Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-01-28
HARkISON'S MESSAGE
Congress Enlightened on the
Gillian Complication.
The MESSAGE FIRM IN TONE.
Egan Upheld by the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Attack on the sailors OF the Balti-
more The Position Of the
United states

States The galleries OF both house
and senate were crowded by people
anxious TO hear the reading OF the inn
portant document The message is
as follows.
To the senate and house Of representatives;
In my annual message, delivered to congress at
the beginning Of the present session, after
brief statement OF the facts then ip possession
OF this government touching the assault, In the
streets Of Valparaiso, Chill upon the sailors Of
tho United States ship Baltimore, on the even
ing OF the 10th Of October last, said
This government Is now awaiting the result
OF an investigation which has been conducted
by the criminal court Of Valparaiso II Ia re
ported unoficinlly that tho investigation is
about completed and It IL expected that the re-
suit will soon be communicated to this govern.
nent together with some adequate and salts.
factory response 10 the note by which the at
tenton Of Chill was called to this incident II
these Just expectations should be disappointed
or further needless delay intervene will by a
special message bring this matter again to the
attention OF congress for such action as may DO
necessary"
In my opinion the time has now come when
should lay before the congress and the country
the correspondence between this government
and tho government OF Chill, from the time Of
the breaking ont Of the revolution against Bal.
maeeda- together with all other facts in the pos
session Of the executive department
relating TO this matter The diplo-
matte correspondence ia herewith trans.
mitted, together with some correspondence be.
tween the naval officers for the time in com.
mand in Gillian waters and the secretary Of the
navy, and also the evidence taken at tho Mare
Island navy yard since the arrival OF the Bait.
more at San Francisco. do not deem II neces-
sary In this communication to attempt any full
analysis Of the correspondence Of the evi.
dencc. brief re-statement OF the information.
al questions involved and the reasons why the
response Of the Gillian government il unsatis.
factory is oil deem necessary.
II may be well at the outset to say that what
ever may have been said In this country or In
Chill in criticism Of Mr. Egan, our minister at
Santiago, the true history Of this excited period
in Gillian affairs, from the outbreak OF the rev
oluton until this time, discloses no act on the
part OF Mr.. Egan unworthy OF his position or
that could Justly be the occasion of serious ami
madversion or criticism. He has, think, on
the whole borne himself, in very trying circum.
stances, with dignity discretion and courage
and has conducted the correspondence with
ability, courtesy and fairness.
II Is worth while also at the beginning 10 say
that the right OF Mr. Egan to give shelter In the
legation 10 certain adheronts 10 the Balmacedan
government who applied to him for asylum has
not been denied by the Gillian authorities, nor
has any demand been made for the sur
render Of those refugees. That there was
urgent need Of asVlum is shown by
Mr.. Egan's note OF August "a 1891, dcscrib.
and the evidence Of Capt Schley a. to the pill.
lage and violence that prevailed at Valparaiso.
Tho correspondence discloses, however that
the request Of Mr.. Egan for q safe conduct from
the country, In behalf OF these refugees, was de-
MED The prccedents cited by him in the cor
reepondence, particularly in the case Of the
revolution In Peru In 1863 did not leave the Chill.
fan government In position to deny the right Uf
asylum TO political refugees and seemed very
clearly 10 support Mr.. Egan's contention that
N gaf In vvua
sary and acknowledged incident OF the asylum.
These refugees have very recently, without
formal safe conduct, but by the acquiescence
OF the Gillian authorities, been placed on board
The yorktown, and arc now being conveyed TO
Callao, Peru.
This incident might DO considered wholly
closed but for the disrespect manifested toward
this government by the close and offensive pc.
lice surveillance OF the legation premises, which
was maintained during most OF the period OF tho
stay Of the refugees therein After the date Of
my annual message, and up 10 the time
OF the transfer Of the refugees TO
the Yorktown the legation premises seem
to have been surrounded by police
in uniform and police agents or detectives In
citizens dress, who extensively scrutnlzed per
sons entering or leaving the legation and on ono
or two occasions arrested members OF the min
isterS family. Commander Evans, who, by
my direction, recently visited Mr.. Egan at
Santiago, in his telegram 20 the navy
veritable prison" and states that the
police agents or detectives were after his ar
rival, withdrawn during his stay. II appears.
further, from the note OF Mr. Egnn Of November
30 1891 that, on one occasion at least, these pc.
lice agents, whom he declares to be known 10
him, invaded the legation premises pounding
on It's windows and using insulting and threat.
ening language towards persons therein This
breach OF the right OF minister to free
dom from police espionage and restraint
To has h.san nuf mt hat A
tine minister who was dean OF the diplomatic
corps, having observed II, felt called upon TO
protest against Il to the Gillian minister OF
foreign AFFAIRS, The Gillian authorities have,
as will be observed from the correspondence,
charged the refugees and the inmates
Mt the legation with insulting the
police; but II seems 10 me Incredible that
men whose lives were In jeopardy and whose
safety could only be secured by retirement and
quietness, should have sought to provoke a col.
lision which could only end In their destruc ton
or TO aggrayste their condition by intenSfying
popular feeling that at one time so threatened
the legation as 10 require M Egan 10 appeal to
the minister OF foreign AFFAIRS.
But the most serious incident disclosed by the
correspondence is that OF the attack upsn the
sailors Of the Baltimore IN the streets OF Val.
paraiso on the 10Th Of october last. In my an
nual message, speaking upon the information
then In my possession, l said;
$50 far as I have yet been able 20 learn no
suggested than that II had It's origin In hostility
TO these men as sailors OF the United States
wearing the uniform Of their government and
not in any individual act or personal animos
ity."
We have now received from the Chillau gov
eminent an abstract Of the conclusions Of Tho
fiscal general upon the testimony taken by IN,
Judge Of crimes In an investigation which wa,
made to extend over nearly three months.
very much regret TO be compelled to say thai
this report does not enable me 20 modify Tho
conclusion announced IN my annual message
am sim OF the opinion thar our sailors wert
assaulted beaten, stabbed and killed not for any
thing they or any one Of them had done
but for what the government Of the UuitsC
States .hAd done or was charged with having
donej Ny its civil Officers and naval commanders
II that be the true aspect Of the case, the INJURY
was TO the government Of the United States
not these poor sailors who were assaulted In
manner so brutal and so cowardly,
Before attempting TO give an outline Of thu
facts upon which this conclusion rests, thlnl
Il right TO say word or two upon the legal a.
pect Of the case.
The Baltimore was IN the harbOr Of Valpa
raise by virtue OF that general invitation which
nations are held 10 extend 20 the war vesseli
81 other powers with which they have friendly
relations, This invitation. l think, mast b,
held ordinarily 10 embrace the privilege Of sucl
COMMUNICATION with the shore as ieasuEable
accessory and proper for the comfort and con
Venience OF the officers aad men OF such
vessels. Capt Schley testifies that when hii
vessel returned 10 Valparaiso, September "a
we city omcers, as Is customary, extended thu
hospitalities OF the city 20 his officers and crew
II is not claimed that every personal collision
or injury in which a sailor or onicor Of such
naval vessel visiting the shore may be involved
hlises an International question, but ! an
sleariy OF the opinion that where such sailor