The National tribune., 1892-01-28

was not standing IN the crowd. but was uncou-
scious and supported ia the arms Or Johnson
when be was shot
The communications Of the Chilean Govern,
mcut IN relation % this cruei and disastrous at
tack upon our men, as VIII appear from the
correspondence. have not IN any degree taken
the form Of q manly and satisfactory
EXPRESSION oF REGRET, MUCH LESS OF
APOLOGY.
The event was Of 80 serious q character that II
tho injuries suffered BY our men had been
wholly the result OF an accident be q Chilean
port, the incident was grave enough 60 have
called for some public expression Of sympathy
and regret from the local authorities. 10 s not
enough to say that the affair WAS Ilmentthlc.
for humanity would require that expressions,
even u the beating and killing OF our men bad
been justifable. 10 is not enough TO say that
the incident - regretted, coupled with the
statement that the affair was not OF an unusual
character ia ports where foreign sailors are aC-
customcd to meet IL ia not for generous and
sincere Government 90 seek for words OF small
or equiyOcal meaning Ia which 90 convey 90
friendly power an apology for an ofeuse so at
Tocious as this. In the ease Of the assault By
mob in New Orleans upon the Spanish consul
late IN l-jl, Dir. Webster wrote 90 the spanish
Minister, Nr. Calderon. that the acts complained
OF were "a disgracefUl and fragrant breach of
duty and propriety' and that his Government
regrets them as deeply az Minister Calderon
or his Government could possibly do - that
these acts have caused the President great
/ pain, and he thinks proper acknowledgement
- due 20 her Maiesty'5 Government He IN
\ vited the Spanish Consul TO return % his post,
guaranteeing protection, and offered to salute
the Spanish Gag If the Consul should come in
/ Spanish vessel. Such a treatment by the
I Government Of Chile Of this assault
/ WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE cEEDuSBLE
TO the Chilean authorities; and much less can
hardly be satisfactory to Government that
/ values its dignity and honor.
I In our note Of Oct % last. which appears in
/ the correspondence, after receiving the report
/ OF the board Of officers appointed By Capt.
\ Schley to investigate the affair, the Chilean
! Government was advised Of the aspect which
I it then assumed and called upon for any facts
IN its possession that might tend to modify
\ the unfavOrable impressions which our report
had created. IL is very clear from the CORE
u 5pOndence that, before the receipt Of this note,
the examination was regarded by tho police
authorities as practically closed. 1t was, how
\ ever, TeOpcned aRd prOtTaeted through period
OF nearly three months. We might Justly have
complained Of this unreasonable delay, but, in
view OF the fact that the Government Of Chile
/ was still provisional, and with disposition 10
be forbearing and hopeful Of a friendly ter
mination. have awaited the report which has
but recently been made.
On the 2lst inst I caused to be eOmmuni-
Gated 20 the Government Of Chile. By the
/ American Minister &C Santiago, the conclusions
OF this Government after a full consideration
Of all the evidence and Of every suggestion
affecting this matter aud to these conclusions
1 adhere. They were stated as follows:
First That the assault is not relieved Of the as
pect which the early information Of the event gave
To %, viz: That Of attack upon the uniform Of
/ the United States Navy having its origin and
N "a of hos
and not "a any act Of the sailors or any OF them.
second. Tint The public authorities Of Vllpa-
r1tso h1grnntiy failed IN their duty % protect our
men, and that Of the police and Cf the Chea
soldiers and sailors were themselves guilty of uu-
provoked assaults upon orr sailors before and
after arrest. re Zoe lgcslIeutl thinks the pre-
p0nderance Of the evidence and che inherent prob
abilities lead to the conclusion that Riggiu was
killed by the police or soldiers.
Third That he fthc Presidentl Is therefore COM
PEELED TO bring tie case back 20 the position taken
hy tni- Government IN the note OF Mr. Wharton, OF
Oct - last and TO ask for n suitable
apology and for some adequate reparatiSn for the
injury done this Government.
In the same note the attention Of the Chilean
Government was called 70 the offensive char
acter Of a note addressed by Mr.. Malta. its
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, TO Nr blOntt. its
Minister at this Capital on the l1th uitimO
This dispatch was not officially communicated
70 this Government; but, as Mr.. Month was
directed to translate it and 10 give 10 to the
press Of the country, IL seemed TO me that il
could not pass without official notice. II was
not only undiplOmatic but grossly insulting %
our naval officers aud to the Executive Depart
ment as it directly imputed untruth and in
sincerity to the reports Of the naval officers
and to the official communications made by
the Executive Department to Congress. 1t will
be observed that / have notified the Chilean
Government that unless this note is at once
Withdrawn and an apology as public as the
offsnse made, / will terminate diplomatic re-
latiOn5.
The request for the recall Of Mr.. Egan. upon
the ground that he was not persona gratq, was
[ unaccOmpanied by any suggestion that could
properly DO used in support Of il, and 1 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 question until it had first
been settled whether our correspondence with
Chile could DO conducted upon bases Of mutual
} respect
In submitting these papers to Congress fol-
that grave and patriotic consideration which
J the questions involved demand, / desire to say
that j am Of the opinion that the demands
made Of Chile by this Government should be
adhered to and enforced. IL the dignity, as
well as the prestige and influence Of the United
States, are not 20 be wholly sacrificed we must
, protect those who, in foreign ports, display the
flag or wear the cOiOrS of the Government
| against insult brutality and death inflicted in
resentment of the acts Of their Government
and not for any fault Of their own. 10 has been
my desire in every way TO cultivate friendly
and intimate relations with all the Govern
meuts Of this Hemisphere. We do not COvei
! their territory; we desire their peace aud pros
perity We look for no advantage in our re.
lations with them, except the increased ex-
changes Of commerce upon basis of mutual
I 10 ,usrr kT,..l
disturbs their peace and parilyZes their do
velopment. and are always ready to give oul
good Offices
FOR THE RESTORATION OF PEACE.
) 1t must however. be understood that this Gov.
eminent, while exercising the utmost fOrbear.
anco toward weaker powers, will extend it:
strong and adequate protection 10 its citizens
TO its officers, and TO its humblesb sailor when
made the victims Of wautOnness and cruelty in
resentment, not of their personal misconduct
; but Of the official acts Of their Government
Upon information received that Patrick
Shields, an lrishman and probably a British
subject. but at the time a fireman of the Amer
2 can steamer keweenaw, in the harbOr Of Val
! paraisO for repairs had been subjected TO per-
! sonal injuries in that city, largely by thu
police directed the Attorney General to cause
: the evidence OF the officers and crew Of tha
vessel to be taken upon its arrival in San Fran
| CISCO and that testimony is also herewith
{ transmitted. The brutality and even savagery
, of the treatment Of this poor man by the Chill
D can police would be incredible if the evidenc,