Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-01-27
Presidents Message about Chill

A short time since the president sent
an ultimatum to the CHILEAN authorities
demanding the withdrawal of the Mat
ia note that was considered offensive,
an apology, and reparation, and with
out waiting to get a reply, the Presi-
dent ON Monday sent to Congress his
message and accompanying correspon-
dence. His message concludes as fol-
lows -
'It will be observed that I have mott
| fed the CHILEAN Government that I'M
less this note (the Malta note) is at once
withdrawn and give an apology as pub
lie as the offence made will terminate
the diplomatic relations. The 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 | infer that the request is
based upon the official acts of Mr.
Egan, which have received the approx
al of this Government But, however
that may be, | could not consent to
consider such a question until it had
first been settled whether our CORES
pondence with Chill would be conduct
ed upon basis of mutual respect.
In submitting these papers to Con-
gress for that grave and patriotic con-
sideration which the questions involv-
ed demand, desire to say that am of
the opinion that the demands made of
Chill by this Government should be
adhered to and enforced, if the dignity
as well as the prestige and influence of
the United States are not to be wholly
OF hoe uI,<>
in foreign ports display the flag or wear
the colors of this Government against
insult, brutality and death inflicted in
the resentment of the acts of their
Government, and not for any fault of
their own. 1t has been my desire in
every way to cultivate friendly and in
innate relations with all the govern
ments of this Hemisphere. We do not
covet their territory. We desire their
peace and prosperity. We look for no
advantage in our relations with them,
except increased exchanges of COM
MERGE upon the basis of mutual bene-
fit. 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 under
stood that this Government, while ex-
ercising the utmost forbearance to-
wards weaker powers, will extend it's
strong and adequate protection to its
citizens, to it's officers, and to it's hum
blest sailor, when made victims of wan
tonness and cruelty in resentment, not
of their personal misconduct, but of
official acts of their Government. Upon
information received that Patrick
Shields, an Irishman, and probably
British subject, but at the time a fire
man of the American steamer Kaewe-e
nav, in the harbor of Valparaiso for
repairs, had been subjected to personal
police-I directed the Attorney Gener-
al to cause the evidence of the officers
and crew of that vessel to be taken up
on it's arrival in San Francisco; and
that testimony is also herewith trans
mitted. The brutality and even saw
agery of the treatment of this poor man
by the CHILEAN police would be incred-
IDLE if the evidence of Shields was not
supported by the other direct testi-
mony and by the distressing condition
of the man himself when he was final
ly able to reach his vessel. The cap
tain of the vessel says: HE came back
wreck; black from his neck to his
hips from beating, weak and stupid and
is still in kind of paralyzed condition,
and has never been able to do duty
since.n
The claim for reparation has been
made in behalf of this man, for while
he was not a citizen of the United
States, the doctrine long held by the
United States, as expressed in the con-
sular regulations, is: ''The principles
which are maintained by this Govern
ment in regard to protection, as dis
tinguished from relief, of seamen, are
well settled. 1t is held that the cir
cumstance that the vessel is American
is evidence that the seamen on board
are such, and in every regularly doc
umented merchant vessel the crew will
find their protection in the flag that
covers them"
I have as yet received no reply to our
note of the 21st instant, but, in my
opinion, ought not to delay longer to
bring these matters to the attention of
Congress for such action as may be
deemed appropriate.
(Signed.) BENZ. HARRISON,
Executive Mansion, Jan'y %, 1892.