The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-21

previously been made) this will not
be an arbitration of question OF
honor, but merely q statement of the
damages to be awarded. History, ii
is said, is full of instances of q resort
to arbitration in cases where the
previous utterances OF actions OF
nations apparently stopped them
from invoking this method of stating
disputes and of cases in which the
nations themselves could not take the
initiative in proposing arbitration,
but they acquiesced in the suggestion
of friendly third power; that arbi-
tration took the place of bloodshed as
q means of settling the dispute. Some
fear is entertained that Chile, in as
serting her independence and free
dom from outside pressure, may, by
procrastination, bring about state of
things which will terminate in rup-
ture of relations between the two
countries, and that hostilities may
then ensue, though this is regarded
as unlikely and improbable. The
members who express themselves in
this pacific manner also intimate
very plainly, however, that they will
not be backward in upholding the
| III UllO SbOPo hCOCoGdlJ
to maintenance of national dignity
and self-respect.
| One senator called attention to the
intense national pride of the Chilean
people as accounting for the delay in
the government making reparation.
He said that President Montt was in
a position beset with difficulties. He
doubted not that his disposition was
to make amends for the Baltimore
outrage, but to do so without cauti-
ously leading the people to believe he
was not sacrificing their national dig
nifty, would bring upon his admins
tration the wrath of the excitable and
sensitive people, and might cause an
other revolution.
"They have to talk to the galleries
there just as we do here" said the
senator, and he related the fact that
president of the United States
made himself very unpopular with a
certain class of people by making an
apology to Great Britain for the seiz-
ure of Mason and Slidell, although so.
Der second thought justified the pro-
priety of his action.
$50 in this" said he, president
Montt probably has before his eyes
the resentment that he must encoun-
ter when he tenders an apology to the
United States and is merely taking
such time as is necessary to reason
this sensitive element of people into
line with the proposed apology"
Diligent inquiry at the war depart
ment fails to disclose any warlike
preparations on the part of the army.
Men are at work on the fortifi cations
around San Francisco, but this work
began last spring, before there were
any suggestions of war with Chile.
For the comfort of Californians who
have been represented as defenseless,
it may be stated on the authority of
the ordnance officers that the Golden
Gate is defended by some Is inch guns
which, though smooth bores, are yet
most formidable weapons. Expert
ments made at Sandy Hook with
guns of this type have shown that
the powder charge may be
largely Increased as compared with
what were regarded safe charges
dnring war. The Improvements in
slow burning powder have made this
bore with charge of $50 pounds of
powder will throw projectile weigh
ing $50 pounds distance of nearly
four miles. At 1000 yards, the usual
naval fighting distance, this heavy
shot will penetrate 10-inch armor, and
the Chileans have as yet no vessel
that could withstand such projectiles.
A curious outcome of the present
agitation was the publication today
by the war department Of conven-
tion formed as long ago as 1868, to
which the United States and Chile
since signified their adhesion. In view
of the allegations that had been made
to the effect that the Chilean practice
of inhuman barbarities in war, such as
massacreing prisoners and wounded
men and mutilating dead bodies, it
may be reassuriug to our soldiers to
know that this was conven-
ton for the amelioration of the
wounded in armies in the field
By some oversight the convention was
never before officially published. 1t
guarantees the neutrality and pro-
lection of the ambulance and hospital
corps, and provides that wounded or
sick soldiers be taken care of without
regard to nationality. 1t also con-
tains ample provisions for succoring
wounded or wrecked sailors, and in
brief throws around the combatants
every possible guarantee of humane
treatment in the event of their being
wounded or captured.
ADMIRAL BROWN INTERVIEWED.
SAN DIEGO, CAL, Jan. 16.-Admiral
Brown was interviewed last night for
an opinion as to the report that p
vessel had been chartered by the gov
eminent to take cargo of coal from
Nanaimo to Chile. He said he did
not believe a word fit; that the gov
eminent would not take coal there
except under the stress of circum-
stances.
"We can get all the coal we want at
Acapulco and Peru" he said, "and it
is absurd to think the government
would 60 away up to Nanaimo."
With reference to the probable
future movements of the cruiser, the
admiral would not admit that he
know anything as the future. The
Baltimore, Charleston and San Fran
cisco are under orders to await further
instructions. That is all. From other
t., a. Il ox.1