The record-union., 1892-01-27
Weather Forecast.
THE
THE LATEST PHASE OF THE
CHILEAN MATTER.

+
considerations beneath party ambitions,
and that any communication of the Adj
ministration on the subject of the strained
relations between Chile and the United
States would be treated adversely by the
Presidents political adversaries. This
has proved to be true so far as the Demo-
cratic organ at San Francisco is con-
cerned. It industriously grinds to the
tune the English press has pitched.
To the credit of leading Democrats at
the East, however, it is noted that most
Gratis second. Some Republicans have,
however, harnessed their chariots to their
political enemies chargers and taken oc-
casion to deprecate the vigor OF the re-
cent message.
While political division of sentiment
may be said to enshrine the safety of re-
publican institutions, the citizen who is
not the slave Of partisanship viii be una
bic to see in the demands of the National
Executive any unreasonableness. Chile
is asked to do nothing that the United
States has not done and repeatedly ex-
pressed its willingness to do under SINH
lar circumstances. The Nation and it's
citizens are held in such low esteem
abroad that there is absolute necessity, if
we are to take rank above poltroonery, to
assert our rights and back the declara-
ton with threats to enforce them.
American citizens in foreign lands do
not find their citizenship respected by
even the petty officials of third rate pow
ers; American citizens are driven to seek
British protection in foreign ports; Amer
lean citizens receive little or no aid in
assertion of their rights from our diplo-
matte or consular agencies; American
residents abroad find themselves com
PEELED to ignore the visits of Americans
and TO decline to receive them in their
homes in order to escape local boycotting;
trade is driven from us into English,
German and French channels because. for
one thing, of social prejudices, and the
inability we have manifested to make
commerce follow the flag; common court
estes are refused our fleet officers in
Chilean waters because their Government
has maintained strict neutrality in do
mestic conflict in the South American
republic; our sailors are beaten and killed
by unrestrained mobs because they wear
the uniform Of their country, and not be-
cause Of any personal misconduct; regret
that such indignity and cruelty should be
visited upon our men is not commune
Gated to our Government in the ordinary
or in prompt manner, but is confined to
the expression of belief that it is enter
tanned, voiced by Chile's representative
at Washington, coupled with statement
that the cause of the outrage Chile re-
fused to consider herself blamable or ac-
countable for; respectful demands for
apology and reparation are replied to
with acrimony and insult, and a secret
inquisition finds no murder done and no
crime worthy more than the trifing pun
ishment we inflict for minor offenses.
We submit that there was nothing left
for the United States Government to do
but to present its ultimatum and demand
apology and reparation, coupled with the
threat Of war. What less the partisan
press would have we are at loss to con-
lecture. President Harrison has done
simple duty, that which any man at all
fit to fill the office should have done. 1t
is neither greatly to his credit nor at all
to his discredit. 1t is performance he
could not have neglected without max
ing the United States laughing stock.
The news now is that Chile will with
draw and disavow the insulting express
sions gifts late Minister Malta; that it will
withdraw its threat to tender our Minister
his erequdtey; that it will submit the in
cident of the Baltimore beatings and
murders to arbitration. Possibly this
latter includes the questions of response
bility and PREPARATION. The withdrawal
of Matta's offensive note and expression
that its issuance was terror of judg-
ment," by great strain of magnanimity
may be tortured into an apology, though
we confess that terror of Judgment APP
pears to us to reach no further than the
bounds of policy"
What remains, therefore, is the cues
ton of arbitration. Just what there is to
arbitrate we fail to appreciate. Our
sailors were beaten and killed and our
officers and flag insuIted in neutral
port, the Government of which has by
treaty pledged itself to afford them the
same protection it gives to its own citi-
zens, and to command for our uniform
and flag the respect due to friendly
power. This has not been done, and all
that remains is for Chile to pay a reason
able sum to the families of the dead.
salve the wounds of the living with
money reparation, and do as the United
States voluntarily offered to do in behalf
of an outraged Spanish Consul-salute
the flag.
Chile should not send to court of arbi-
tration the woes of mourners fort the dead;
the United States should not say to its
blue-jackets: SEQ abroad to maintain the
honor of your country's flag, but if you
take harm we will arbitrate the question
whether or not you shall be recon-
pensed." By such a policy we viii not
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