Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-02-06

the facts upon which this conclusion rests,
! think 1t right to say a word or two upon
the legal aspect of the case. The Bal3i-
more was in the harbor Of Valparaiso BY
virtue of that general invitation which ma
tions are held to extend to the wAr
vessels of other powers with which
they have friendly relations. This invita-
ton, l think, must be held ordinarily to
embrace the privilege of such communica-
ton with the shore as is reasonable, neces-
sary and proper for the comfort and con-
venience Of the officers and men of such
vessels. Captain Schley testihes
that when his vessel returned
to Valparaiso, on September Ia, the
city officers, rs is customary, extended
the hospitalities of the city to his officers
and crew.
Not a Personal Matter.
1t is not claimed that every personal
collision or injury in which a sailor or Of
ficer Of such naval vessel visiting the
shore may be involved raises an
international question, but / am
clearly of the opinion that where such
sailors or officers are assaulted by n resi-
dent populace, animated by hostility to
the government whose uniform the sailors
and officers wear, and In resentment
Of acts done by their government, not
by them, this nation must take notice
of the event as one involving an infraction
of its rights and dignity; not in n second.
airy way, as where a citizen is injured and
presents his claim through his
own government but in a primary
minister or consul or the flag itself had
been the object OF the same character of
assault. The officers and sailors of ,he
Baltimore were in the harbor
Of Valparaiso under the or
ders of their government, not by
their own choice. They were upon the
shore by the implied invitation of the gov.
crnment Of Chile and with the approval
Of their commanding officer, and it does
not distinguish their case from
that of n consul that his stay Is
more permanent or that he holds the ex.
press Invitation of the local government
(. tteet tttthhG 44iaeigatH5Sn e9niiaas sfe mn njuffyy '. rss
the net of mob. If there
police or military In tnia cruel work., and
no neglect of their part to extend protsc-
ton, the case would still be one, in my opiu-
ion, when It's extent and character are con.
sidered, involving international rights.
The incidents OF the affair are then
recited by the president.
He reviews oil the testimony coll
lectcd from all sources, Chilean, Amer l.
car and neutral, and analyses it in O
clear and luminous fashion. He calls
attention to the fact that while
eighteen Of our sailors were dubbed,
stabbed or killed, but one
and it Is doubtful whether
by his fellow rioters. This fact, the
president thinks. disposes Of the
charges that the American soamen
were the aggressors; or that they were
armed with deadly weapons at all.
The charge 10 further refuted by the
fact that seven penknives we're
the only weapons found upon them
when searched by the police The
president then shows in n strong light
the brutal and inhuman treatment to
which one Of the sailors was subjected
In the police stations and the hospitals
mo amount of Subterfuge or evasion"
says he, lis able to cloud Jul clear
vision OF this brutal work"
The evidence Of the existence of ~auinos-
ity towards our sailors in the minds of the
sailors Of the Chilean navy and of the
poPuiace OF Valparaiso are so nbund-
AMI, are so various as to lea vs no doubt in
the mind of any one who viii examine the
apers submitted. These incidents con-
ciusiyeiy establish that the attack was
upon tho uniform, the nationality, and not
upon the men.
origin of the Hostility.
The origin OF this feeling 10 probably
found In the refusal of this government to
give recognition TO the congressional party
before 1t had established itself; in tn,
seizure of the Itata, for an alleged viola
tion OF the neutrality law in the cable
incident, and in the charge
that Admiral Brown conveyed informa-
ton to Valparaiso of the landing of Quin-
ter. II is not my purpose to enter here on
any defense OF the action of this govern
ment in these matters.
The president then quotes the ulti-
matum sent to Chile January FL and
continues:
i desire to say that ] am of the opinion
that the demands on Chile by this govern
ment should be adhered 10 and enforced.
IL the dignity as well as the prestige and
influence of the United States are not
to be wholly sacrificed we should
protect these who In foreign parts display
the flag or wear the colors of this govern
mept, against insult, brutality and death,
in resentment of the acts of their
government, and not for any fault of their
own.
/ have as yet received no reply to our
note of the 2lst inst, but in my opinion /
ought not to delay longer to bring these
matters to the attention of congress for
such action as may be deemed appropriate.
(Signed,) BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion. January 25. 1897.