The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-26

CONDUCT or THIS GOVERNMENT.
In fact the coniuct OF this government dur
ing the war in Chile pursued those lines OF in
ternatioual duty which we had so strongly in
this county vas in the throes OF civil conflict.
We Continued the established diplomatic rela-
tons with the government in power until il was
overthrow. and promptly and cordially recog
nized the new government when
il was established, The good Of
fiices OF this government were offered
to bring about peaceful adjustment. and the
interposition OF Minister Egan TO mitigate the
seventies and to shelter adberents of the con-
gresSionsl party. was effective aud frequent.
The charge against Admiral Brown Is too bass
TO gain credence with any one who knows bis
high personal and professional character
RecurringtO the evidence Of our sailors. l
think Il is shown that there were several dis
ti1ct assaults and so nearly simultaneous as to
show that they did not spread from one point
The press summary Of ths report Of she fiscal
shows that the evidence OF the Chilean officials
and Others was 10 conflict as 70 the place OF
origin. several places being named by different
witnesses as the locality where the first out
break occurred. This, II correctly re-
ported shows that there were several
distinct outbreaks and so nearly at the
some time as 10 cause this confusion. The La
Fdtyid 10 the same issue from which / have al
ready quoted, after describing the killing Of
Riggin and the fight, which from tn at point ex-
other streets Of the port the yankee sailors
fought fiercely with the people OF the town, who
believed TO see In them Incarnate enemies Of
the Chilean navy.
CAPT. JENKINS CoRRoBokATIoN.
The testimony OF Capt. jenkins OF the Ameri-
can merchant ship keWeenaw, which had gone
to Valparaiso for repairs, and who was a wit
ness Of some part of the assault upon the crew
of the Baltimore. is strongly corroborative Of
the testimony OF our own sailors, when he says
that he saw the Chilean sentries drive back
seamen, seeking shelter, upon the mob that was
pursuing him. The officers and men OF Capt.
jenkins ship furnished most conclusive
testimony as 70 the indignltles which
Valparaiso. When the American sailors.
even Of merchant ships, can only secure their
safety by denying their nationality, 1t must be
time for us to read Just our relations with the
government that permits such demonstrations.
As to the participation OF the police. the evi-
dence Of our sailors shows that our men were
struck and beaten by the police officers before
and after their arrest, and that one, at least
was dragged with a lasso about his neck by
mounted policeman.
DEATH OF RIGGIS.
That the death OF Riggin was the result OF a
rifle shot fired by policeman or soldier on duty
is shown directly by the testimony Of ohnson,
IN whose arms he was at the time, and by the
evidence Of Charles Langen, an American sailor
not then a member OF the BSltmOre's crew,
who stood close by and saw the transaction. The
Chilean authorities do not pretend TO fix the re-
sponsiblty Of this shot upon any particular
person. but avow their inability TO ascertain
who fired 1t, further than that it was fired from
the crowd. The character of the wound,
described by one OF the surgeons OF the BAltf-
more. clearly supports his opinion that it was
made by rifle ball, the ori1ce of
exit oelng as much as an inch or
an wh inch INCL. ~. and quarter In width.
and in the arms Of a comrade, who was en-
deeyoring to carry him 10 neighboring drug
store for treatment. The story of the police
that. In coming up the street, they passed these
q nd hal ind IL
with their own statement as to the direction OF
their approach and with their duty TO protect
them, aud is clearly dsproved. In fact Riggin
was not behind. but in front of the advancing
force, and was not standing in the crowd, but
was unconscious and supported 10 the arms of
Johnson when he shot
The communications of the Chilean govern
ment in relation TO this cruel and disastrous at
tack upon our men, as will appear from the
correspondence, have not in any degree taken
the form OF manly and satisfactory express
sion OF regret, much less Of apology. The
event was of so serious a character that IL the
injuries suffered by our men had been wholly
the result OF an accident in Chilean port the
incident was grave enough TO have called for
some public expression Of sympathy and
regret from the local authorities
1t is not enough to say that the affair was
lamentaole, for humanity would require that
expression even If the beating and killing Of our
nm had been justihable IL is not enough to
say that the incident is regretted, coupled with
a statement that the affair was not OF an I'M
usual character in ports where foreign sailors
are accustomed to meet. 1t is not for gen
erous and sincere government TO seek for words
OF small or equivocal meaning in which to con-
vey to friendly power an apology for an Of
Tense 80 atrocious as this. In the case Of the
assault by the mob in New Orleans upon the
Spanish consulate in 1851, Mr.. Webster wrote
10 the Spanish minister that the
acts complained of were "a disgraceful
and fragrant breach Of duty and
propriety, and that his government regrets
haTf ly Aanfch fufa
eminent could possibly dos that these acts
have caused the President great pain, and he
thinks proper acknowledgements is due to her
malesty's government
He invited the Spanish consul to return to his
post, guaranteeing protection, and offered TO
salute the Spanish flag if tAe consul should
come in Spanish vessel.
THE WAY WE SHOULD BE TREATED.
Such treatment by the government OF Chile of
this assault would have been more creditable TO
the Chilean authorities, and muon less can
hardly be satisfactory TO a government that
values its dignity and honor In our note of
Oct. % last, which appears in the correspond
ence' after receiving the report of
by Capt. Schiller to investigate the affair. the
Chilean governmenU was advised of the aspect
which it then assumed and was called upon for
any facts IN its possession that might tend to
modify the unfavorable impressions which our
report had created. 1t is very clear from the
correspondence that before the receipt of this
noIe. the examination was regarded by the
police authorities as practically closed. It may,
however, be reopened and protracted through q
period OF nearly three months We might
justly have complained OF this unreasonable
delay. but In view OF the fact that the govern
ment Of Chile was still provisional, and with a
disposition to be forbearing and hopeful of @
friendly termination, have awaited the report
which has but recently been made. On Jan. 9
caused to be communicated to the govern
ment of Chile. by the American minister at San
tiago, the conclusions OF this government after
full consideration of all the evidence and of ever,
suggestion affecting this matter, and to these
conclusions l adhere. They were as follows:
l. That the assault Is not relieved of tn,
aspect which the early information of the event
gave to 1t; viz: That OF an attack upon the uni
form of the United States navy, having its orr
gin and motive in a feeling OF hostility to tn,
government and not in an act OF the sailors o
any of them
@ That the public authorities OF Valparaiso
f1agrantly failed in their duty to protect o
men, and that some OF the police and OF Tn,
Chilean soldiers and sailors we're thems live.
guilty Of unprovoked assaults upon our sailor.
before aud after the arrest.
He tine Presidept thinks the preponder-
ance Of evidence and the inherent probabil
tiles lead to the conclusion that Riggin wa
killed by the police or soldiers
8. That he ths Presidency is there
fore compelled to bring the case back to til,
position taken by this government in tn
note of Mr.. Wharton, of Oct. % last, ant
to ask for suitable apology and for SOM
| adequate reparation for the injury done t
this government.
MATTA's OFFENSIVE NOTE.
The President continues:
In the same note the attention Of the Chilean
government was called to the offensive charac
ter Of the note addressed by Mr. Malta
its minister OF foreign affairs, to Mr.