River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-01-28

shows that the evidence Of the Chilial Of
hcials and others was in conflict as to the place
OF origin, several places being named by differ.
ent witnesses TO the locality
where the first outbreak occurred This.
II correctly reported shows that there
were several distinct outbreaks and so nearly
at the same time 10 cause this confusion.
The La Patria, in the same issue from which
have already quoted, after describing the
killing OF Riggin and the fight which
from that point extended TO the MOLE saws:
AT the same time in other streets OF the port
the Yankee sailors fought herceiy with the
people OF the town, who believed TO see in them
tnearnate enemies Of the Gillian navy"
The testimony OF Capt. Jenkins, OF the Amer,
iean merchant ship Keweena. which had gone
70 Valparaiso for repairs and who was a wit.
ness Of some part Of the assault upon the crew
OF the Baltimore, is strongly eorroborative OF
the testimony of our own sailors when
h. says that he saw CHILEAN sen.
tries drive back o seaman seeking shelter
~ a a mob that was pursuing him. The officers
and men OF Capt. Jenkins ship furnish the
most conclusive testimony to the indignities
which were practiced towards Americans in
Valparaiso. When American sailors, even of
merchant ships, can only secure their safety by
denying their nationality, it must be time to re-
adjust our relations with government that
permits such demonstrations. AS TO the par.
ticipation OF the police, the evidence Of our sail
ors shows that our men were struck and beaten
by police officers before and after arrest and
that one, at least was dragged with lasso
about his neck by mounted policeman. That
the death OF Riggin was the result OF rife
shot fired by policeman soldier in duty is
shown directly by the testimony OF johnson, in
whose arms he was at the time, and by the evi. I
denee OF Charles Langen, an American
sailor not then member of the BaltL
more's crew who stood close by and saw the
transaction. The Gillian authorities do
not pretend to fix the responsibility of this shot
on any particular person. but avow their inabil- /
ity to ascertain who fired it, further than that it
was fired in a crowd. The character OF the
wound, as described by one OF the surgeons OF
the Baltimore, clearly supports his opinion that
II was made by rifle ball. the orifee of exit
being as much as an inch or an inch and a quar-
ter in width. When shot, the poor fellow was I'M
conscious and in the arms OF a comrade, who was
endeavoring to carry him to neighboring drug
store for treatment. The story of the police
that in coming up the street they passed these
men and left them behind them is inconsistent
with their own statement as to the direction Of
their approach and with their duty to protect
them and is clearly disproyed. In fact Riggin
was not behind, but in front Of the advancing
force, and was not standing in the crowd
but was unconscious and supported Ia the arms
OF Johnson when he was shot
The communications of the Gillian govern. I
ment in relation TO this cruel and disastrous at
correspondence. have not In any degree taken 4
the form OF mighty and satisfactory express |
sion OF regret, much less OF apology.
The event was OF so serious a character that, !
II the injuries suffered by our men had been /
wholly the result Of an accident in Gillian /
port, the incident was grave enough TO have 4
called for some public expression OF sympathy
and regret from the local authorities |
1t is not enough TO say that the af- /
fair was lamentable, for humanity would !
