Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-26

| Lne balmaceua government on account
of the Itata. Whether with reason or
without he could OF course not admit,
but such he thought was the explana-
tion of the assault at that time"
Several of our men sought security
from the mob by such complete or par
tial changes in their dress as would con-
ceal the fact of their being seamen of the
Baltimore, and found it then possible to
walk the streets without molestation.
These incidents conclusively establish
that the attack was upon the uniform
and nationality, and not upon the men.
The origin OF this feeling is probably
found in the refusal of this government
to give recognition to the Congressional
party before it had established itself; in
the seizure of the Itata for alleged vio-
lation of the neutrality law; in the cable
incident, and in the charge that Ad-
miral Brown conveyed information to
Valparaiso of the landing at Quinteros.
1t is not my purpose to enter here any
defense of the action of this government
in these matters. 1t is enough for the
present purpose to say, if there was any
breach OF international comfy or duty
ON our part, it should have been made
the subject of official complaint through
diplomatic channels, or OF reprisals, for
which full responsibility was as
sumed. We cannot consent that
these incidents and these perversions
of truth sball be used to excite MUIR
derous attack upon our unoffending
sailors, and the government of Chile 90
acquit OF responsibility. In fact, the
conduct this government, during the war
In Chile, pursued, were lines of inter-
national duty which we had SO strongly
insisted upon on the part of other ma
tions when this country was in the
throes of civil conflict. We continued
the established diplomatic relations
with the government in power until it
was overthrown, and promptly and cor
when it was established. The good
Offices OF our government were offered to
bring about peaceful adjustment, and
the interposition of Mr.. Egan to miti-
gate the severity of punishment and
shelter the adherents OF the Congress
iona party, were effective and frequent.
The charge against Admiral Brown is too
base to gain credence with any one who
knows his high personal and profess
sional character.
Recurring to the evidence of our sail
/ ors, think it is shown there were sew
eral distinct assaults, and 80 nearly SIM
ultaneously, as to show they did not
/ spread from one point. The press sum-
mary of the report OF the fiscal, shows
that the evidence of the Chilean officials
and others is in conflict as to the place
of origin, several places being named
by different witnesses as the locality
where the first outbreak occurred. This,
if correctly reported, shows there were
several distinct outbreaks, and SO nearly
at the same time as to cause this confu-
sion. La Patria, in the same issue from
which have already quoted, after de
| scribing the killing of Riggin and the
| fght which from that point extended to
the mole, says: SAT the same time in
another street OF the port, Yankee sail
ors fought fiercely with the people of
j the townwho believed to see in them
incarnate enemies Of the Chilean navy"
| The testimony of Captain Jenkins OF
the American merchant ship Kewee-
nav, which had gone to Valparaiso for
repairs, and who was witness to some
part of the assault upon the crew of the
| Baltimore, is strongly corroborative of
the testimony of our own sailors, when
he says he cav Chilean sentries drive
| back seaman seeking shelter from the
| mob that was pursuing him. The Off
GERS and men of Captain Jenkins's ship
furnish most conclusive testimony to
the indignites practiced toward Ameri-
cans in Valparaiso. When American
sailors, even of merchant ship, can
only secure their safety by denying their
nationality, it must be time to readjust
our relations with the government that
permits such demonstrations.
AS to the participation of police Off
| GERS, the evidence of our sailors 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 rifle ahot fred by
policeman or soldier on duty, is shown
| directly by the testimony OF johnson, in
whose arms he was at the time, and by
the evidence of Charles Langen, an
American sailor, not then member of
the Baltimore's crew, who stood close
by and saw the transaction. The
Chilean authorities do not pretend to fix
the responsibility OF this shot upon any
particular person, but avow their in
ability to ascertain who fred it, further
than 1t was fred from the crowd. The
character OF the wound, as des-
| cribed by the surgeons Of the
6altlnlOr0, Cle&Ily supports MS
opinion that it was made by rifle
ball, the orifce OF exit being as much
as an inch or an inch and a quarter in
width. When shot, the poor fellow was
unconscious and in the arms of COM
rade, who was endeavoring to carry him
to neighboring drug store for treat
ment. The story of the police that in
coming up the street they passed those
men and left them behind them, is in
consistent 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
in front OF the advancing force, and not
standing in crowd, but unconscious
and supported in the arms OF Johnson
when shot.
After summarizing the correspondence
up to a certain point, he says: The
communications of the Chilean govern
ment i'll relation to this cruel and dis
| astrous attack upon our men, as will
appear from the correspondence, has not
in any degree taken the form of a manly
and satisfactory expression of regret,
much less apology. The event was of
so serious character that if the injury
suffered by our men was wholly the re-
suit OF accident in Chilean port, the
incident was grave enough to have
called for public expression OF sympathy