The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-01-28
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
What He Says on the Gillian Cues
ticTo

-~>@~ -
ton
WAsHINGToE, January 25.-The following is
the concluding portion OF tbs Presidents mes
sage on the Gillian question. After summarize
ing the correspondence to certain point, he
says;
1.-THE communications OF tae Gillian Govern
ment in relation to this cruel and disastrous
attack upon our men, as VIII appear from the
correspondence, have not in any agree taken
the form OF a manly and satisfactory expression
of regret, much less of apology. The event was
of so serious Character that il the injuries sur
fered by our men had been wholly the result OF
the accident in tile Chilian port, the incident
was grave enough to have called for some pub
lie expression Of sympathy ana regret from the
local authorities. # Ia not enough is say that
the affair was lamentable, for humanity would
require that expression, even il the beating and
killing OF our men had been justfabe. Itisnot
enough to say that the incident is regretted
coupled with statement that the affair was
not Of an unusual character in ports where for
eign sailors are accustomed to meet 1t is not
for generous and sincere Government to seek
for words of smaller equivocal meaning in
which to cover to a frien0ly power an apology
for an offence so atroci0ae as this In the case
OF an assault by mob IL New Orleans u5on the
Spanish consulate il 1851, MI Webster wrote to
the Spanish Minister, Mr. CaederoD, that the
acts complained OF were '.disgracoful ana a
fragrant breach OF duty and propriety, and that
his Government regrets them as deeply as Min
ister Calederon or his Government could posi-
bly, do, THAT these acts have caused the
President great paia and he thinks the proper
acknowledgment is due TO Her Niaiesty's Gov
ernment." He invited the Spanish Consul to
return to his post, guaranteeing protection and
n n Spanish
should come in q Spanish vessel Such treat
ment by the Government OF Chilli OF this assault
would have been more creditable to the Gillian
authorities, and much less can hardly be salts
factory to the Government thai values its dig
nifty and honor.
In our note OF October 23d last, which appears
in this corresponds ace, after receiving Tie re-
| port of the board OF officers appointed by Cap
tain Schiey TO Investigate the affair, the Chiiian
| Government was advised OF the aspect when
| it ten assumed, and called upon for any facts
in It's POSSESSION JLslC might teiid TO modify the
unf4voraDle Impressions which our report had
created. 1t is very clear from the cUrreSDou-
| dence that, before the receipt OF this note, the
examination was regarded by police authorities
/ as practically closed. III WAS, however, reopen
| ed and prOtfacted through q period OF nearly
three months. w might Justly have complained
| OF this unreasonable delay. but in view OF the
| fact chat the Government OF Chill was still pro-
| yislOnal, and with a disposition to be forDear-
/ ing, and hopeful OF d friendly termination, |
have awaited the report, which t-aS but recently
been made. On the zlS5 Instant caused to be
communicated to the Government OF Chill by
| the American minister at Santiago, the conclu-
sions of u,is Government after full consdera-
ton of ali the evidence ami of every suggestion
/ adhere They were as follows:
First. That the assault is not relieved Of the
aspect which the early information OF the event
form Of the United States Navy, having its
origin and motive in the feeling OF hostility TO
! this Government and not in any act of the
sailors OF any of them.
Second. That the public authorities of Valpa-
raise iagrantly failed in their duty to project
| our men, and that some OF the police and of the
CHILEAN soldiers and sailors We're themselves
| guilty Of uEprovoked assaults upon our sailors
| before and after arrest. He (6he PreSdent)
| thinks the preponderance OF evidence and in
herent probabilities lead 20 the conclusion that
Riggin was killed by the police or soldiers
Third. That ne (the PTesident) is, therefore,
compelled to bring the case back to the position
taken by this Government in the ote OF Air
suitable apology and for some adequate repara-
ton for the injury done to this Government.