require that expression, even II the |
beating and killing Of our men had been justit- |
able. 1t is not enough to say that the incident /
is regretted, coupled with the statement that the
affair was not Of an unusual character in ports I
where the foreign sailors are accustomed 10 4
meet. 1t is not for generous and sincere gov /
eminent to seek for words OF small OF
equfvocal meaning in which TO convey 10 1
friendly power an apology for an Of /
Tense so atroeious as this. In the case I
OF the assault by mob in New Orleans /
upon the Spanish consulate in 1851, Mr. I
Webster wrote 10 the Spanish mlnister, Mrl
Calderon, that the acts complained Of were "a |
disgraceful and fragrant breach of duty and pro-
priety," AID that "his government deplores
them as deeply as Minister Calderon and his |
government could possibly do" that these
acts have caused the president great pain, and
he thinks proper acknowledgement is due to
her majestys government"
He invited the Spanish consul TO return 10 his
post, guaranteeing protection and offered TO sa-
Lutte the Spanish flag if the consul should come
in a Spanish vessel Such treatment by the
government of Chill of this assault would have I
been more creditable TO the Gillian authorities
and much less hardly be satisfactory |
to government that values its dignity |
and honor In our note OF October |
% last, which appears in the correspondence
after receiving the report OF the board OF Off
GERS appointed by Capt Schley 10 investigate
tho laf1ft adv
OF the aspect which II then assumed and called
upon for any facts in its possession that might
tend TO modify the unfavorable impressions
which our report had created. 1t is very clear
from the correspondence that, before the re-
ceipt OF this note, the examination was re-
garded by the police authorities as practically
closed. 1t was however, reopcned and pro
traeted through a period of nearly three
months. We might justly have com
planned OF this unreasonable delay but in
view OF the fact that the government OF
Chill was still provisional and having DISPOSE
ton 10 be forbearing and hopeful Of friendly
termination, / have awaited the report which
has but recently been made On the 21st inst. |
caused to be communicated to the government
of Chilli by the American minister at Santiago
the conclusion Of the government after full ex-
animation and every suggestion affecting this
matter, and 10 these conclusions / adj
here they were stated as follows:
First-That the assault is not relieved
Of the aspect which the early Information
of the event gave 70 it. viz that OF an attack
upon the uniform of the United States navy
having its origin and motive in feeling of hos
tility 10 this government and not in any act OF
sailors or OF any of them.
Secondhand the public authorities OF Val
paraiso iagrantly failed in their duty TO protect
our men and that some Of the police and some
OF the Gillian soldiers md sailors were them
selves guilty of unprovoked assault upon our
sailors before and after arrest. He (the presi-
dent) thinks the TrepOnderance OF the evidence /
and the inherent probabilities lead TO the con-
clusion that Riggin WAS killed by the police or
soldiers.
Third-That he (the presidenD is therefore
compelled 10 bring the case back to the position
taken by this government, by the note of Mr.. |
Wharton of october % last, and TO ask for |
suitable apology and for some adequate repara' |
ton for the injury done to this government"
In the same nste the attention OF the Gillian !
government was called to the offensive char |
aeter of a note addressed by Mr.. Militia, lis !
minister OF foreign affairs, to Mr.. Montt its /
minister at this country on the 18th ult This /
dispatch was not officially communicated TO
this government; but as Mr.. Montt was di- /
rected so translate IL and give IL TO the
press of this country, ii seemed 10 me
that IT could not pass without official notice. |
1t was not only undiplOmatict but grossly IN
sulting to our naval officers, and TO the execu-
tive department, as it directly imputed untruth
and insincerity 10 the reports Of naval officers
and to the official communications made by the
executive department to congress. 1t Will be
observed that have notified the Gillian govern
ment that unless this note is at once with
drawn and an apology is public as the onense
made l will terminate diplomatic relations. /
The REQUEST for the recall of Mr.. Egan upon the
ground that he was not Persona Grata was |
uuaccompanied by any suggestion that could
properly be used in support Of it,
and / infer that the request is based !
upon official acts of Mr. Egan which
have received the approval OF this
government But however that may be could
not consent to consider such question until it
had first been settled whether our correspond
ence with Chilli could be conducted upon basis
of mutual respect. In submitting these papers
to congress for that grave aud patriotic consid-
Grafton which the questions involved demand,
desire to say that l am Of the opinion that
the demands made Of Chilli by This government
should be adhered TO and enforced. II the
dignity as well as the prestige and influence ~
the United States are not 10 be wholly sacri-
feed we should protect those who in foreign
parts display the flag or wear the coiors
OF this government against insult,
brutality and death, inflicted in resentment of
the acts o. their government and not for any
fault of their own. II has been desired
in every way TO cultivate friendly and
intimate relations with all the governments
Of this hemisphere" We do not eovet their
territory: we desire their peace and prosperity.
We look for no advantage IN our relations with
them except TO increase exchange Of commerce
upon a basis of mutual benefit. We regret
every civil contest that disturbs their peace and
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