Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-01-16
THE GILLIAN CALM.
The Situation Regarded as Very
Grave.
WAITING on THE PRESIDENT.
Both Republicans aud Democrats Afraid to
Start . Discussion on the Matter
Gillian Refugees safe-Capt.
schley's Final Report.

tuc lHSb lew uhyS III Iuc AhNcohBoeou
now being conducted at San Francisco
by Judge Advocate General Remy into
the attack upon the Baltimore's crew,
the publication Of the testimony In the
Shields case and the ugly demonstra-
ton at Valparaiso against the York;
towns gig crew, have created a very
uneasy feeling. Senators and repre-
sentatives, who have all along derided
the idea of serious results following
the CHILEAN correspondence and have
had the greatest confidence that Chill
would soon tender an ample apology
and make reparation for the misdeeds
of her citizens, are now willing to ad-
init privately that the situation is full
of the gravest difficulties.
One ominous sign is the inactivity OF
congress in the matter. Heretofore 1t
has been customary whenever matter
of the smallest public interest to the
subject Of diplomatic correspondence
for one of the two houses of congress
to call upon the president for ali the
information in the possession of the
state department in relation to the
matter. But no senator or membe: has
vet been venturesome enough to intro
duce q resolution calling for the Gillian
correspondence although it has been
apparent to all OF them that the rela-
tions of the United States with Chilli
have been strained nearly to the point
of rupture within the last few weeks.
The very gravity of the situation APP
pears to have had a repressible effect
upon congress. The republicans are
indispcsed to embarrass the president
by calling for the correspondence, hav-
ing in view his promise to transmit it
to congress ut an early day. The dem
ocrais are fearful of interfering with
the negotiations and thereby precip-
itating trouble which may Their be
chargeable to their action. Of course
the president might decline to accede to
a request for the correspondence, as he
has done in other cases, on the ground
that it would not be cXpedient or in the
public interest to publish it, but he
would find it hard to do SO after the
strong expressions upon tbs subject
the situation in congress is one of
anxious waiting in the hope that the
president will soon relieve the general
desire for information by voluntarily
or by means OF prompted request
supplying the correspondence.
Very naturally the senators and men,
hers who are members OF the commit
tees having the foreign relations of the
government in charge are unwilling 10
express themselves at this juncture up
on the merits OF the controversy with
which they may soon have TO deal off,
cially. but from their private express
sions it is clear that no party lines are
to be drawn and that the president will
have the united support Of congress in
the adoption OF any measures he NAV
feel to be necessary for the preservation
of the dignity of the United States.
Senator Morgan, the leading demo-
cratic member OF the senate committee
on foreign relations, is particularly in
dignant at the revelations in the case
of Patrick Shields, the fireman of the
American steamer Keewenaw, who
was cruelty treated in u Gillian prison.
He declares that Shields is undoubtedly
entitled to the protection of the Amer
lean government rs he was serving on
an American vessel He predicted that
the CHILEAN government would never
raise the question of Shields citizen
ship as had been suggested in view of
the fact that he is an lrishman and has
not been naturalized as a plea for re-
flsing repatriation.
In the house the members of the
foreign affairs committee have dis
couraged all who have spoken to them
in favor of calling for the correspond
ence but there has been no consul
tation among the members of the COM
mittee as a whole on the subject Mem
bers of the committee say that it would
not be wise to precipitate discussion
in the house while the correspondence
was incomplete for fear that i'll con-
cealed utterauces or actions might re-
suit in embarrassing negotiations If in
deed it did not prevent an honorable
understanding from being reached
In reply IN an inquiry rs to the truth
of a report that an ultimatum demand
ing instant apology and reparation had
been cabled to Chilli, President Harri-
SON said he had sent no ultimatum to
Chilli, but was still devoting himself to
n careful examination Of the volumin-
Gus Gillian correspondence.
The gun boat Bennington arrived at
Montevideo yesterday morning. and IL
was expected that the Atlanta would
arrive later. These two vessels will
increase the American feet at that
point TO five, the others being the Chi
cago, Yantic and Essex These will
be available In case the negotiations
with Chill should assume
more warlilze aspect than at pres
emit. The Philadelphia, Concord
and Kearsage at Port au Prince