Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-01-26
Plain TALK.
Presidents SMeSSaseSent
TO Congress.
Endorses Egan'S Action
in Strong Words
And Plainly Tells Of ChiIian
Insults 10 Our Flag.
4 Document Full Oi AmarlCaD
Vim and Yaakss Patriotism,
Asking Congress TO Duly Consider al
The Circumstances
And Take Proper Steps to Uphold Am.ri'
can Flag snd Honor.
Abstract Of Correspondence Throughout
lhe Affair.
Asking Congress TO Duly Consider al
the Circumstances
And Take Proper Steps to Uphold Am.ri'
can Flag snd Honor.
Abstract Of Correspondence Throughout
lho Affair.
The Message Fayorably Received by
Members OF Congress.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The President
this afternoon sent the following message
to Congress:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-,
hres:-
In my opinion the time has now come
when should lay before Congress and the
country the correspondence between this
government and the government Of Chill.
from the time Of the breaking out Of the
revolution against Bslrasceds, together
with all other facts in possession of the ex
ecutive department relating to the assault
10 the streets of Valparaiso, Chill, upon
sailors Of lhe United States ship Baltimore,
on the evening of the l6.h of October last.
II may be well at the outset to say that
whatever may have been said in this cour
try or in Chin in criticism OF Mr.. Egan,
our minister st Santiago, the true history
Of this exciting period in Gillian Affairs,
from the outbreak IF the revolution until
this time, discloses no &C. on the part of
Mr.. Egsn unworthy Of his position, or that
could justly be the OCCASION OF serious AMI
msdversiou or criticism.
He bas, ] think, or tt. 2 hole, horne
himself in the very trying circumstances
with dignity, discretion aud courage, aud
has conducted the correspondence with
ability, courtesy and fairness. 1t is worth
while also At the beginning to say that the
right Of MIR. Egsn TO give sheltsr in the
le Cation to certain adherents OF she Baims-
ceda government VINO applied TO him for
sn asylum, has NOT been denied by the
Chilian authorities, nor has any demand
been made for the surrender Of these
refugees.
Thas there wss urgent need of an asylum
is shown by Mr.. Essn's note Of August "a,
1891, describing tie disorders that pre-
vailed in Santiago, and By The evidence of
CSpt. Sehley as 10 the pilisge and violence
thst prevailed at Valparaiso,
The correspondence disclosjs, however,
, h At the request Of Mr.. Ezan for = safe
conduct from the country, in behalf of
these refugees, was denied. The precedents
cited by him IN correspondence, psrticu
iarlv the casa Of the revelation in Peru in
1865. did no; leave the Chiiisn government
in = portion 10 deny the right of asylum TO
political refugees and seemed very clear to
support MIR. Essn's contention that = safe
conduct 10 neutral territory vas neces-
ssry spd Acknowledged incident OF the
asylum.
These Refugees
have very recently, without formal safe
conduct but by the scquiescence OF Cbiiisn
authorities, been placed on board the York
town and are nov being conveyed to Csllao,
Peru. This Incident might be considered
wholly closed but for the disrespect to-
wards this government by the close and
0 # .Dsive police slrveilsnce Of the legation
premises w1iea was maintained during
IN lss of the period Of the stay of The refu
gees therein.
But the mos; serious incident disclosed
by the correspondence Is that Of the attack
of sailors Of The Baltimore in the streets of
Valparaiso On the 18Th Of October last. IL
my annual message, speaking upon lnfoi
mati)D then in my possession, | said, 80
far a. | have yet been able TO learn, no
other explaustion OF this bloody wofk has yet
been susgested than tuat il had its origin in
hostility TO these men as sailors Of the
Uoited States, wearing the Uniform of the
government and not in any individual act
or personal animosity.'
We have not received from the Chilian
government an abstract Of the conclusions
Of the dscsl general upon the testimony
taken by the j Idse Of crimes in the invest
CATION, which was made TO extend over
nearly three months. | very much regret
to be compelled to say that this report does
not enable me TO modify The conclusion an
nounced in my snnusl message.
am still OF the opinion thst our sailors
were ast 1lted, bestep, stabbed and killed,
not for snything thsv or any one Of them
had done, but for what the government of
the U1i.sd States had dore o, was charged
With having done, by its civil officers and
naval commanders. II that be ths true
aspect Of the case the iriury vas to the
government OF he Unitso States. not to
these poor sailors VINO we're assaulted In al
manner so brutal aud so co~srdly.
/ an clearly Of the opinion ths, where
srch sailors or tffiee-s are assaulted by .
resident POI ulsc-. amin ,ted By hostility to
the government whose uniform tbese
sailors snd eff ;ers scar, and resentmen; Of
acts done by their government, not By
them, their nation must take notice Of the
event IS one involving m inftseGoa Of its
rish And dignity, not in secondary way.
A. vtere . citizen is injured ard presents
his clsim through his own government, but
in primary way. preciesiS as IL It's minis
ter or counsel or 4 z itssf had been the
object of the same c1arscter Of asssult-
In the repor, Of Capt Schey tn the navy
department ne says: ia the oriy interview
that had ri.h Judge Poser, -ho is inves-
tgsting the Gaze relative TO the disturbance,
before he vas s~afe Of the entire gravity
Of ihs matter. he informed me tnas the
sssaut upon my men wss the outcome Of
hatred Tar on, people snons the lower
classes, because tasy thought We had sym
psthized With the Balmaeeda government,
On secouat Of the Itsta matter whether
With reason or vi,hous be could, OF course,
not admit, but such be thought vss the
exolaEstson Of the assault 1t that time"
Several Of the men sought security from
the mob by sueh complete or partial
changes in their dress - would conceal the
fact of their being sesmeu Of the Baltimore
and found it .hsu sable 20 walk the
streets without moleaation.
These incidents conclusiveiy establish
that the attack vas upon the Uniform and
the nationality and nos upon the men. The
origin Of this feeling 10 probably found in
the refusal Of this governments to give
recognition to the congressional party before
| il had established itself, in the
Seizare OF the Itata
for sulalIesed violation of The neu,ralify