The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-01-29


verities and to shelter adherents of the con-
gressional party were effective and frequent.
The charge against Admiral Brown - too base
to gain credence with anyone who knows his
high personal and professional character
Referring to the evidence of our sailors, /
think IL is shown that there were several dis
tinct assaults. and so nearly simultaneous as to
show that thsy did not spread from one point.
shows that the evidence Of the Chilian officials
and others was in conflict as to the place OF
origin, several places being named By different
Witnesses IS the locality where the first out
break occurred This, il correctly reported,
shows that there were several distinct out
breaks, and SO nearly at the same time MS to
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
extended to the mole, says: AT the same time
in other streets of the port the Yankee sailors
fought hercely with theIpeople Of the town, who
believed they saw in them incarnate enemies OF
The testimony Of Capt Jenkins Of the Amer
lean merchant ship Keeweena which had
Who was witness of some part of the
assault upon the crew of the Baltimore,
isstrongly corroborative Of the testimony of our
own sailors, when he says that the Gillian SEN
tries drove back man seeking shelter from q
mob that was pursuing him. The officers and
men of Capt. Jenkins 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
their nationality, il must be time to readjust
our relations with government which allows
such demonstrations.
dence of our sailors shows that our men were
struck and beaten BY police officers before and
with Assoc about his neck by n mounted po-
lceman. That the death OF Riggin was the re-
suit Of rife shot fired BY policeman or soldier
johnson, In whose arms he was at the
time, and by the evidence of Charles
member OF the Baltimores crew, who
stood close by and saw the transaction. The
CHILEAN authorities do not pretend TO fix the re-
son, but avow their inability to ascertain who
fired it, further than il was fired from crowd.
one Of the surgeons of the Baltimore, clearly
supports his opinion that it was made by rifle
ball. the orice 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 endeavoring to carry him to
O 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, Riggin 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 CHILEAN government
in relation to this cruel and disastrous attack
upon our men, as viii appear from the corre-
spondence, have not any degree taken the form
Sre t much less of apology. The event was
of so serious character that, If the injuries suf
fered by our men had been wholly:the result Of
an accident in Gillian port the incident was
grave enough to have called for some public
expression of sympathy and regret from the
local authorities It was not enough TO say that
the affair was lamentable, for humanity would
require that expression, even il the beating and
killing of our men had been justihable. 1t is
not enough to say that the incident is regretted,
coupled with the statement that the affair was
not of an unusual character in ports where for
eign sailors are accustomed to meet. 1t Is not
for generous and sincere government to
seek for words of small equivocal meaning
in which to convey to friendly power an
apology for an ohense so atrocious as this. In
the case Of the assault, by a mob In New Or
leans upon the Spanish consulate in 1851, Mr.
Webster wrote to the Spanish minister Mr..
Calderon, that the acts complained of were "a
disgraceful and fragrant breach of duty and
propriety," and that his government deplores
nen a aeep could a. possbiy do that
Sthese acts have caused the president
great pain, and he thinks proper scknowi,
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 Gillian authorities, and
much less can hardly be satisfactory to gov
ernment that values its dignity and honor.
In our note of October % last, which appears
report of the board of Officers appointed
by Capt. Schley to investigate the affair,
the CHILEAN government was advised of
the aspect which 1t then assumed and
called upon for any facts in its possession that
might tend to modify the unfavorable impress
sion which our report had created. It is clear
from the correspondence that, before the receipt
of this note, the examination was regarded by
the police authorities as practically closed. 1t
was, however, reopened and protracted through
period of nearly. three months. We might
Justly have complained of this unreasonable
delay, but in view of the fact that the
having disposition to be forbearing and hope
full of friendly termination, have awaited
the report which hiss but recently been made.
On the 2lst inst. caused to be communicated
to the government of Chilli by the American
minister at Santiago, the conclusions of the
government after full examination of all evil
dence and every suggestion affecting this mat
ter, and to these conclusions adhere they were
stated as follows:
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
its origin and motive in feeling of hostility
to this government and not in any act of sail
ors, or of any of them
paraiso hagrantly failed in their duty to pro-
tect our men, and that some of the police and
some of the Gillian soldiers and sailors were
themselves guilty of unprovoked assault
upon our sailors before, and after
arrest. He 1.-THE presidentl thinks the prepon-
derance Of the evidence and the inherent prob
abilities lead to the conclusion that Riggin was
killed by the police OF soldiers.
Third. That he 1.-THE president) is therefore
compelled to bring the case back to the position
taken by this government, by the note of Mr..
Wharton OF October % last-and to ask for
suitable apology and for some adequate repara
ton for the injury done to this government
In the same note the attention of the CHILEAN
government was called to the offensive charac-
ter Of foreign affairs, to Mr.. Montt its minister
at this country, the 1lth ultimo. This dis
patch was not officially communicated to this
government; but as Mr.. Mont was directed to
translate il and give il to the press of this
try it seemed to me that it could not pass with
ii
but grossly insulting to our naval officers, and
to the executive department, as 1t directly i'm
puted untruth, and fnsincerity to the reports Of
naval officers and to the officers and to the Off
cial communications made by the executive de-
partment to congress. 1t will be observed that
have notified the Gillian government that I'M
less this note is at once withdrawn and an
apology is made as public as the otfense made,
will terminate diplomatic relations. The re-
quest for the recall of Mr.. Egan upon the
ground that he was not persona grata was
unaccompanied by any suggestion that could
that the request is based upon official acts of
Mr.. Egan which have received the approval of
this government. But. however that may be,
until it had first been settled whether our cor
respondence with Chill could be conducted upon
a basis OF mutual respect.
that grave and patriotic consideration
which the questions involved demand.
opinions that the demands s1 made of Chill BY this his
government should be adhered to and enfored
If the dignity as well as the prestige and infiu-
ence OF the United States are not to be wholly
sacrificed we should protect those who in for
eigD ports display the flag wear the colors of
this government against insult, brutality, and
death, inflicted in resentment OF the acts of
their government and not for any fault OF their
own. IL 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 comm cree