The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-26


the cond1e. OF this government during the war
in Chile pursued those lines OF international
duty which we had SO strongly insisted
upon on the part of other nations when this
country vas IN the throes OF civil conflict We
continued the established diplomatic relations
with tbs government IN power until IL vas
overthrow, and promptly and cordially rscog-
nized the new government when il was estao-
H.hed- The good Offices OF the government
were 20 bring shout peaceful adjustment, and
the inferposition Of Minister Eggn 20 mitigate
the severity OF the condition Of and shelter the
sdhereuts Of the congressional party were exec
tive and frequent The charge against Admiral
Brown Is too base 70 obtain credence with any
one who knows his high personal and probes
siona, character.
Recurring TO the evidences Of our ssslors,
think IL IL shown there were several distinct
assaults, and 50 nearly simultaneous es 20 show
that they did not spread from one point. The
press summary Of tie repor. Of the procurator
fiscal shows no evidence OF Chilean officials
and others in the conflict to the place Of
origin, several places being named By different
witnesses IS the LEGALITY where the first out
break occurred. This, II correctly reported,
shows there were several distinct outbreaks and
80 nearly at the same time as TO cause this con-
fusion. La P1trfa. in the same issue from which
/ have already quoted, after describing the Kill
ing of Riggin and the fight which, from that
point. extended 70 the mole, says:
Al the same time in the streets OF this port,
ths Yankee sailors fought ferceIy with the peo-
PIE OF the town, who believed 10 see in them the
inearEate enemies OF the Chilean navy.
The testimony OF Captain jenkins, Of the
American rerchsntshi Keewenaw, which had
gone 10 Valparaiso for repairs, and who was
witness Of some part Of the assault upon the
crew OF the Baltimore, Ia strongly cor-obora-ivs
OF the testimony Of our own sailors, when be
says he saw Chilean seatries drive back sea
M rba hat
pursuing him. The officers and men OF Captain
jenkins ship furnish the most conclusive testi-
mony to the indignities practiced toward
Americans in Valparaiso When American
sailors, even OF merchant ships, can only secure
their safety By denying their nationality, it
must De time 70 readiust our relations with
government that permits such demonstrations
AS 70 the participation Of the police, the evil
dence OF our sailors show. that our men were
struck and beaten by police officers before and
after arrest, end that one. at least, was dragged
with iasso about his neck by a mounted
policeman. That the death of Riggin was the
result OF q rife shot fired By policeman or
soldier on duty is shown directly by the tes.i-
mony of Johnson, in whose arms he was at the
time, and by the evidence of Charles Langou,
an American sailor, rot then member of the
Baltimore crew, who stood close by and saw the
transaction. The Chilean authorities do not
pretend 10 Il the responsibility for this shot
upon hLy perS q, DuL GyOW tleir IN
ability 10 ascertain who fired ii furt her than that
il was fired from the crowd The Character
OF the wound described by one OF the sur
geons OF the Baltimore clearly supports his
opinion that IL was made By rifle bali, the ORR
fee OF exit being as much as an inch or an inch
and quarter wide. When shot the poor fellow
fell unconscious and in the arms OF a comrade
who was endeavorng to carry him TO neigh
boring drug store for treatment The story of
the police that in coming down the street they
passed those men and LETT them behind them is
inconsistent With their own statement as to the
direction OF their approach and with their duty
TO protect them. and is clearly disproyed. In
fact. Riggin wa. not behind, but in front of the
advancing force, and not standing in the crowd,
but unconscious and supported in the arms of
Johnson when shot
After summarizing the correspondence up to
certain point, be ssys:
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, has not in any degree taken the
form OF a manly and satisfactory expression of
regret, much less apology. The event was OF so
serious character that if the injuries suffered
by the men had been wholly the result of an
accident In Chilean port, the incident was
grave enough 70 have called for some public
expression OF sympathy and regret from
the local authorities. 1t is not enough
to say the incident is regretted, counted
with statement that the affair was not of an
unusual character in ports where foreign sailors
are accustomed to meet. It is not for gener-
Gus, sincere government to seek for words of
small or eq uivocal meaning in which 20 convey
10 friendly power an apology for an offense so
etroeious as this. In the case of an assault by
mob in New Orleans upon the Spanish con-
sulate IN ISL, Webster wrote to Spanish Min
lister Calderon that the acts complained of were
"ditgraceful and fragrant breach of duty and
propriety, and that his government "regrets
them as deeply as Minister Calderon or his gov.
eminent could possibly do" that "these acts
have caused the president great pain, and he
thinks proper acknowledgement due
to her majesty" He invited the
Spanish consul to return to his
post, guaranteeing protection, and offered to
salute the Spanish flag If the consul should
come in Spanish vessel Such treatment by
the government of Chile of this assault would
have been more creditable to the Chilean author
fties and much less could not be satisfactory to
government that values its dignity and honor.
In our note of October % last, which appears
In the correspondence, after receiving the report
OF the board of officers appointed by CAPTAIN
Schley to investigate the affair. the Chilean gov
erament was advised of the aspect which il
then assumed and called upon Tor any facts in
its possession that might tend to modify the I'M
favorable impressions which our re-
port had created 1t Is very clear from
n
this note the examination was regarded by the
police authorities as probably closed Il was.
however, reopened and protracted through a
period of nearly three mouths. We might Justly
complain OF this unreasonable delay. bur in
view of the fact that the government of Chile
was still provisional and with disposition TO
be forbeaFing, and hopeful OF friendly terrnin-
alton, have awaited the report which has but
recently been made.
On the 2lst instant caused to be eommuni-
Gated 20 the government OF Chile, b. the Amer
lean minister at Santiago, the conclusions of
this government, after full con- liberation of all
tbs evidence and every suggestion affecting this
matter ana to these conclusions adhere. They
were stated as follows
First-That the assault is not relieved OF the
aspect which early Information OF the event
gave 10 1t, viz, that OF sn attack upon the uni
form Of the nitej states navy, having its ori.
! GIN ard motive IN feeling Of hostility 10 this
government, and not in any act OF the sailors or
any OF them.
second-That the public authorities Of valns.
| rslso uagrautiy Jailed IN their duty 10 protect
| our men, aud that some Of the Chilean police
soldiers and { i.ors We're themselves guilty of
! unproyoket 80 aults upon our sailors before
ana after lie the prcsiaentI thinks the pre-
poaderauCe OF tae evidence and the Inherent
probabilities tend 10 the conclusion thai Riggln
was killed 10y police or soldiers
IhT4-Ih hat he ithe PRESIDENT is therefore
compelled 10 Or IL tle case back 70 the nos tiou
| taken 10y thls government In the note of Mr.
| Wharton on October - last, ana 70 ask for
| suitable apology and for SONS adequate repara-
! toa for the injury done 10 taIs government.
/ In the same note the atte6t.ou OF the Chilean
| government IS called TO tie offensive character
! OF the note addressed by Ma,ta TO the Chilean
minister ~ this capital on the 18th ultima Tbis
! dispatch was not o1lcially communicated to this
! government. but as Montt was directed to trans
late IL aad give Il 10 the press OF this country il
seemed 10 me that 1t could not pass without OH.
eiai notice II was not only unttplomatie bu.
! - -ar,e# -=,ar. 800 u