The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-03
Ex-MINIsrER MATrA DEAD.
Death OF the Man in Charge of Foreign
Affairs In Chill.

Affairs In Chill.
A cable from Valparaiso to the New York
Herald says: Senior Don Manuel Antonio
Malta died in his coach while on the way TO
his home on Thursday OF apOplexy. The en-
tire press Of Santiago. Valparaiso. and lqui-
que print eulogistic notices on Senior Malta 8
death President MOntt has decreed that he
shall have public funeral with full hOnOrs.
Senior Malta was the Minister of Foreign
Affairs at the time of the attack on the sailors
of the United States warship Baltimore IN
Valparaiso, and 20 the Incorporate language
used by him in q circular relating 10 the affair
addressed to the ChiliAn representatives
abroad was largely due tho strained relations
between Chill and the United States. which
at one time looked a. though they must result
in hostilities.
1t was only after he left President Months
Cabinet, where he Was regularly installed,
that the negotiations were brought to sue
cessful and peaceful termination. senior
Malta was very popular with the Radicals
and IN the elections following the revolution
was elected 10 tho Senate.
Senior Manuel Antonio Malta was Minister
of Foreign Affairs IF Chill after the recon-
struction and during the period Of her tron-
bles over the massacre Of | nited States sailors
belonging 20 the man-of-war Baltimore that
30 nearly plunged the two republics into war.
and courageous minister though the attitude
lie then took against this country was looked
upon at the time as more resembling lmpu-
dence than heroism
Matta's first challenge to the United States
was a masterpiece # boldness. IL was cir
cular letter FOR distribution among the Gillian
Legation in Europe and America, giving the
Chilian version of the Baltimore imbrOglio
1t declared hluntly about the report OF the
Secretary Of the Navy and the message OF the
President OF the United States upon the oc-
currence that the information upon which
they are grounded is erroneous OF deliberately
incorrect"
A few days after the news OF the hubbub all
this caused had reached Santiago came a
statement that Mattas letter was unofficial,
not having been submitted . President
Montt. Malta was the leader of the Radical
party and an important congressman and a
big man generally. and the country did not
like 70 disayOw his words
IL was said by some that he had an ill-feel-
ing against the United States. and be sent OFF
the letter 70 crafty It.. not caring much for
the Consequences Malta declared once or
twice that both Egan and Captain Schley
were determined q create an international
conflict anyhow. II was in October, 1891,
that the offensive letter was written. and
there Was continual wrangling until January
when Senior Mont. tho Gillian Minister az
Washington, was instructed 70 Withdraw IT,
In the interim the country was on mo DfinA
of war continually. and 1t was wonder that
hostllities did not break out, the war feeling
on both sides running high.
One Of Maths remarks on the communica-
ton he received from this Government was
that after relating results reached by the
commission Of the officers and commander OF
the cruiser Baltimore. it expresses opinions,
formulates demands and makes threats
which. while not contradicted with acrimony.
are not accepted. nor can they be accepted.
by this Government in the present case nor
IN any other Of similar nature"
In all his letters 10 Uncle Sam. Malta as
sumed the tone Of the representative or one
great Power writing to another, and there
was never any hint Of an inequality between
the nations. Malta stuck up for his country
through IL all in something Of the lingo"
strain. and II earned for him the warm AL.
Inrston Of his fellow-citzens. who feasted
and bsnQueted him after the whole trouble
had blown over.