LII the same note the attention OF The Chiiian
| Government was called TO the offensive charac-
ter OF tie note addressed by dr. Malta, its Min
lister of Foreign Anairs, to Mr.. Mont6, It's Minis
Ter at this Capital on the 18th ultirno. This
dispatch was noU officially communicated to
5nis Government, but as Mr. 1lontt was directed
translate it and 20 give it to the press of this
country, it seemed to me that it could not pass
without official notice. Ii was not only .undi-
plo.natic, but grossly insu ting to our naval
officers and to the Executive Departments as 1t
directly imputed unJruth and iSinceliGy TO the
reports OF Che naval officers and to the official
communications made by the Executive De-
partment TO Congress. 1t will be observed that
have notified the CHILEAN Government thaGun
less this note is at once Withdrawn and give an
apology as public as the offence made / Will
terminate the diplomatic relations The re-
quest for the recall of MIR. Egan, upon the
ground that he was Go5 persona graGa was I'M
accompanied by any suggestion that could
properly be used i'll support OF it, and | infer
that the request is based upon the official acts
of Mr.. Egan, which nave received the approval
Of this Government But, however that may
be, could not consent TO consider such q ques-
tion until il had first been settled whether our
correspondence with Chilli would be conducted
upon basis OF mutual respect.
| In submitting these papers to Congress for
that grave and patriotic consideration which
the questions involved demand, | desire to say
that 1 am OF the opinion tla5 the demands
made of Chill by this Government Should De sd
hered to end enforced, if the dignity as well as
the prestigs and influence OF the United States
are not to be wholly sacrificed. We must pro
tect these who in foreign ports display the
against insult, brutality and death inflicted in
the resentment OF the acts Of their 6s&yerAnent,
ana noG iof any lfsuio OF thslf OWL II HIS p9S1i
my oesire in every way 20 cultivate friendly
and intimate relations with all the governments
of this hemisphere. We do not coget their ter
ritory. We desire their peace and prosperity
We look for no advantage i'll our relations with
them, except increased exchanges of commerce
upon the basis of mutual benefit. We regret
every civil contest that disturbs their peace and
paralyZeS their Development ahd are always
ready to give our good Offices for tie restora-
tion of peace 1t must however, be understood
that this Government While exercising the ut
most f0rDaarapca towards weakers powers VIII
extend it's strong and adequate protection 60
its citizens, to its officers, and to its humbles5
sailor, when made victims of waubonness and
cruelty in resentment not OF their personal
conduct but OF official acts of their Govern
ment. Upon information received that Patrick
Shields. freshman, ana probably a BRUSH
subject, but at the time fireman Il the Amei-
can steamer KaeWeeDaw, in the harGor OF Val
paraiso for repairs, had been subjected to
personal injuries in that city-largely by the
police-I directed the Accomplishment to cause
the evidence of the officers and crew OF that
vessel to be taken upon its arrival in san Fran
cisco, and that testimony is also herewith trans
mitted. The brabatJr and even Sayagefy OF
the treatment this poor man by the CHILEAN
police would be Incredible il the evidence OF
Shields not supported by other direct testi-
| mony and by the distressing condition OF the
man himself when he was finally able to reach
his vessel The captain OF the vessel says; lie
came back a wreck; black from his neck TO his
hips from beating, weak and stupid ANA is still
in a kind of paralyzed condition, and has never
been able to do duty since'
The claim for PREPARATION has been made IN
behalf Of this man. for while he was not a ciJi-
zen of the United States, the doctrine long held
| by the United States expressed in the consul
lar re gulations, Isl s'Tne principles which arc
| maintained by this Government III regard to
| protection. as distinguished from relief OF sea
| mon. are well settled. It is held that the Cir
dence that the Seamen on board are such, ana
in every regularly documented merchant vessel
the crew will ind their protection III the fag
that covers them
L nave as yet received no reply to our note of
the 21St inst, but. in my opinion ought not to
delay longer to bring these matters to the at
tentiOn of Congress for such action as may be
deemed appropriate.
(Signed.) BENJAMIN HARRISON,
EyacutjVa Maasion J3nuary Pr