The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-01-27
MUST APOLOGIZE.
President HaTison's Message to
Congress Regarding Chill
can Affairs,
Mr.. EGANS S COURSE UPHELD
Matta's Insulting Note Must be Disa-
vowed or Diplomatic Relations
Will Cease.
PREPARATION DEMANDED


Baltlmore-The Dignity of the United
States Must Not be Lowered or Its Flag
Insulted.
WASHINGTON, Jan 26.-The follow.
ing is President Harrison's message on
the Chilean situation sent to congress
yesterday;
To the senate and house OF representatives;
In my annual message, delivered TO congress
at the beginning OF the present session, after
brief statement Of the facts then in the posses
sion Of this government touching the assault in
the streets Of Valparaiso, Chile, upon the sail
ors Of the United States steamship Baltimore
on the evening OF the 10Th of October last said:
"This government Is now awaiting the result OF
an investigation which has been conducted by
the criminal court OF Valparaiso. 1t is reported
unoficially that the investigation is about com
pleted and II is expected that the result will
soon be communicated TO this government, 10.
gether with some adequate and satisfactory re-
sponse TO the note by which the attention Of
Chile was called TO this incident. II these Just
expectations should be disappointed or further
needless delay intervene, will by special mes.
sage bring this matter again 10 the attention OF
congress for such action as may be necessary"
In my opinion the time has now come when /
should lay before the congress and the country
the correspondence between this government
and the government OF Chile from the time OF
the breaking out OF the revolution against Bal
maceda together with all other facts In the pos.
session Of the executive department relating TO
this matter, The diplomatic correspondence Is
herewith transmitted, together with some COR
respondenCe between the naval officers for the
time In command In Chilean waters and the sec.
retary OF the navy and, also the evidence taken
at the Mare Island navy yard since the arrival
OF the Baltimore at San Francisco. do not
deem IL necessary In this communication 10 at
tempt any full analysis OF the correspondence
or OF the evidence A brief restatement OF the
international questions involved and OF the rea.
sons why the resDonses OF the Chilean govern
4 thai deem
Sary.
II may be well. at the outset, TO say that what.
ever may have been said In this country or In
Chile in criticism OF Mr.. Egan, our minister at
Santiago, the true history OF this exciting period
In Chilean AFFAIRS from the outbreak OF the rev.
loution until this time, discloses no act on the
part OF Mr.. Egan unworthy OF his position or
that could Justly be the occasion OF serious an.
imadverson or criticism. He has think. on
the whole borne himself In very trying circum-
stances with dignity, discretion and courage,
and has conducted the correspondence with
ability, courtesy and fairness.
II Is worth while also ut the beginning TO say
that the right OF Mr. Egan 70 give shelter In the
legation 20 certain adherents OF the Balmaceda
government who applied TO him for asylum has
not been denied by the Chilean authorities. nor
has any demand been made for the surrender OF
these refugees. That there was urgent need OF
asylum Is shown by MT Egan's note OF August
70, 1891, describing tho disorders that prevailed
in Santiago and by the evidence OF Capt Schley
as 70 the pillage and violence that prevailed at
ever, that the request OF Mr.. Egan for q safe
conduct from the country, In behalf OF these
refugees, was denied. The precedents cited by
him In the correspondence, particularly the case
~ the revolution In Peru In 1890 did not leave
the Chilean government In q position 70 deny
me right OF asylum 10 political refugees and
seemed very clearly to support Mr. Egan's con-
tcution that safe conduct 20 neutral territory
was necessary and acknowledged incident OF
the asylum. These refugees have very recently,
without formal safe conduct but by the acquies.
cence OF the Chilean authorities, been placed on
board tine yorktown aud are now being cor
veyed 20 Callao Peru. This incident might be
considered wholly closed. but for the disrespect
manifested toward this government by the close
md offensive police surveillance Of the legation
premises, which was maintained during most Of
the period Of the stay OF the refugees therein.
