San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-26

only seven penknives being found in pos
session of the men arrested, while there
were received by our men more than
thirty stab wounds, every one OF which
was inflicted in the back and almost
every confused wound was In the back or
the back of the head. The evidence of
the ships officers of the day is that even
the Jack knives of the men were taken
from them before leaving the ship"
The message contends that no evasion
can cloud our vision as to this
brutal work The discharge of the
is proof Of their innocence, and only one
of them was charged with any offence,
and he for defending a comrade.
The part taken by the Chile police is
shown. The assault took place within
five minutes walk of the police station
and IL was half an hour before the police
appeared. Evidence at Mare island shows
that in the investigation before the court
all mention OF the police was avoided.
The existence of Chile animOSity as shown
in the Investigation and even in the dis
patches from the foreign office at Chile is
pointed out and the words of Capt,
Scbley's report quoted. in which he says:
I'm an interview / had with Judge Fos
ter, who is investigating the case rels
tive to the distur bance, before / was
aware Of the entire gravity of the matter,
he informed me that the assault upon my
men was the outcome of hatred for our
people among the lower classes because
they thought we sympathiie ed with the
BalmacediSt government on account OF
the Itata matter-which with reason or
without he could, of course, not ada it,
but such, he thought, was the explanation
of the assault at that time"
When our sailors succeeded in chang
ing their dress SD as not To be recognized
as United States sailors they were not
molested. The facts show it was hostility
to our uniform. and not to the sailors,
and the reason for this was probably that
this government refused to recognize the
congressional party before 1t had estab-
lished itself.
The complaint of Chile, II she had any,
onaccount Of this. and the ltata matter,
and the cable affair, should have been
made To this government officially, and
these things cannot be made any excuse
for murderous attack upon our sailors,
and Chile relieved of responsibility. The
charges are not true, and the inter-
position of Minister Egan to shelter the
Congressionalsts was frequent and effec-
tive.
The reports in the Chile press, the evil
dence OF Chile officials, the testimony OF
our own sailors, all show that the attack
was made in several quarters at once:
and this is confirmed by the evidence OF
Captain jenkins, of the American mer-
chairman Teeweenaw, then in Valpari-
so. who witnessed the affair. Captain
Jenkins men were obliged to deny their
nationality to secure their own safety.
When this Is necessary, the President
says, IL is time to readjust our relations
with government that permits such
demonstrations.
The attack upon our men by the police,
before and after their arrest is shown,
n nd ha fo Of ado alaar that RjuOan
shot by a policeman or soldier while in
the arms of his comrade johnson.
The neglect of Chile to make any manly
expression of regret, much less apology,
fs'referred TO and its act contrasted with
that of the assault by the mob upon the
spanish consulate at New Orleans in
1880
The communication made to Chile on
the 21st stated that the assault was not
relieved of the aspect which the early in
formation o event gave to it, viz: An at
ack 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.
=. That the public authorities OF Nalpa-
raise hagrantly failed in their duty TO
protect our men, and that some of the
police and Chlian soldiers and sailors
themselves were guilty of unprovoked as
saults upon our sailors, before and after
arrest.
tHe (the PRESIDENT thinks the prepon-
d erance of evidence and the inherent
proba bilitieS lead to the conclusion that
Riggin was killed by the police or SOL
diers.D
g. That be (the PRESIDENT was there
fore compelled to bring the case back to
the position taken by this government in
the note of Wharton on October % last,
and TO ask for suitable apology and
some adequate reparatiOn for the injury
done this government"
The request for Egan's recall is not ac-
companied by any charges, and II is prob.
ably made upon the ground OF his official
acts, which are approved by this govern
ment. The question of his recall cannot
be carried out at present.
The president says: In submitting these
papers TO congress for grave and patriotic
consideration, / desire to say that am Of
opinion that the demand upon Chile by
this government should be enforced. III
the dignity, as well as prestige and infiu-
ence of the United States is not to be
wholly sacrificed. we must protect those
who in foreign ports display the flag or
wear the colOrs of this government
against insult, brutality and death inflict-
ed In resentment of acts of their govern
ment and not for any fault Of this gov
eminent
While desiring peace, and all friendly
intercourse with all the nations, not covet-
ing any territory, aud looking for no un-
just advantage in trade. regretting every
civil contest that disturbs their peace, it
must be understood that this government,
while exercising the utmost forbearance
towards weaker powers, will extend its
strong and adequate protection to its
citizens. to its officers and to the humblest
sailor, when made the victims of wanton-
ness and cruelty, In resentment not OF
their personal conduct, but of the official
acts of their government.
The message concludes: 81 have as yet
received no reply to our note Of the 2lst
instant, but in my opinion, ought not TO
delay lnnpar To hrinv these matters 10 the