The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-01-29


ernment to seek for words Of small or
equivocal meaning in which to convey
to a friendly power an apology for an
oTense so atrocious as this.
In our note of October s3rd last,
which appears in the correspondence,
after receiving the report Of the board
of officers appointed by Captain Schley
to investigate the affair, the Chilian
government 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 IMPRESSION
which our report had created. 1t is
very 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 pro
tracted through a period of nearly
three months We might justly have
complained of this unreasonable de-
lay, but in view of the fact that the
government of Chill was still provi-
sional, and with disposition to be
forbearing and hopeful of friendly
termination, / nave awaited the report
which has but recently been made.
On the 2Ist inst. l caused to be
communicated to the government Of
Chill by the American minister at
Santiago the conclusions of this gov
ernment after a full consideration of
all the evidence and Of every sugges-
ton affecting this matter, and to these
conclusions / adhere. They were
stated as follows: First. That the as
sault is not relieved Of the aspect which
the early information Of the event
gave to il, viz: That of an attack
upon the uniforms of the United States
navy, having for its origin and motive
in feeling Of hostility to this govern
ment, and not on any account of the
sailors or of any of them. Second.
That the public authorities of Valpa-
raiso fagrantly failed in their duty to
protect our men, and that some of
them of the police and of the Chiian
soldiers and sailors were themselves
guilty of unprovoked assaults upon
our sailors before and after arrest.
He (the president) thinks the ponder
ance of the evidence and of the IN
hercnt probabilities lead to the con-
clusion that Riggin was killed by the
police or soldiers. Third. That he
(the president) is therefore compelled
to bring the case back to the position
taken by this government in the note
of Mr. Wharton on October a3 last,
and to ask for suitable
apology and some adequate reparation
for the injury done to this country.
A GROSS INSULT.
SIN the same note the attention Of
the Chilian government was called to
the offensive character of note ad-
dressed by Mr.. Malta, its minister Of
foreign affairs, to Mr.. Montt, its min
lister at this capital, on the nth ult
This dispatch was not officially COM
municateG to this government; but, as
Mr.. Montt was directed to translate it
and give it to the press of this coun-
try, it seemed to me that it could not
pass without official notice. 1t was
not only undiplomatic, but grossly in
sulting to our naval officers and to the
executive department, as 1t directly
imputed untruth and insincerity to the
reports of the naval officers and to
the official communications made by
the executive department to congress.
1t will be observed that l have noti.
fed the Chilian government that un-
less this note is at once withdrawn
and an apology as public as the Of
tense made, l will terminate diplo-
matte relations.
"l'he request for the recall of Mr..
Egan, upon the ground that he was
not persona grata, was unaccompanied
by any suggestion that could properly
be used in support of it, and l icfer
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 con
sent to consider such question until
it had first been settled whether oul
correspondence with Chill could be
conducted upon basis of mutual re,
spect.
MUST FIGHT FOR THE FLAG.
'In submitting these papers to con
gress for that grave and patriotic con
sideration which the questions involved