Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-01-29
The Presidents MESSAGE.
What He Says on the CHILEAN
Question.


After summarizing the correspondence to
a certain point. he says:
"The communications of the Gillian
Government in relation to this cruel aud
disastrous attack upon cur men, as will
appear from the correspondence, have not
in any degree taken the form of a manly
and satisfactory expression of regret,
much less apology. The event was OF so
serious q character that if the injuries
suffered by our men had been wholly the
result of the accident in the ChIllan port,
the incident was grave enough to have
called for some public expression Of sym
patty and regret from the local authori-
ties. It's not enough to say that the
affair was lamentable, for humanity
would require that expression, even If the
beating and killing of our men had been
iustiiable. 1t is not enough to say that
the incident is regretted, coupled with a
statement that the affair VAS not OF an
unusual character in ports where foreign
sailors are accustomed to meet. II is not
for generous and sincere Government
to seek for words of smaller equlvocal
jmeaning in which to cover to fi;endly
power an a9cl,gy for an oftnse so afro
1
lby mob in New Orleans upon the Span
lsh consulate in 1851, Mr.. Webster wrote
to the Spanish Minister, Mr. CaleGron,
that the acts complained of were dis
graceful and fragrant breach of duty
aud propriety, and that bis Government
Sregrets them as deeply as Minister Cal
der0n or his Government could possibly
do - that these acts have caused the
President great pain and he thinks the
proper aoknOw ledgemeut is due to Her
| Maiesty's Government" He invited the
| Spanish Consul TO return to his post,
guaranteeing protection, and offered to
salute the Spanish flag il the Consul
should come in Spanish vessel. Such
treatment by the Government of Chill OF
this assault would have been more credl-
table TO the Gillian authorities, and
much less can hardly DO satisfactory to
the Government that values its dignity
and honor.
IL our note of October 23l last, which
appears in this correspondence after re-
ceiving the report of the board of officers
appointed by Capt Schley to investigate
the affair." the Chihan Government was
advised OF the aspect which it then as
| O.
iis possession that might tend to modify
the untavOrable impressions which our
report had created. 1t is very clear from
the correspondence that, before the re-
ceipt OF thi2 note, the examination was re-
garGed by police authorities as practi-
cally closed. 1t was however, re0peued
and prot1acted through period of near
| " three months. We might justly have
complained Of this unreasonable delay,
but in view of the fact that the Govern
ment of Chill was still provisional, and
with disposition 10 be fOrbearinP, ard
hopeful of friendly termination, | have
awaited the report which has been but
recently made. On the 2lst instant /
caused to be communicated to the Govern
meDt of Chill, by the American minister
at Santiago, the conclusions of this Coy
eminent after a full consideration of all
the evidence and of every suggestion at
fecting this matter, and t. these con
illusions adhere. They are as follows
First. That the assault is not relieved
of the aspect which the early information
of the event gave to it, viz. That Of
the attack upon the uniform Of the United
States navy. having its origin and motive
on the feeling of hostility to this Covert
ment and not in any act of the sailors OF
any of them.
Second. That the public authorities Of
Valparaiso flagrantly failed in their duty
TO protect our men, and that some OF the
police and OF the Chllian soldiers and
sailors were themselves guilty of unpro-
voked assaults upon our sailors before
and after arrest He Ohe President)
thinks the preponderauce of evidence and
inherent probabilities lead TO the con
cusion that Riggin was killed by the po'
lice or soldiers.
Third. That be (the Presilent) is,
therefore. compelled to bring the case
back to the position taken by this Govern
ment in the note of Mr.. Wharton of Octo-
Der 23d last and to ask for some adequate
reparation for the injury done to this
Government.
In the same note the attention of the
Gillian Government was called to the
offensive character of the note addressed
by Mr.. Malta, It's Minister of Foreign
Affairs, to Mr. Montt, its Minister at This
Capital, on the 1lth ultimo. This dis
patch was not officially communicated To
this Government, but as Mr.. Montt was
directed to translate it and to give it to
the press of this country, it seemed to me
that il could not pass without official
notice. 1t was not only undiplomatic,
but grossly insulting to our naval oinceis
and TO the Executive Department, as 1t
directly imputed untruth and iuslncerlty
20 the reports OF the naval officers and TO
the official communications made by the
Executive Department TO Congress. Ii
will be ohserTed that | have notified the
CHILEAN Govern nent that unless this note
is at once Withdrawn and give an apol-
ory as public as the Otfdnce made ! VIII
terminate the diplomatic relations. The
request for the recall of Mr.. Egan, upon
the ground that he was not persona grata,
was unac3ompanied by any suggestion
that could properly be used in support OF
it, and infer that the request is based |
upol the official acts of Mr.. Egan, which |
have received the approval of this Gov
eminent. Bat, however that may be, !
could not consent to consider such cues
ton until it had been settled whether
our correspondence with Chill would be
conducted upon basis OF mutual respect.
In submitting these papers to Congress
for that grave and patriotic consideration
which the questions involved demand,
lesire to say that am of the opinion that
the demands made of Chill by this Gov
srument shOuld be adhered to and en-
'orced, if the dignity as well as the pres
ice and influence of the United States
he not to be wholly sacrificed. We mnst
protect those who in foreign ports display
he flag or wear the colors of tkis Govern
nent against insult, brutality and death
Inflicted in the resentment of the acts Of
heir Government, ami not for any fault
# their own. 1t has been my desire in
very way to cultivate friendly and init I
nate relations with all the governments
f this Hemisphere. We do not covet
heir territory. We desire their peace
nd prosperity. We look for no advantage I
D our relations with them, except in t
reased exchanges of commerce upon the d
asis Of mutual benefit. We regret every
ivil contest that dsturbs their peace and +
aryyzes their development, and are al
7ays ready to give our good offices for the
Of peace. 1t must, however,
e understood that this Government,
While exercising the utmost forbearance n
owards weaker powers, will extend its \