The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1892-01-30

Liz A1C0SnkO OOuG1uuo6s Al SQ6 I0s
port of Captain Schley to the navy de-
partment he says: In the only inter
view that I had with Judge Foster, who
is investigating the case relative to the
disturbance before he was aware Of the
ntire gravity Of the matter, be in.
formed me that the assault upon my
was the outcome of hatred for our
people among the lower classes because
they thought we had sympathized with
the Balmaceda government on account
of the Itata matters, whether with 9
son or without he could. of course,
not admit; but such, he thought, was
the explanation Of the assault at that
time: Several OF our men sought secu-
rity from the mob by such complete o
partial changes in their dress as would
conceal the fact of their being sea.
men of the Baltimore and found it
then possible to walk the streets with.
out moleststion. These incidents con-
olusively establish that the attack was
upon the uniform and the nationality
and not upon the men,"
The president considers the origin of
this feeling came from the Itata Incl
dent. He shows by the official and
press reports that the several attacks
we're simultaneous, and says:
"As to the participation of the police,
the evidence of our sailors shows that
our men were struck and beaten blythe
police officers before and after the ar.
rest, and that one at least was
dragged with q lasso( about
his neck by q mounted policeman.
That the death of Riggan was the result
of q rife shot fred by q policeman or a
soldier on duty is shown directly by the
testimony of johnson, in whose arms
he was at the time, and by the evidence
of Charles Langen, an American sailor
not then q member of the Baltimore's
crew, who stood close by and saw the
transaction. The Chilisn authorities
do not pretend to fix the responsibility
of this shot upon any particular person,
but avow their ability to ascertain who
fred it.
After summarizing the correspondence
up to q certain point. he says: 1.-THE
communications of the Chilian govern.
ment in relation to this cruel and dis.
astrous attack upon men. as will
appear from the correspondence, have
not in any degree taken the form of
manly and satisfactory expression of
regret much less of apology. The event
of so serious q character that if tire
injuries suffered by q men had been
wholly the result of an accident in the
Ohilian port, the incident was grave
enough to have called for some public
expression of sympathy and regret from
the local authorities. It is not enough
to say that the affair was lsmentable, for
humanity would require that expression
if the beating and the killing of our
men had been justiiable. It is not
enough to say that the incident is e.
GREETED. coupled with the statement that
the affair wat not an infrequent occur-
ence in ports where foreign sailors are
accustomed to meet. It is not for the
government to seek for words of small
or equivoeate meaning in which to con-
vey to the friendly nation an apology for
the ofense so atrocious rs this. In our
note of Dot. % last, after receiving the
report Of the board of officers appointed
by Captain Schley 10 investigate
the affair. the Ohilian gov
eminent was advised of the aspect
which it then assumed and called upon
for any facts in its possession that might
tend to modify the unfavorable impress
sions which our report had created. It
is very clear from the correspondence
that before the receipt of this note the
examination vas regarded by the police
authorities rs practically closed. It was,
however, reopened and protracted
through q period of nearlythree months
might justly have complained of
this unreasonable delay, but in view of
the fact that the government of Ohili
was still provisional, and with. q dispo-
sition to be forbearing and hopeful
of a friendly termination, I have awaited
the report. which has but recently been
made. On the twenty-frst instant, 1
caused to be communicated to the gov
eminent of Chill by the American min
lister at Santiago the conclusion of this
government, after a full consideration of
all the evidence and of every suggestion
affecting this matter, and to these oonclu.
sions I adhere. They were stated as fol.
First - That the assault is not
relieved of the aspect which early in.
Of the event gave il, viz: That
of the attack upon the uniform of the
United States navy, having its origin
and motive in the fseling of hostility to
this government and not in any act of
the sailors or any Of them.
tu0 puUAAC d~utAOIAOAo
of Valparaiso fiagrant]y failed in their
duty to protect the men and that the
and Chilian sailors were them.
guilty of unprovoked assaults
upon our sailors before and after the
He (the president) thinks the
preponderance of evidence and inherent
probabilities lead to the conclusion that
was killed by the police or SOL
diere.
Third-That he (the president) is
compelled to bring the case
back to the position taken BY the gov
eminent in the note of Mr.. Wharton of
Oct. % last. and to ask for q suitable
and for some adequate repara-
lion for the injury done to this govern
ment. |
In the same note the attention of the
Chilian government wa called to the
offensive character of the note addressed
by Malta, ex- minister of foreign affairs.
TO Mont. its minister at this capital, on
The 18th ult. This dispatch was not of.
communicated to this govern
ment, but as Montt was directed TO
translate it and give it to the press Of
this country. it seemed time that it
could not pass without official notice.
It was not only undiplomstic, but
insulting to our naval
officers and to the executive depart
ment as it directly imputed an untruth
and insincerity to the reports of the
naval officers and to the official conmu.
nications made by the executive depart.