The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-19
President Harrison Reported to Be Convinced
that Nothing but Sharp Note Will Bring
the Defiant Republic to Her Senses.
Message on the Subject Ready for Con-
SideratiOn by the Cabinet To-Day,
To Be Presented 10 Congress, Along with All the
Chilian Correspondence, on Wednesday,
Report that Britain Wants to Mediate.
CHILI,s BIG BLUFF.
Waiting for an Ultimafum Before She viii
Apologize-The Presidents Views.

Waiting for an Ultimatum Before She Will
Apoiogize-The Presidents Views.
Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, JAN 1S.-President Harri-
son has arrived at the conclusion that Chilli
does not intend to either apologize or
otherwise make amends for the wrongs
committed against our citizens without
decisive steps upon the part of this govern
ment. Chilli has so far shown no definite
official intention to do anything. She re-
mains silent, If not insolent. She has i'm
pressed the President with the fact that
she hopes to maintain pugilistic attitude,
evidently with the purpose of impressing
herself upon the nations of the world as o
fighter. and especially her immediate neigh
bors in South America, with whom she has
had trouble for very many years. The
President does not believe that any COM
mercial considerations which may affect
citizens of the United States or elsewhere
should be regarded at this time. He does
not weigh commerce and life in the same
balance, and says he has always been un-
able to name fair price In dollars for a
single life, OF adequate compensation or
chattels for an insult and outrage such as
cruiser Baltimore at Valparaiso. Chill
could and should apologize, he believes. If
nothing more.
Should the President. in hismessage, make
an implied request for authority to issue
an ultimstum to Chill. the rejection or dis
regard Of which would operate to serve as
O declaration of war, such action should
not necessarily mean that the President de-
sires to preclpitate war. The President
does not believe anything short of an ab-
rupt ultimatum of this character will
arouse Chilli to her sense of decency or
cause her to move in the proper direction.
When Congress has directed the issuance
of an rltimatum ChIh Will likely move.
and there is no hope that she will do 90 be-
fore. The President, above all things else,
desires to bring this affair with Chilli to
close. He wants to know what Chill 10
ing or delaying final action on the part of
Chilli.
THE ISSUES AT STAKE.
1t has been contended by some that Chilli
is weak little power; that q great coun-
try like ours should not 90 to war with it
for an offense of this character; that we
can and should. for this reason. afford to
overlook the offense. Were it not for the
fact that the Chilians took life In their un-
provoked attack npon our sailors, this ar
gument would be good. but whore murder,
wanton, on account OF nationality, and an
attempt at Wholesale assassination. suffi-
cient to precipitate war with almost any
other nation. is the issue, and the great
general principle is at stake. involving the
question of protection for the lives of our
citizens, soldiers and sailors in foreign
lands. the President believes the same
firm course should be pursued and the
same clear American policy defined as if
the offence was many times greater and
the offending country ever so much more
important
Monday at the White House Is always
day when the President is supposed to be
free from callers whose business Is not of
the most pressing and important character
Nevertheless, it is the Presidents custom
to receive quite number of callers every
Monday. To-day. however. Presldenr Har-
rIson shut himself mp In bis private room,
and 1t was announced that he would re-
ceive no one. whatever the nature of the
business, because he was devoting himself
gress about Chilli. Various attempts are
being made to anticipate the substance of
tho message which the President will send
TO Congress. probably. on Wednesday, to
accom- pany the correspondence with Chill.
lnasmuch as the message was not written
until to-day, and Is still TO be su omitted to
the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, some of
the efforts are essentially inaccurate
Enough is known, however, to warrant
the statement that the President, while al
lowing the correspondence to speak for it
self. will make some vigorous comments.
Among other things he will call attention
TO the fact that Chilli is obviously pursuing
q policy of delay, and that the general
attitude of the CHILEAN government toward
the United States is not merely negatively
unfriendly, but positively inimical. The
message will bring ont clearly evidence to
show that the massacre at Valparaiso was
not the result of an accidental brawl, but
was brought about by deliberate con-
spiracy. The completely of the Chilian
police in the massacre will also be demon
strated BY mass of attested fact. 1t is
believed that the President will not ask
request an assurance of support of an
ultimatum. which ne is prepared to send TO
Chill, the rejection of which by Chill
would be equivalent to q declaration of
war.