Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-02-04

crowd The character Of the wound as described
by one OF the surgeons Of the Baltimore clearly
supports his opinion that it was made by rife
ball, the orif1ce OF exit being much as an inch
or an inch and a quarter in width When shot
the poor fellow was unconscious and in the arms
Of a cOmrade who was endeavoring to carry him
to a neighboring drug store for treatment
The story Of the police that in coming up the
street they passed these men and left them be-
hind them is inconsistent with their own state
with their duty to protect them and is clearly
disproved In fact Riggin was not behind, but
in front Of the advancing force, and was not
standing in the crowd. but was unconscious and
supported in the arms Of johnson when he was
shot
The president in the concluding part Of
his message, after summarizing the
correspondence up to a certain point,
saws:
The communications of the Gillian govern
ment in relation to this cruel and disastrous at
tack upon our men, as viii appear from the cor
respondence, have not in any degree taken the
form Of a manly and satisfactory expression Of
regret, much less Of apology. The event was Of
80 serious character that II the in
juries suffered by our men had been
wholly the result OF accident
in a Gillian port the incident was grave enough
to have called for some public expression Of
sympathy and regret from the local authorities.
1t is not enough to say that the affair was la
preston if the beating and killing of
our men had been justihable. 1t is not enough
to say that the incident is regretted, coupled
with the statement that the affair was not Of an
unusual character in port where foreign sail
ors ara accustomed to meet It is not for gener-
Gus and sincere government to seek for words OF
similar equivocal meaning In which to
convey to a friendly power an apology for
offense so atrocious as thia In the case
of the assault by a mob in New Orleans
upon the Spanish consulate IN 1851, Mr..
Webster wrote to the Spanish minister,
Mr.. Calderon, that the acts complained OF were
a 'diSgraceful and fragrant breach OF duty and
propriety." and that his government regrets
them deeply Minister Caideron or his gov
eminent could possibly do;' that "these acts
have caused the President great pain and
is due to his majesty" He invited
the Spanish consul to return to his post, guar
anteeing protection, and offered to salute the
Spanish flag if the consul should come in a
Spanish vessel. Such treatment by the govern
ment Of Chill of this assault would have been
more creditable to the Gillian authorities; and
much less can hardly be satisfactory to gov
eminent that values its dignity and honor.
In note October q last, which appears
in the correspondence, after receiving the report
Of the board OF officers appointed by Capt.
Schley to investigate the affair, the Gillian
government was advised Of the aspect which it
then assumed and was called upon for any facts
in its possession that might tend to modify
the unfavorable impressions which our re-
ply had created 1t was 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 prOtracted through
period Of nearly three months. We might just
ly have complained of this unreasonable delay,
but in view of the fact that the government of
Chilli was still provisional, and, with DISPOSE
ton to be forbearing and hopeful OF a friendly
termination have awaited the report, which
has but recently been made.
On the 21st instant caused to be commune
Gated to the government of Chill by the Amer
lean minister at Santiago the conclusions Of
this government, after full consideration OF
all the correspondence and every suggestion af-
fectrg the matter, and these conclusions add
here. They were stated as follows:
First-That the assault is not relieved Of the
aspect which the early informa ton of the event
gave to it, the attack upon the uniform of the
United States navy having its motive in feel
ing OF hostility to this government and not in
any act of the sailors or Of any Of them
Secondhand the public authorities of VAL
paraiso f1agrantly failed in their duty to protect
our men and that some of the police and OF the
Gillian soldiers and sailors were themselves
guilty of unprovOked assaults upon our sailors
before and after arrest He (the president)
thinks the preponderance OF the evidence and
the inherent probabilities lead to the conclusion
that Riggin was killed by the police or soldiers.
Third-That he (the presldenD Is therefore
compelled to bring the case back to the position
taken by this government in the note of Mr..
q
suitable apology and for some adequate repara-
ton for the injury done to this government.
In the same note the attention Of the Gillian
government was called to the offensive char
acter of note addressed by Mr.. Malta, its
minister Of foreign affairs, to Mr. Montt it's
minister at this capital, the 18th ult The
dispatch was not officially communicated to this
government, but as Mr.. Montt was directed to
translate and give it to the president of this
country, it seemed to me that it could not
pass without official notice 1t was not
only undiplOmatic, but grossly insulting to
our naval officers and to the executive depart
ment, as it directly imputed untruth and in
sincerity as to reports to the naval officers and
the official communications made by the execu-
tive department to congress. 1t will be OBJ
served that have notified the Gillian govern
ment that unless this note is at once withdrawn
and apology public as the ofense made, will
terminate diplomatic relations
The request of the recall of Mr.. Egan upon
the ground that he was non persona grata was
anaccompanied by any suggestion that could
properly be used in support OF it, and 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, I
could not consent to consider such.:'a question
until it had been settled whether our correspond
ence with Chill could be conducted upon basis
of mutual respect.
Submitting these papers to congress for tina.
grave and patriotic consideration which the
question involved demands, desire to say that
I am Of the opinion that the demands made Of
Chilli by this government should be adhered to
and enforced If the dignity, as well the
prestige and influence Of the United States, are
not to be wholly sacrificed, we must protect
those who, in foreign ports, display the flag
or wear the colors Of this government, against
insult, brutality and death, inflicted in resent
ment OF the acts OF their government and not
for anv fault of their own 1t has been my de-
sire in every way to cultivate friend
ly and intimate relations with the
governments OF this hemisphere. We
do not covet their territory;
desire their peace and prosperity. We look for
no advantage in our relations with them, except
the increased exchanges Of commerce upon a
basis Of mutual benefit We regret every civil
contest that disturbs their peace and
paralyzeS their development and are always
ready to give our good offices for the
restoration of peace. 1t must, however, be I'M
derstood that this government, while exercising
the utmost forbearance towards weaker powers,
will extend its strong and adequate protection
to its citizens to its officers and to its humblest
sailor, when made the victims Of wantonness
and cruelty in resentment, not OF their personal
conduct, but of the official acts OF their govern
ment.
Upon information received that Patrick
Shields, an Irishman and probably a British
subject, but at the time fireman of the
American steamer Keweena, in the harbor OF
Valparaiso for repairs, had been subjected to
personal injuries in that city largely by the
police, directed the encouragement to cause
the evidence of the officers and crew Of that
vessel to be taken upon it's arrival in San Fran
cisco: and that testimony is herewith trans
mitted The brutality and even savagery Of the
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