The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-01-30
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

brief statement Of the facts then in the pos
session of this government touching the as
sault, In the streets Of Valparaiso, Chilli, upon
the sailors Of the United States steamship Bal
timoTe on the evening Of the 10th Of October
last, said:
This government is now awaiting the re-
suit Of an investigation, which has been con-
Quoted by the criminal court at Valparaiso. 1t
is reported unofiicially that the investigation
is about completed, and it is expected that the
result will soon be communicated to this gov
ernment together with some adequate and
satisfactory response to the note by which the
attention Of Chill was called TO this incident
If these Just expectations should be disap-
pointed OF further needless delay intervene, l
will, by special message, bring the matter
again to the attention of congress for such
action as may be necessary"
The Time Has Come.
In my opinion the time has now come when
l should lay before the congress and the coun-
try the correspondence between this govern
ment and the government Of Chill from the
time OF the breaking out Of the revolution
against Balmaceda, together with all other
facts in the possession of the executive depart
mont relating to this matter. The diplomatic
correspondence is herewith transmitted, to-
gether with some correspondence between the
naval officers for the time in command in
Chilinn 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 communication to attempt any full
analysis of the correspondence or Of the evil
dence. A brief restatement Of the interna-
tional questions involved and Of the reasons
why the responses Of the Chilan government
are unsatisfactory is all that deem neces-
sary.
EEan Has Made No Mistakes.
1t may be well at the outset to say that
whatever may have been said in this country
or In Chill in criticism of Mr.. Egan, our minis
ter at Santiago the true history of this excit.
| ing period In Chilian affairs, from the out
break Of the revolution until this time, dis
/ closes no act on the part Of Mr.. Egar
unworthy Of his position or that could justly
| be the occasion of serious animadversion ol
| criticism. He has, l think, on the whole, born'
himself in very trying circumstances witt
/ dignity, discretion and courage, and has con
Quoted the correspondence with ability, cour
/ tesy and fairness.
! 1t is worth while also at the beginning to sa!
that the right Of Mr.. Egan to give shelter IL
the legation to certain adherents Of the Bal
maoedA government who applied to him fol-
asylum has not been denied by the ChiliaI
authorities nor has any demand been mad
for the surrender Of these refugees. That ther
was urgent need of asylum is shown by Mr.
| Egan's note Of Aug. "a, 1891, describing the dis
orders that prevailed in Santiago, and by tn
and violence that prevailed at Valparaiso
The correspondence diseloses, however, tina
the request Of Mr.. Egan for a safe conduc
from the country in behalf Of these refugee
was denied.
Insulting Police Surveillance.
The precedents cited by him in the CORE
Epondence, particularly the case OF the revolu
ton In Peru In 1865, did not leave the Chilial
government In position TO deny the right o
esvium IN politiCal refugees and seemed YER
clearly TO support Mr.. Egau's contention tina
a safe conduct TO neutral territory was a necea
sary and acknowledged incident Of the asy
lum. These refugees have very recently, with
out formal safe conduct, but by the ncquies
Cence Of the Gillian authorities, been place
on bohrd the Yorktown, and are now bein
conveyed to Callao, Peru.
This incident might be considered who'll
IlOsed but for the disrespect manifested tC
ward this government by the close and Offer
siye police surveillance OF the legation prem
ises which was maintained during most Of n
period Of the stay Of the refugees therein
, After the date OF my annual message and u
to the time Of the transfer OF the refugees I
: the Yorktown the legation premises seem
. have been surrounded by police in uniforI
and police agents or detectives in citizen
, dress who extensively scrutinized persons el
tering or leaving the legation, and on one
more occasions arrested members Of the mil
q lzter's family.
Commander Evans, who by my dlrectio
10 recently visited Mr., Egan at Santiago, In i
3 | telegram 10 the navy department describe
tie legation as "a veritable prison." aBd stat
That the police agents or detectives were AFT
his arrival, Withdrawn during his stay II a.
e pears, further, from the note OF Mr.. Egan
. nov, 20, lsal, that on one occasion at least the
police agents, whom he declares to be know
{ TO him, Invaded the legation premisess poun
Z ing upon its windows and using insulting al
, threatening language toward persons therein
u The Argentine Minister Protested.
?, This breach OF the right Of a minister 10 fre
$ dom from police espionage and restraint seer
10 have been so fragrant that the Argenul
c minister, who was dean Of the diplomatic corr
q having observed it, felt called upon 10 prote
AGAINST it to the Chillau minister OF fOreil
u affairs. The Chilian authorities have, as will
G oiserved from the correspondence, charged d
, refugees and the inmates OF the legation wi
insulting the police; but Il seems to me incro
u ille that men whose lives were in jeopardy al
n whose safety could only be secured by retiI
" uent and quietness should have sought 10 pr
e woke a collision which could only end In the
Y De truction, or to aggravate their condition
iHi nsifying popular feeling, that at one tiI
y 50 threatened the legation as TO require n
r. Lrln to appeal TO the minister Of foreign
fairs.
Gut the most serious incident disclosed
the correspondence is that Of the attack up
The sailors Of the Baltimore In the streets
q Valparaiso on the 10th OF October last In q
~ rnaual message speaking upon the inform
'C lion then in my possession, / said:
- so far as have yet been able 10 learn
If other explanation OF this bloody work
!, teen suggested than that It had its origin
hostility 10 these men as sailors Of the Unit
Siates, wearing the uniform Of their COVER
VI mont, and notin any individual act or person
% auimosity."
o The Injury Was TO the Government
D. We have now received from the Chilian gC
n erument an abstract Of the conclusions OF {
+. lscal general upon the testimony taken by I
Dr. judge OF crimes In an investigation which "
made 10 extend over nearly three months
!. very much regret 20 be compelled 20 say "a
. this report does not enable me 10 modify
h conclusion announced In my annual messa
7' ! am sttll OF the opinion that our sailors W,
e.. assaulted, beaten, stabbed and killed, not
te anything thcy OF any one OF them had do
Ia Tut for what the government Of the Unit
M states had done, or was charged with havi
. done, by IL civil officers and naval commaI
frs. II that be the true aspect Of the case,
injury was 20 the government OF the Unit
i' States, not 10 these poor sailors who were
se saulied In a manner 30 brutal and 30 coward
81 Before attempting 10 give an outline Of
be- facii uponlWhich thia conclusion rests, / thl
Is % righi . aay Wurd or two upon the lo
- azllct Of iha aaaa