After the date OF my annual message and up 10
the time OF the transfer OF the refugees 10 the
Yorktown, the legation promises seem 70 have
been surrounded by police, In uniform and police
agents or detectives, In citizens dress,
who extensively scrutinized persons enter
ing or leaving the legation and, on one or more
occasions, arrested members OF the minister's
family. Commander Evans who by my direc-
tion recently visited Mr.. Egun ut Santiago in
his telegram 10 the navy department, described
the legation as - veritable prison." and states
that the police agents or detectives were, after
his arrival withdrawn during his stay II ap-
pears further, from the note OF Mr.. Egan OF Nov
~, 1891 that on one occasion at least these police
agents whom he declares TO be known to him.
invaded the legation premises, pounding upon
the windows and using insulting and threaten
fhis breach Of the right Of a min.
ister 20 freedom from police espionage
md restraint seems 10 have been so
nagrant that the Argentine minister, who was
dean OF the diplomatic cJsps, having observedtt,
felt called upon 10 protest against II 10 the
Chilean minister OF forei'l . affairs. The Chilean
nuthc rtIes have, AZ will ne observed from the
correspondence, charged he refugees and the In
mates Of the legation WITH insulting the police
but Il seems 10 be- incr '1lble that men whose
lives were In jeopardy, ali whose safety could
only be secured by retirement and quietness
rhould have sought 10 provoke u collision which
could only end In their destruction, or 10 agra
vate their condition by intensifying popular
feeling that. at one time, 80 threatened the lega
tomas 10 require Mr. Egan to appeal to the
minister OF foreign AFFAIRS.
But the most serious incident disclosed by the
correspondence Is that OF the attack upon ths
GATORS Of the Baltimore In the streets OF Val
1araiso on the 10Th Of October last In my IN
nual message. speaking upon the Information
then In nv 1psScs,lon. said: 80 far as have
yet been able 10 learn. no other explanation OF
this bloody work has been suggested than thai
" had its origin In hostility 10 these men as
hailors OF the United States, wearing the uni
form OF their government, and not In any indl
yidual act or personal animosty.'
We have now received from the Chilean gov
nrnment an abstract OF the conclusions OF the
fiscal general upon the testimony taken by the
Judge OF crimes In an investigation which was
made 10 extend over nearly three months.
very much regret 10 be compelled 70 say thai
this report does not enable me 70 modify tho
conclusion announced In my annual message. ]
Rm still OF the opinion that our sailors were as
tlulted, beaten, stabbed and killed, for what
the government OF the United States had done
or was charged with having done, by Its civil
osficers and naval commanders. II that be the
true aspect OF the case the injury was 10 the
rovernment OF the United States, not TO those
poor sailors who were assaulted In manner so
brutal and 40 cowardly.
Before attempting TO give an outline OF the
farta titaou which thla ConciugiOn reata L thinL
it right 70 say word OF two upon the legal as
pect OF the case. The Baltimore was In the har
bor of Valparaiso by virtue OF that general invi
tstion which nations are held 10 extend TO the
war vessels OF other powers with which they
have friendly relations. This invitation.
.hink, must be held ordinarily 10 embrace the
privilege OF such communication with the shore
g Is os soS e@d o pceE G
and men OF such vessel. Captain Schley
tcstifes that when his vessel returned
20 Valparaiso on september II the city
hospitalities Of the city 10 hts 01icers and crew
ri Is not claimed that every personal collisiol
or injury IN which q sailor or officer Of such
naval vessel visiting the shore may be involved
raises an International question: but am clear
ly OF the opinion that where such sailors or ON
ccrs are assaulted by a resident populace ant
animated BY hostility 70 the government who's,
uniform these aailors and officers. wear aud II
resentInent Of acts done by their government
not by them, this nation must take notice o
de event as one Involving IN infractioi
ri It's rights and dignity; not IN Z
secondary way, as where citizen II In
1nred and presents his claim through his owl
government, but In primary way precisely
ifits minister or consul or tho nag itself hN
boon the object OF the same character OF as
aault The oficers and sailors OF the Batlmor'
were in the harbor OF Valparaiso under the or
dors OF their government not by their owl
choice. they wore upon the shore BY the i'm
rlled invitation OF the government OF Chile Anc
Ia IIA a. nj