Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-02-05
HARRIS0N'S MESSAGE
The CHILEAN MATTER LAID
BEFORE CONGRESS.
A SEVERE ARRANGEMENT OF THAT
CoUNTRY's COURSE.
inc Language Blunt, UndiplomatIo and
Designed to Carry Insult to That
Government.
Ahe Reading OF the Message Causes Great
Surprise In Diplomatic Circles
Chile Sues for Peace.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-The President
mas sent the following message to Con-
gress:
TTAIlvEs;-ln my annual message delivered to
congress at the beginning OF the present SEES
Sion ,ban, AFTER brief statement OF the facts
touching the assault in the streets OF
,bs raise Chile upon the sailors OF
Der last. | said: This government is now now
has been conducted bv the Gilman eow mi1 az
Valparaiso 1t is reported unoficialiy that the
investigation Is about completed, and II is ex-
pecteu that the result will soon be commune
Gated to this government together with some
nSoe9uate and satisfactory response to the note
this incident II these Just e associations should
oe disappointed or further needless delay In
, ,esyene ! wiz by special message bring this
Inatter again 10 the attention of Congress for
SUCH action as may be necessary
In my opinion the time has come when
should 81 lay before the Congress of the country
the correspondence between this government
anu IRE government of Chile from the time of
the breaking out of the revolution against Bal.
possession OF the Executive Department re-
snnng 70 this matter The diplomatic CORE
sPonue nee rs herewith transmitted, together
with some correspondence between the naval
omcers for the time in command in Chilean
the evidence taken at the Mare Island NAVY
Yard since the arrival OF the Baltimore nj San
r rrnncisco. DO not deem 1t necessary in. this
20 .i unlcaton 10 attempt any further ANALYSIS
OF the correspondence or of the evidence A
PREF restatement OF the international questions
ln'plvea and OF the reasons why the responses
OF the Chilean government are unsatisfactorc
Is all that deem necessary
Mr.. Egan justified.
II may be well, at the outset to So that.
whateyer may have been said in this country
ter ut Santiago the true history Of This exciting
period in Chilean affairs, from the outbreak OF
nne evolution until this present time, discloses
no act on tne part OF Mr.. Egan unworthy OF his
position or that could justly be the occasion OF
serious animadversion or criticism. He has.
! think, on the whole borne himself in very
trying circumstances with dignity discretion
ana courage, and has conducted the corre-
sponaence with ability courtesy and fairness
~ Is worth while also at the beginning to say
that the right of Mr.. Egan to give shelter in
the legation TO certain adherents OF the Balma-
has not been denied by the Gillian authorities
nor has any demand been made for the surren.
n need OF these refugees That there was urgent
neeo ot asylum is shown by Mr.. Egan's note of
aug. "a, 1881, describing the disorders that pre-
CaiIed In Santiago, and by the evidence of
violence that prevailed at Valparaiso. The
correspondence discloses, however that tho
the country on behalf of these refugees was de-
nleo. The presidents cited by him in the cor
resPoSndence, particularly in tho case of the
Shilean government in O position to deny the
rlght OF asylum TO political refugees and
Nciy eicaIly 10 support MT Eg0n con-
tention that a safe conduct TO neutral territory
was necessary and acknowledged incident OF
,ne asylum These refugees have very recent
~, without formal safe conduct, but by the ac-
qniescence of the Chilean authorities, been
placed on board the Yorktown and are now
being conveyed TO Callao Peru.
The Chilean authorities have as will he oh.
served from the correspondence charged the
refugees ana the inmates OF the legation with
insulting the police, but 1t seems to me incredi-
bic that men whose lives were in jeopardy and
whose safety could only be secured by retire
woke collision which could only end in their
obstruction, OF TO aggravate their condition by
so threatened the Legation as to require Mr.
Afairs. 'e"
Attack on the BaItimore's Sailors.
But the most serious incident disclosed by
~. ne correspondence is that of the attack upon
me sailors OF the Baltimore in the streets OF
valparaiso on the 10th of October last.
we have now received from the Chilean gov-
eminent an abstract of the conclusions OF the
nscal general upon the testimony taken by the
Judge OF Crimes in an investigation which was
inaoe 10 extend nearly over three months l
very much regret TO be compelled to saw that
This report does not enable me to modify the
am still of the opinion that our sailors were
assaulted, beaten, stabbed and killed not for
ss any uhg they or any OF them had done, but
LOT what the government of the United States
mad done, or was charged with having done by
J Is civil of11cers and naval commanders II
Inat pc the true aspect OF the case the injury
was TO the government of the United States,
not TO these poor sailors, who were
ardly. NAM o. Wv
Legal Aspect of tie Case.
Before attempting to give al outline ~
tho facts upon which this conclusion rests
mink II right TO say word or
TWO upon the legal aspect of the
case The Baltimore was in the harbor OF
Valparaiso by virtue Of that general invita- ton
vessels OF other powers with which they have
friendly relations This invitation L think.
must be held ordinarily TO embrace the priv.
lege of such communication with the shore as
IS reasonable, necessary and proper for the
comfort and convenience OF the officers and
men OF such vessels Captain Schley testified
mat when his vessel returned to Valparaiso on
sept "A the city officers, as is customary ex-
tended the hospitalities OF the city to his on