Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-27
England and the Chilean Affair,

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
have been more than surprised that SO far
We have not been called upon by the English
government to apologize in this Chilean bust
ness. To judge from the tenor. if correctly
cabled, OF the English press, it would seem that
we aye all wrong. and that Chile, backed by the
secret influences of England, is all right.
Looking over historical events of q similar
character where England was concerned. it
strikes the reader o. said history very funny
to see England posing as a protector OF weaker
powers, when the facts are that in every in
stance where her dignity has been offended or
her power doubted she has not tenlporized
long, but used her guns with effect and III this
connection 1t might as well be said that pos
slb.y this line of conduct mas given her
the reputation and conferred upon her
hey worldwide renowu. for | cam
did!y think that there are times in the history
OF nations as wei! us individuals when the wish
for better things ceases to lie as effective as
blow from the shoulder. 1 remember dis
t:nctly case In point some eighteen Years
age An American citizen went to Pcru under
safe conduct from this government. lie was a
merchant trying to establish himself in Peru in
the jewe!ry business. He was put in charge OF
the chief Of police o: the city To which he was
accredited i'll Peru. and that yiriuous Official
acted AIS part most admirably. Tor lie not only
robbed the person who had been placed in his
our State Department was called to that fact
and up TO the present moment not one single
thing has been done. The ASSASSIN WIS lit Yer
punshed: the family of the victim, who re side in
New York city, became Impoverished and never
received one cent Of PREPARATION. the excuse
being made at the time by our State Depart
ment that nothing was to be done with an ire
sponsibfe South American republic. and yet
at that very time an English merchant had
been assaulted and roughly treated in Pcru.and
within forty-ci2ht hours British gun boat de-
manded reparatlOn and indemnity and got it,
is 1t wonder that We present such a miserable
Spectacle before the world, especially in that
part OF the world where brute force causes re-
spec?
The misfortune in this whole Chilean bust
ness Is that there has been q fear on the part of
the administration that any summary action
| might be construed into a desire OF personal ag-
grandisement, while on the other hand quite a
number OF partisans look upon the movement
AS scheme ON the part Of the administration
to perpetuate itself In power: when the fact is
that on question of this character there
should only be American citizens, no matter
who is hurt or benefited, as long the nation 3
honor and dignity are upheld.
There Is another important question con-
nected with this matter, ard that is The protec-
ton We are bound TO give as a nation to those
who have assimiiated themselves with our
country and become an integral part thereof
IL the minister Ill Chile were AIRY one else bat a
uatura.ized freshman the condition would be
different. but the very fac. that we prove to
the world that We know no difference here. that
merit and capacity only tell. has wounded the
aristocralic and lordiy sentiments OF European
governments, and this very feeling should
stimulate lis the more il up!iold:ns the legal
anu jnstihable acts of our Representatives
abroad. We are not upholding dir. Egan AS an
lrisAlnau, but the minister OF the United
States, who. clothed with all the powers tina t
his government can confer. is entitled to fair
treatment. S. WOLF.
January q, 1892.