Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-02-04

| to gain cradence with anyone who knows his
high personal and professional character.
| Referring to the evidence of our sailors,
think it is shown that there were several dis
tinct assaults. and 50 nearly simultaneous as to
show that they did not spread from one point
A press summary of the report of the fiscal
shows that the evidence of the CHILEAN officials
origin. several places being named by different
| witnesses the locality where the first out
break occurred. This, II correctly reported,
shows that there were several distinct out
| breaks, and SO nearly at the same time as to
cause this confusion
| The La Patria in the same issue from which
have already quoted, after describing the killing
of Riggin and the fight which from that point
in other streets of the port the Yankee sailors
| fought fiercely with theipeople of the town, who
believed they saw in them incarnate enemies of
The testimony of Capt. Jenkins Of the Amer
gone eSan to Valparaiso for REPAIRS and and
who was witness of some part OF the
assault upon the crew Of the Baltimore.
own sailors, when he says that the CHILEAN SEN
tries drove back man seeking shelter from a
men Of ofI Capt ship furnish the most
conclusive testimony as to the indignities which
were practiced towards Americans in Valparai-
So When American sailors, even of merchant
| ships, can only secure their safety by denying
o n9ir reIations with eoyernment which aiIoMs
suct. demonstrations
AS to the participation of the police. the evil
dence of our sailors elbows that our. men were
struck and beaten by police officers before and
after arrest and that one. at least. was dragged
nceman That the death Of Riggin was the re-
suit of rifle shot fired by policeman soldier
on duty is shown directly by the testimony of
| time. and bv the evidence of Charles
hangn Of the not then ba
| stood close by and saw the transaction. The
CHILEAN authorities do not pretend to fix the re-
sponSibility of this shot on any particular person.
| but avow their inability to ascertain who fired
| it, further than that it was fired from crowd
| one of the surgeons of the Baltimore, clearly
| supports his opinion that it was made by rifle
ball the orifice of exit being as much as an inch or
| an inch and quarter in width. When shot the
poor fellow was unconscious and in the arms of a
| comrade who was e1deavoring to carry him to
! a neighboring drug store for treatment. The
| story of the police, that in coming up the
| street they passed these men and left them be-
| hind them is inconsistent with their own
| statement as to the direction of their approach,
| and with their duty to protect them, and is
clearly disapproved. In fact, Rggin was not
| behind, but in front of the advancing force,
| and was not standing in the crowd, but was
! unconscious and supported in the arms of
johnson when he was shot.
| Communications of the Chilian government
| in relation to this cruel and disastrous attack
| spondence, have not in any degree taken the
| form of amity and satisfactory expression Of
regret, much less I, OF apology % The event was
| fered 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 was not enough to say that
| the affair was lanentable, for humanity would
| require that expression, even if the beating and
| killing of our men had been justifiable. 1t is
| not enough to say that the incident is regretted,
coupled with the statement that the affair was
not of all unusual character in ports where for
| eign sailors accustomed to meet It is not
for generous and sincere government to
| seek for words of small OF equivocal meaning
in which to convey to friendly power an
aaan s ob ns Naw on
| leans upon the Spanish consulate in 1851, Mr..
Webster wrote to the Spanish minister, Mr..
disgraceful and fragrant breach of duty ant
propriety, and that his government deplores
could posaDy do
sthese acts have CAUSED the president
great pain, and he thinks a proper acSaowl,
| He invited the Spanish consul to return to his
post, guaranteeing protection. and offered to sa-
in a Spanish vessel Such a treatment by the
| government of Chill Of this assault would be
more creditable to the CHILEAN authorities, and
much less hardly be satisfactory to gov
note Of s be WHICH, appears
report of the board of officers appointed
by Capt. Schley to investigate the affair.
| the aspect which it then assumed and
| called upon for any facts in its possession that
might tend to modify the e. in
from the correspondence that, before the receipt
| of this note, the examination was regarded by
was, however reopened and protracted through
| a period of nearly three months. We might
delay, but in view of the fact that the
government of Chill was still provisional, and
| having disposition to be forbearing and hope
full of friendly termination, 1 have awaited
! the report which has but recently been made.
| On the 2lst inst. caused to be communicated
| minister at Santiago, the conclusions of the
| government after full examination of ali evil
| dence. and every suggestion affecting this mat
| ter and to these conclusions L adhere. Thew
| 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
to this government. and not in any act of sail
| ors Of any of them.
paraiso fagrantly failed in their duty to pro-
tect our men, and that some Of the police and
themselves guilty of unprovoked assault
arrest arrest He 1.-THE presidentl thinks the prepon-
| abilities lead to the conclusion that Riggin was
killed by the police or soldiers:
Third That he 1.-THE president) is therefore
/ compelled to bring the case back to the position
taken by this g9vern ~ , by the note Of Mr.;
| suitable apology and for some adequate repara-
| ton for the injury done to this government"
| In the same note the attention of the Chilian
| ter of note addressed by Mr.. Malta, its minis
ter of foreign affairs, to Mr. Montt its minister
| ",
patch Was not officially communicated to this
| government; but Mr. Montt directed to
translate it and give it to the press OF this cOun
| try it seemed to me that it could not pass with
out official notice. 1t was not only undiplomatic,
but grossly insulting to our naval officers, and
| to the executive department. it directly i'm
| puted untruth and insincerity to the re-
ports of naval officers and to the official
| communications made by the executive de-
| partment to congress 1t will be observed that
| l have notified the CHILEAN government that I'M
| less this note is at once withdrawn and an
| apology is made as public as the offense made
! will terminate diplomatic relations. The re-
| quest for the recall of Mr.. Egan upon tho
| ground that he not persona grata was
properly be used in support of it. and I infer
| that the request is based upon official acts OF
| Mr. Egan which have received the approval of
| this government. But. however that may be,
| could not consent to consider such a question
| until it had first been settled whether our cor
| respon6ence with Chill could be conducted upon
a basis of mutual respect.
In submitting these papers to congress for
aseh ss aaeson paf2 nSoved
I desire to say that 1 am Of the
| opinion that the demands made of Chill by this
| government should be adhered to and enforced.
ence OF the United States are not to be wholly
sacrificed we sh -uld protect those who IN for
eigp ports display the flag or wear the coiufs of
this government. against insult, brutality, and
their government and not for any fault OF their
| own. 1t has been desired in every way to culti
vate friendly and intimate relations with all the
governments of this hemisphere. We do not
covet their territory; we desire their peace and
prosperity.
We look for no advantage in our relations with
them except to increase exchange OF commerce
upon a basis Of mutual benefit We regret every
CIVIL contest that disturbs their peace and para
| lives their development, and are always ready
| to give our good offices for the restoration of