San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-27
TIE CHILE MESSAGE.

| Ihere cannot well pc TWO opinions
concerning the character of the pres
, iden tial messnge sent to congress on
Monday, along with the Chile cores
pondence, and which was given to the
country on yesterday. That message
is characteristic state paper. 1t
bristles with facts. There is no at
tempt at effect, yet it is most effective.
1t bears the impress OF strict adher-
ence to the letter of the truth. Its
scrupulous exactness is apparent in
every line. There is almost a pain
fulness in the effort to be SO aecu-
rate that there could not possibly be
any mistake on the part Of congress
in apprehending the real truth. 1t is
an honest attempt to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth on q most momen tous question.
There Is at times suppressed feeling
about the narrative that shows how
deep is the Indignation, that in 80
grave q contingency must find no
personal expression. The matter of
the message is supported at every
point by the official correspondence
accompanying 1t. The manner of 1t Is
admirable. It is carefully guarded
from all expressions that could give of
fence beyond the bare substance ofthe
communication itself, and for this
Chile and not the United States is
responsible. The President seems as
studiously careful of giving offence to
Chile as though she had been our
truest friend and closest ally, instead
of the assailant of our honor, the In
suffer of our flag and the assassin of
our helpless and unarmed sailors. At
the same time, there is stern sense
OF tn nations duty and of his own
responsibility to the people, In every
sentence of his message; response
bility fully sensed and msnfully &C.
accepted. The determination to main
tain the dignity of the nation at all
points, uphold her ministers in all
lawful acts, and to protect the humb-
lest sailor in her service from assault
and outrage In any port OF clviliza-
ton, is clearly expressed. 1t Is
message from which Chile cannot
CLEAN one crumb of comfort, against
which she can find no just cause of
complaint. 1t puts her so clearly In
the wrong, in the mind of this gov
eminent, that no foreign arm
can interpose as arbitrator without
suspicion of unfriendliness to this
nation. 1t breathes an I'm.
alterable determination TO AGATE
DO whit of the rightful demands
of this government, leaving to
congress to say in what manner those
demands shall be enforced. 1t is
such document as can be trusted to,
the future, when the righteousness of
the acts of this nation in its dealings
with Chile are called in question, as
called in ques ton they will certainly
be. 1t Is temperate document. 1t
shows the strength of a mind under
strict control in the face of national
insult, able to suppeess all expires
sions of its resentment under the
strongest provocation. 1t is docu-
ment Of which the people may justly
feel proud. 1t is strong, clear, manly,
passionless, patriotic, fearless, makes
no compromise with insult and calls
for the protection Of our seamen every
where. confident that the national
honor will be upheld without any ap-
peal to passion or revenge. 1t is q
document that in the event of war
with Chill will be the justification of
such war on the part Of the United
States, when the present is past and
its deeds are reviewed in the great
court OF an impartial and impersonal
future.