Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-01-28
Chili.a InsuItlnr Attltude.


The sudden illness of Secretary Blaine
at the Cabinet meeting the other day
prevented action being taken at that
time with reference to Chili's insolent
and aggressive attitude. 1t is now the
prevailing opinion that to allow any fur
ther delay pending a settlement will only
be to give Chilli the very opportunity 1t
wants in strengthening it's resources,
and will further induce the impression
which the Chilians already have that the
United States either is not ready or is
averse to war. 1t is intimated in
reports from Washington that Great
Britain Is urging Chill to accept
its Offices as mediator In the
matter. Even If 1t should, which is by no
means certain, 1t must be remembered
hat there is another party to such me-
diation whose consent must be obtained.
1t is questionable whether such media
ton would be acceptable to the United
States. Insults to the flag and seamen
of a country have not been considered
as subjects for arbitration by any ma
tion, least of all by Great Britain itself,
which has been in the habit of demand
ing instant reparation whenever its sail
ors have been assaulted and enforcing il
at the muzzles of it's guns. But even il
arbitration were to he conceded it might
as well be understood in advance that
this country will never be satisfied with
any settlement that does not include an
apology and reparatiOn for the Baltimore
affair as well as the complete withdrawal
OF the offensive Malta letter.
1t is doubtful whether any other ma
ton, certainly not Great Britain, would
have borne the continuous insolence and
insults of Chilli with the patience this
oountry has displayed. From the time
of the success of the Congressional party
over the Balmacedists until now the
course OF Chilli has been exasperating.
1T began with the Malta letter, which
substantially gave the lie to the Presi-
dent and Secretary of the Navy in reply
to their protests against the Baltimore
outrage. That letter has not yet been
disavowed on the lines which this coun-
try has demanded. Second, no apology
has been made and no reparation offer
ed for the outrageous assault upon
the sailors of the Baltimore, although it
has been shown it was without justitica-
ton, and that the Chilian authorities
failed to do their duty in the premises.
The Chilian courts have absolved their
police from any responsibility, and will
not go farther than furnishing three of
the brutal assailants with short terms of
imprisonment. Third, the Chilian Gov
ernment has protested in an offensive
manner, which in itself was another in
suit, because Commander Evans saluted
the Spanish Minister who escorted refu-
gees to his vessel, though such is made
his duty by the naval regulations,
which he is bound 10 respect upon
penaIJy OI UeIng court marriafed.
Fourth, after having guaranteed
safe conduct to the refugees on
their way to a neutral port the Chilian
Government withdrew that guaranty
and declared that they should be con-
sidered as liable to arrest at any port
where they might land or where the yes
sci carrying them might touch. Fifth,
not content with assaulting the sailors
of the Baltimore, the mob has stoned
the sailors of the Yorktown, and would
undoubtedly have carried matters still
further had not the plucky commander
of the Yorktown notified the authorities
he would protect his men himself If they
failed to do it. Chilian hatred OF this
country has been manifested almost
continuously since the present govern
ment came into power. 1t has shielded
its officials against all our complaints.
1t has treated all our communications
with studied contempt. 1t has replied
to them i'm an offensive manner, adding
insult to insult. 1t has purposely de-
layed any settlement, hoping thereby to
gain time and put itself in readiness
for trouble, or expecting that foreign
nations would intervene to save their
own interests from prejudice.
Diplomacy has been exhausted. The
Chilian case has not advanced one whit
since the first protest was made. Further
negotiations are useless 1t Is now
time to do something Talking and
negotiating with the bumptiOns Chilians
are of no further use