The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-01-28
IT'S NOW TIME TO ACT.
PUBLIC OPINION in THE CHILL
MATTER.
Efainc's Sudden Illness Prevented Deci-
sive Action Being Taken In the Cabinet
Meeting the Other Hay-England as q
Mediator.
Clill'S Insulting Attitude.


The sudden illness of Secretary Blaine
at the Cabinet meeting the other day
prevented action being taken at that
time with reference TO Chili's insOlent
and aggressive attitude. 1t is now the
prevailing opinion that to allow any fur
ther delay pending settlement will only
be TO give Chilli the very opportr nifty it
wants in strengthening its resources,
and will further induce the impression
which the Chilians already have that the
United States either is not ready or is
averse to war. It is intimated in
reports from Washington that Great
Britain is urging Chilli to accept
its Offices as a mediator in the
matter. Even if it should, which is by no
means certain, it must be remembered
that there is another party to such me-
diatiOn whose consent must be obtained.
II is questionable whether such a media
ton would be acceptabl" to the United
States. Insults to the flag and seamen
of u country have not been considered
as subjects for arbitration hy any ma
ton, least of all by Great Britain itself,
which has been in the habit of demand
ing instant repara,ion whenever its sail
ors have been assaulted and enforcing it
at the muzzlcs of its guns. But even if
as well be understood in advance that
this country will never be satisfied with
any settlement that does not include an
apology and rrparat:on for the Baltimore
affair as well as the complete withdrawal
of the offensive Malta letter.
1t is doubtful whether any other ma
ton, certainly not Great Britain, would
have borne the continuous insolencc and
insults of Chill with the patience this
country has displayed. From the time
Of the success of the Congressional party
| over the Baimacedists until now the
course of Chilli has been eXasperating.
| 1t h, gan with the Malta letter, which
substantially gave the lie to the Presi-
dent and Secretary of the Navy in reply
TO their protests against the Baltimore
outrage. That letter has not yet been
! disayowcd on the line $ which this coun-
/ try has demanded. Second, no apology
has been made and no reparation Offer
| cd for the outrageous assault upon
| the sailors of the Baltimore, although it
! has been shown it was without j'istiiica-
! tion. and that the Chiian authorities
! failed to 90 their duty in the premises.
| The Gillian courts have aisolved their
! police from any responsibility, and will
not go farther than punishing three OF
| the brutal assailants with short terms Of
| imprisonment. Third, the Chilian Gov
| ernment has protested in an offensive
manner, which in itself was another in
suit, because Commander Evans saluted
| the Spanish Minister who escorted refu-
gees to his vessel. though such ie made
| his duty 10y the naval regulations,
which he is bound to respect upon
penalty Of being court martialed.
Fourth, after having guaranteed
safe conduct t. the refugees on
their way to a neutral port the Chilian
Government withdrew that guaranty
and declared that they should be con.
sidered as Liable TO arrest at any por1
where they might land or where the YES
sci carrying them might touch. Fifth
not content with assaulting the sailors
/ of the Baltimore, the mob has STONED
the sailors of the Yorktown. and woult
undoubtedly have carried matters still
further had not the plucky commander
of the Yorktown notified the authorities
he would protect his men himself il they
failed to do it. ChiliGn hatred Of this
country has been manifested almos
continuously since the present govern
ment came into power. 1t has shielded
its officials against all our complaints
1t has treated all our communication:
with studied contempt. 1t has replie'
to them in an offensive manner, adding
insult to insult. 1t has purposely de
layed any settlement, hoping thereby t
gain time and put itself in readiness
for trouble, or expecting that foreisl
nations would intervene to save thei
own interests from prejudice.
Diplomacy has been exhausted. Th
Gillian case has not advanced one viii
4
negotiations are useless. 1t is no,
time to do something. Talking an
negotiating with the bump!ious Chiliar
! ara of no furt har I1Cp