Missouri, is reported to have
said to-day: "You say that there will be
war. Don't put any ifs or ands to it; make
the statement broad and unqualified"
A prominent officer of the army. who re-
ceived letter from one of the naval force
at Valparaiso yesterday. said: "In six
weeks detachment of the army will be
moving on Chilli. l thoroughly believe
what / say"
Mr.. O'Neilps statement is regarded as
evidence of q change of feeling on the part
of some of the Democrats in the House
who feel that they cannot afford to let it
be known that President Harrison is in
favor of maintaining an advanced position
upon the question of asserting and defend
ing courageous American position, and
that the majority of the House of Repre-
sentatives are not inclined to back him up
In it.
The officer quoted has exceptional oppor-
tunities for knowing just what is the senti-
ment of the people of Chilli as manifested
to the officers of the United States vessels
in the harbor of Valparaiso and is undoubt-
edly honest in the expression he made.
And yet 1t can be said that there has moth
ing developed in the situation of affairs, as
viewed from an official standpoint, which
can be said 70 indicate any material change
or which warrants the gentleman in
making the assertions quoted. This after
noon President Harrison stated, In reply to
. reporter, that no dispatch has been sent
to Minister Egan conveying the ultimatum
of the United States or indicating any i'm
patience on the part of this government
with the attitude of Chill. 1t is not time
for the first. unless the United States
is ready to precipitate Q conflict. while
negotiations are pending, and certainly no
such intention has been credited to
any official of this government, whatever
may have been the expressions of opinion
upon the subject. AS to the second. it is
not the practice in diplomatic correspond
ence to betray any petulance orimpatience:
it would not be dignified or proper and
the gentlemen conducting the negotiations
for the United States are not tyros in the
art of diplomacy by any means.
President Harrison is devoting much Of
his time to careful study of the corre-
spondence that has been furnished him
from the State Department. and which is
kept up closely day by day. He is going
through 1t as trained lawyer would to
prepare brief for presentation to the
court. 1t is said that he has analyzed it so
far as to be able to show conclusively the
insincerity of the Chilian government in
Its dealing with the United States govern
ment, if not equivocation. and the pres
ence of an intense anti-American feeling is
and has already been made manifest
throughout 1t all on the part of Chill.
WAITING FOR THE TESTIMONY
The President desires to have the case be-
fore him as complete as possible, so it was
that Judge Advocate general Remey was
sent to San Francisco to conduct the ex-
animation of the Baltimore sailors upon
the riot and assault upon them. The testi-
mony Thus adduced, it is said, with the
Judge Advocate generals findings based
thereon, will form an appendix to the cor
respOndence when 1t is sent to Congress.
reach Congress before next week, as Col.
Remey will not reach Washington before
then and make his report A synopsis of
the evidence has been telegraphed the
President day by day during the inquiry.
1t has not been decided by the President,
it is said, whether his comments on the
correspondence will take the form OF
message to Congress or of q dispatch to
Minister Egan. In either case his friends
expect that he will make a dignfied but
forceful presentation of the position of this
government which will be acceptable to
the country. Should IL be sent to Minister
Egan for presentation to the Chilian gov
eminent it may be considered Dy the otfi-
cials of that country in the light of an ulti-
matum.
There can be little doubt. an Associated
Press dispatch says. that the developments
of the last few days In the course of the in
yestigation now being conducted at San
Francisco by Judge Acknowledgement
Remey into the attack upon the Balti-
more's crow; the publication of the testi-
mony in the Shields case and the
ugly demonstration at Valparaiso against
the YOrktown's gig crew. have had the effect
to create very uneasy feeling at the Cap
itol. Senators and Representatives who
have all along derided the idea of any Sc
rious result following the Chllian corre-
spondence. and have had the greatest conf
dence that Chilli would soon tender an
apology and make reparation for the mis-
deeds of her citizens, are now willing to
admit privately that the situation is full
of the gravest difficulties. One ominous
sign Is the great inactivity Of Congress in
the matter. Heretofore it has been GUS
tomary, whenever O matter of the smallest
public interest is the subject of diplomatic
correspondence, IOf one o. the TWO houses
of Congress to call upon the President for
all the information in the possession of the
State Department in relation to the mat
ter. But no Senator or member has yet
been venturesome enough to introduce q
resolution calling for the Chilian corre-
spondence although it 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
weeka The very gravity of the situation
appears TO have here repressible effect
upon Congress. The Republicans are in
disposed TO embarrass the President by
calling for the correspondence. having in
view his significant promise to transmit It
to Congress at an early day. The Demo-
Gratis are fearful of interfering with the
negotiations and thereby precipitating
trouble that may then be char geable to
their action. OF course the President mi ght
decline to accede to q request for the corre-
spondence, as he has done in other cases,
on the ground that it would not be expedl-
ent or in the public interest to publish it,
but he would find IL hard 10 do so after the
strong expressions upon the subject con-
tanned In his annual message. So the STU
alton in Congress IL one or anxious wait
ing, in the hope that the President will
soon relieve the general desire for informa-
ton by voluntarily, OF by means of q
prompted request. supplying the corre-
spondence.
UNWILLING TO TALK.
Very naturally the Senators and men,
bers who are members of the committee