St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-01-28
tween the two countries up to a
| certain point. the president SAYS:

certain point, the president says:
THE communications of the CHILEAN
government in relation to this cruel and
disastrous attack upon our men, as will
appear from the correspondence, have
not in any degree taken the form of a
manly and satisfactory expression of
regret, much less of apology. The event
was of so serious a character that if the
injuries suffered by our men had been
wholly the result of an accident in a
CHILEAN port, the incident was grave
enough to have called for some public ex-
preston of sympathy and regret from
the local authorities. tits not enough
to say that the affair was lamentable,
for humanity would require that express
sion, even if the beating and killing of
our men had been justihable. 1t is not
enough to say that the incident is regret
ted, coupled with the statement that the
affair was not of an unusual character in
ports where foreign sailors are accustom-
ed to meet. 1t is not for a generous and
sincere government to seek for words of
small or e%quivocal meaning IN which to
convey to a friendly power an apology
for an offence so atrOc1OuS as this
The Gillian government were, on
the 21st inst, notified of the con-
illusions Of this government, after a
full consideration Of. all the evidence
and of every suggestion affecting the
matter; land to these conclusions,"
says the president, II adhere" They
were as follows:
"First-That the assault is not relieved
ofthe aspect which the early information
of the event gave to it, viz: That Of an
atfarE 1nnn the uniform of the limited
States navy, having its origin and
motive in a feeling of hostility to this
government, and not in any act OF the
sailors or of any of them.
Second-That the public authorities of
Valparaiso f%lagrantly failed in their duty
to protect our men, and that some OF the
police and of the CHILEAN soldiers and
sailors were themselves guilty of un-
provoked assaults upon our a1lor be-
fore and after arrest. He (the president)
thinks the preponderance of the evidence
and the inherent probabilities lead to
the conclusion that Riggin was killed by
the police OF soldiers.
Third-that he 1.-THE pres1dent) is there
fore compelled to bring the case back to
the position taken by this government
in the note of Mr.. Wharton of Oct. %
last and to ask for a suitable apology
and for some adequate reparation for
the injury done to this government"
The attention of Chill was also
called to a very offensive and insult
ing dispatch sent by her minister of
foreign affairs, rejecting upon our
naval officers and our executive de-
partment, and the president holds
that this should not pass unnoticed
by congress. He counsels calnness,
but at the same time says:
I'm submitting these papers t con-
gress for that grave and patriotic consid-
Grafton which the questions involved de-
mand, l desire to say hat l am of the
opinion thai 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 sacrificed we
must protect those who in foreign ports
display the flag or wear the colors of
this government against insult, brutal
ity and death, inflicted in resentment of
the acts of their government, and O
for any fault of their own. 1t has been
my desire in every way to cultivate
friendly and intimate relations with the
government of this hemisphere"