The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-01-26


THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
A Ringing ArraiRnment ana For
chile Demand for Apology.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 90. LIN anticipa-
ton of the presidents message on the
Chilean question the galleries were well
crowded with spectators yesterday. the
greater portion il the private galleries
being ladies' u the diplomatic gallery
sat lie Japanese iiin.stsr and his secre-
tary Of legation. The members on the
floor were gathered IA groups discussing
the all absorbing topic Of possible war
with Chile. AT II O'Clock Speaker Crisp
entered the hall and was greeted with
applause from both sides Of the house.
He showed the effects of his recent i'll
ness, but his voice was clear and distinct
rs he called the house to order.
At 1885 Executive Clerk Pruden en-
tered the house with the long expected
document. The members resumed their
seats at once, few being grouped about
the floor in front of the speakers desk.
Threading of themessage was listened
TO with eager attention by the members,
and the quietude of the house mani
Tested the interest felt in the all absorb
ing topic of the hour. The reading of
the message was concluded at 1885, and
was followed by loud applause on both
s1des Of the floor.
The message Of the president is IN sub
stance as follows:
The Time to Speak.
In my opinion the time has now come
when should lay before the congress
and the country the correspondence be-
tween this government and the govern
ment Of Chile, from the time of the
breaking out of the revolution against
Balmaceda, together with all other facts
IN the possession Ut theexecutive depart
ment relating to this matter.
The diplomatic corresp0 Is here
with transmitted, together with some
correspondence between the naval Off
GERS for the time In command in Chilean
waters and the secretary Of the navy
and also the evidence taken at the Mare
Island navy yard since the arrival of
the Baltimore at San Francisco.
do not deem it necessary in this COM
munication to attempt any full analysis
of the correspondence OF the evidence.
a brief restatement of the international
questions involved and Of the reasons for
which the responses cf the Chilean gov
eminent are unsatisfactory isRll that I
deem necessary.
Egaa,s Course Commended.
It may be well at the outset to say
that, whatever may have been said in
this country or In Chile in criticism of
Mr.. EgRn, our minister to Santiago, the
/ true history Of this existing period in
Chilean affairs, from the outbreak Of the
revolution until this time, disclose no
act on the part Of Mr.. Egan unworthy
of his position or that could justly bethe
occasion of serious aninadversion or
criticism. He has, think, on the whole,
borne himself, in very trying circum-
stances, with dignity, discretion and
courage, and has conducted the CORE
spondence with ability, courtesy and
4 fairness.
ming b say that the right Of Mr.. Egan
to give shelter in the legation to certain
i adherents of the Balmaceda government
who applied to him for asylum has not
been denied by the Chilean authorities,
| NOR has any demand been made for the
| surrender OF these refugees.
That there was urgent need of asylum
is shown by Mr.. Egan's note of Aug. "a,
1891, describing the disorders that pre-
vailed In Santiago, and by the evidence
of Captain Schley as to the pillage and
violence that prevailed ut Valparaiso.
The correspondence discloses, how
ever, that the request of Mr.. Egan for q
safe conduct from the country in behalf
of these refugees was denied. The pre-
cedents cited by him in the correspond
ence, particularly the case of the reYolu-
ton in Peru in 1865, did not leave the
Chilean government In a position to
deny the right of asylum to political
| refugees, and seemed very clearly to
support Mr.. Egan's contention that a
safe conduct to neutral territory was a
necessary and acknowledged incident of
the asylum.
These refugees. have very recently,
| without formal safe conduct but by the
acqniescence of the Chilean authorities,
been placed on board the Yorktown and
are now being conveyed to Callao, Peru.
Disrespect 20 Our Legation.
This incident might be considered
wholly closed but for the disrespect man
Tested towards this government by the
close and offensive police surveillance of
the legation premises which was mani
tested during most of the period of the
stay of the refugees therein.
After the date of my annual message
and up to the time of the transfer of the
premises seem to have been surrounded
by police in uniform, and police agents
or detectives, in citizens dress, who Of
fensively scrutinized persons entering or
leaving the legation and, on one or more
occasions, arrested members of the min
listers family.
Commander Evans, who, by direction,
recently visited Mr.. Egan at Santiago,
in his telegram to the navy department,
described the legation as "a veritable
prison" and states that the police agents
or detectives were, after his arrival,
withdrawn during his stay.
II appears further, from the note Of
Mr.. Egan OF Nov. 20, 1891, that on one
occasion at least these police agents,
whom he declares to be known to him,
invaded the legation premises, pounding
upon its windows and using insulting
and threatening language towards per-
sons therein.
The Chilean authorities have, as viii
ha observed from the cOrregDOndenca