Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1892-01-27
A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
THE PRESIDENT ACQUAlNTS con-
GRESS WITH GILLIAN AFFAIRS.

BACKS Down.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25. The president
sent his message on Chilian matters tc
congress shortly after noon. Long be.
fore the hour fixed for the assem- bling Of
congress the galleries were filled and ou
the floor the expected message and sit
uation of affairs were discussed in An
animated way. When at 1880 Mr..
Pruden, the executive clerk, appeared
in the house with the momentous bun
die in his hand, nearly every seat on
the floor of the house was occupied and
the gallery entrances were filed with
throngs of people anxious to obtain a
view of the scene and desirous of hear
ing the message read. Nothing could
more eloquently portray the deep and
widespread interest in the affair felt
by the people. r..
In the senate the scene was similar in
all respects. The crowded condition of
the gallery and degree of attention to
the reading alike were the same. The
British legation evinced unusual inter
est IN the message, telephoning to the
White House IN the morning to inquire
If 1t were going to congress during the
day. There was no demonstr alton In
the senate over the message, but gen-
sral sentiment was expressed that 1t
was strong and courageous, while tenn
perate in tone When the secretary
read that portion which related to the
dragging of one of the Baltimore sailors
through the streets with lasso, Sena-
tor Vest moved uneasy in his chair and
gave utterance audibly to an expression
that was interpreted to mean, I'D like
to get hold of thai; policeman"
In the beginning of the message
President Harrison quotes his reference
to Chilian matt ers in his annual mes
sage to congress aud his promise to lay
the facts before it in special
message should the exigencies of the
case seem to demand such q course. The
time has now come when, in the presi-,
dents opinion the whole matter should
be laid before congress. Continuing,
the president says it may be well at the
outset to say that, whatever may have
been said in this country or in Chill in
criticism of Mr.. Egan, our minister at
Santiago, the true history of this excit-
ing period in Chilian affairs, from the
outbreak of the revolution until this
time, discloses no act on the part of Mr..
Egan, individually, or in his official
position, that could justly be the occ.a-
sion of serious animadversion or criti-
cism.
The president then reviews at length
the attack upon the sailors of the United
States ship Baltimore, and in this co; a.
nection, says:
No amount of evasion or subterfuge :b
able to cloud our clear vision of this bruti j
work. 1t should be noticed, in this CON-
nection, that the Americans arrested, afte r
an examination, were during the fou r
days following the arrest, every one dis :
charged, no charge of any breach of the,
peace or other criminal conduct having
been sustained against a single one of
them. .~g.. ..
The evidence of our sailors clearly shows
that the attack was expected by the Chill
ian people; that threats had been made
against our men and that, in one case,
somewhat early in the afternoon the
keeper of one house into which some of
our men had gone closed his establishment
in anticipation of attack which he advised
them would be made upon them as dark
ness came on. ais.
Several of our men sought security from
the mob by such complete or partial
changes in their dress as would conceal
the fact of their being seamen of the Bal
timore and found it then possible to walk
the streets without molestation. These
incidents clearly establish that the attack
was upon the uniform and the nationality
and not upon the men.
Conclusions Reached. -.
The message concludes with q CODY of
the ultimatum sent to Chill on Thurs
day last, as follows: H."
On the 21st inst. I caused to be commu-
nicatcd to the government of Chill, by the
American minister at Santiago, the con-
clusicns of this government after full
consideration of all tae evidence and of
every suggestion affecting this matter
and to these conclusions l adhere They
were stated 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 an
attack upon the uniform of the United
States navy, having its origin and motive
in feeling of hostility to this government
and not in any act of the sailors or any Of
them.
''Second-That the public authorities of
Valparaiso fiagrantly failed in their duty
to protect our men and that some of the
police and of the Chilian soldiers and sail
ors were themselves guilty of unprovoked
assaults upon our sailors before and after
arrest. He (the president) thinks the pre-
ponderance of the evidence and the inner
ent probabilities lead to the conclusion
that Riggin was killed by the police or
soldiers.
''Third-That he (the presiden t) is there
fore compelled to bring tho ca SO back to
the position taken by the government in
the note of Mr. Wharton of Oct. es last,
and to ask for suitable apology and. for
some adequate reparation for the in Sury
done to this government"
In the same note the attention of the
Chilian government was called to the
offensive character of note addressed by
MI Malta, ex-minister Of foreign affa irs,
10 Mr. Montt, it's minister at this capi !ai,
on the llth ultimo. This dispatch vas
not ofhclally communicated to this ov.
ernment, but as Mr.. Montt was directed to
translate it and give it to the press of his
country it seemed to me that it could not
pass without official notice. 1t was not
only undiplomatic. but grossly insult ing
to our naval officers and to the execu tfye
department, as it directly imputed untr rnth
and insincerity to the reports of the ma, val
officers and to the official communications
made by the executive department. to con-
gress. 1t will be observed that have no
tilted the Chilian government that; unless