Omaha daily bee., 1892-01-26
Not Manly Nor Satisfactory.

the same.
Not Manly Nor Satisfactory.
After summarizing the correspondence up
to certain point, the president says: "Ihc
communications of the Chilian government
In relation to this cruel aud disastrous attack
upon our men, ns will appear from the corre-
spondence, have not. in any degree, taken
the form OF manly and satisfactory express
sions of regret, much less apology. The
event was of so serious character that IL
the injuries suffered Dy our men had been
wholly the result of an accident in the Chill
ian port, the incident was grave enough to
have called for some public expression OF
sympathy and regret from the local authori-
ties. 1t is not enough TO say that the affair
was lamen table, for humanity would require
that expression, even if the beating and kill
ing Of our men had been justihable. 1t is
not enough to say the incident was re-
gretted, coupled with the statement that
the affair was not OF an unusual char
acter in ports where foreign sailors are
accustomed to meet. 1t Is not for generous
aud sincere government ~ seek for words OF
small or equivocal meaning in which TO
convey to friendly power an apology for an
offense so a,rocious as this.'
Reference is made to the assault by the
mob in New Orleans upon the Spanish con-
suiate in 1851, and the action of the govern
ment of the United States In promptly apnl-
ogizing for it, and it is contrasted with the
present treatment of our government by
Chill, Continuing, the message says:
'In our note OF October 90 last, after receiv
ing the report of the board of officers APP
pointed by Captain Schley to investigate the
affair, the Chilian government was advised
of the aspect which IL then assumed and was
called upon for any facts in its possession
that might tend to modify the unfavorable
impression which our report had created. 1t
was very clear from the correspondence that
before the receipt Of this note the eXamina-
tlon was regarded by police authorities as
practically closed. 1t was. however, re
opened and protracted through period of
nearly three months. We might Justly have
complained of this unreasonable delay, but
in view of the fact that the government OF
Chill was still provisional. and with dispo
sition to be forbearing and hopeful OF friendly
termination, l have awaited the report,
which has but recently been made. On the
2lst inst. caused to be communicated to the
government of Chilli, by the American minis
ter at Santiago, the conclusions of this gov
ernment after full consideration of ell evil
dence and every suggestion affecting this
matter, and to these conclusions l adhere.
They stated as follows:
The Demand for Reparation.
"First-That the assault was not relieved of
the aspect which the early information of the
event gave it, VIZ: That If the attack upon
the uniform of the United States navy had
its origin and motive in a feeling of hos
tility to this government, and not in any
action Of the sailors or any of them.
Second That tho public authorities OF
Valparaiso tlagrantly failed in their duty to
protect our men, and that some of the police
and Chilian soldiers and sailors were them
selves guilty of uuprovoked assaults upon our
sailors before and after the arrest. He the
president) thinks the preponderance Of evil
dence and inherent probabilities lead to the
conclusion that Riggin was killed by police
or soldiers.
''rhird-That he (president) was therefore
compelled to bring the case back to the posi-
tion taken in the note of Wharton October 90
last, and ask for suitable apology and some
adequate reparation for the injury done to
this government In the same note the at
tention of the Gillian government was called
TO the offensive character of a note addressed
by Malta, ex-minister of foreign affairs, to
ult. This dispatch was not officially COM
municated to this government, out as Montt
was directed to translate it and give it to the
press of this country it seemed to ME
| it could not pass without official notice.
1t was not only undiplomatic but grossly in
sulting to our naval officers and to the exec
utive department., as it directly imputed un-
truth and lnsincerlty to the reports of the
NAi md 20 fha nAn, al ,,,;,
tions made by the executive department to
congress. 1t will be observed that l have
| notified the Chilan government that unless
this note is at once withdrawn and an apol-
ogy as public as the offensel is made will
terminate diplomatic relations.
''The request for the recall OF Egan, upon
| the ground that he Is not persona grata
was unaccompanied by any suggestion that
could properly be used in support of 1t, and
| infer the request was based upon the official
| acts of Egan which had received the ap-
proval of this government But, however
| that may be, could not consent to consider
| such question until it had first been settled
whether our correspondence with Chill could
| be conducted upon II basis of mutual respect,
Chill should BE Brought to Time.
"In submitting these papers to congress for
| that grave and patriotic consideration which
| the questions involved demand, desire to say
! / am of the opinion that the demands made
| of Chill by this government should be ad-
| herred to and enforced. II the dignity as well
| as the prestige and influence of the United
| States is not to be wholly sacrificed we
| must protect those who, in foreign ports,
| display the flag and wear the colors of
! this government against insult brutality
| and death inflicted in resentment of the acts
| of their government and not for any fault Of
| their own 1t has been my desire in every way
| to cultivate friendly and intimate relations
| with all the governments of this hemi-
| sphere. We do not covet their territory
| We desire their peace and pros perity.
| We look for no advantage in our relations
with them, except Increased exchanges of
| commerce upon basis of mutual benefit.
| We regret every civil contest that disturbs
their peace and paralyses their development,
and are always ready to give our good offices
! for the restoration of peace. II must, how
| ever, be understood that this government,
while exercising the utmost foroearan CO
| toward weaker powers, will extend its strong
| and adequate protection to its citlzens to its
| officers and to its humblest sailors, when