The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-31
rHE 1r1rrr Ar nxvlNl.
An UneGi craia . Neu-pipiepsasie vlsW e. CAPT.
" ntrr,eess rn,u-fou,

tho people OF this country, however It may DO
regarded by the SpaniaSds. According 10 the
dispatches from Madrid and Havana their au-
thoritics arc making tho best of It, and here at
Washington Mr.. do Lome would have us be-
liove that he considers her visit n welcome token
OF tho improved relations between the United
States and Spain. But however diplomatic
astuteness may sock to veil the true object Of
her visit, all the world knows that the Maine
was sont to Havana to insure the safety OF
American citizens and to prevent insult TO the
representative Of this country. The indignation
OF tho Spanish press sufficiently indicates their
recognition Of this fact.
During the last administration Consul-Gen-
eral Lee called upon Secretary Olney to send q
ship to Havana, but Mr.. Cleveland's theory was
tnat II was much better 70 risk insult TO our
representative and injury to American citizens
than to offend tho sensibilities Of Spain. Presi-
dent Mckinley has taken n different view. and
the presence of the Maine in the waters Of Hava-
ma Bay. and tho powerful feet within q few
hours call, is notice TO the Spanish authorities
that this country 10 both able and ready to en-
force respect to our representative and proteo-
ton to our ~citizens. A display of force may not
be agreeable to Gen. Blanco. but the recent riots
in Havana, the perpetrators in which woro ar
rested only to be released, gave abundant proof
that he was not able to protect Spanish subjects
who happened to differ from tho army on tho
subject Of autonomy. much less Americans WHIT
naturally sympathizo with the patriots Of tho
Cuban revolution.
Such q display 10 fully warranted by interna-
tional law and by precedents furnished by all
the great powers Of the world. 1t 10 the custom
OF every naval power to send war vessels to any
spot whore the lives. property. or interests Of
their citizens are believed to be involved. The
numerous revolutions in Central and South
America have furnished many instances Of this
sort, and the recent action Of the German Gov
eminent in reference to Hayti and China only
furnish rigorous exhibitions Of the practice.
In our own experience we have frequently
resorted to It. In 1852 Japan. having re-
fused to protect. against the natives. Ameri-
can citizens who had been shipwrecked on
her shores, the United States sent an i'm
posing naval force to that country, with
o notification that our Government would
insist upon the protection to which its citizens
were entitled by the law Of nations. This
demonstration had its effect, and We had no
more trouble on that score.
In 1854 some of our citizens were maltreated.
and our Minister to Nicaragua was insulted by
the inhabitants Of Greytown. Commander Hol-
Inns was ordered by Secretary Marcy to proceed
to that place and demand an apology and repara-
ton. These were not forthcoming, and Hollins
opened fire on the town and destroyed it
In 1855 the Government Of Paraguay had
arbitrarily seized and appropriated the property
of our citizens and had fired on one of our ships
engaged in surveying the Parana River. Con-
gress authorized President Buchanan to adopt
such measures and use such force as in his
Judgment may be necessary and advisable" The
President of Paraguay. Lopez. thought that as
Paraguay was far in tho interior and its CAPT.
tai. Asuncion. more than o thousand miles from
the s~eacoast. he could defy us with impunity.
But Buchanan fitted out an expedition Of nine
teen vessels, carrying 225 gums. which was
placed under mma Of Commodore hubrick,
accompanied by q Commissioner with orders to
demand and compel satisfaction. On arriving
at Montcvideo Shubrick left the rest Of his feet
there to await his orders, while he with tho
Commissioner proceeded up the La Plata,
Parana, and Paraguay rivers to Asuncion in
the Water Witch. There he found Lopez, who
promptly apologized, paid tho indemnity re-
quired. and entered into o satisfactory treaty Of
navigation and commerce. 1920
A more recent instance. in which we were
called upon to assert our determination to pro-
tect tho lives of our citizens, was the case of
the outrage %perpetrated upon the crew of tho
Baltimore by tho people of Valparaiso. At that
time the dominant faction In that city were feel.
ing toward the people Of tho United States
pretty much as tho Spaniards in Havana do
now. They were dissatisfied with the position
taken by our Government in regard to tho revo-
luton then pending in Chill. On Oct. 10. 1891.
the Baltimore then lying at Valparaiso. III Of
her crew went ashore on liberty. A few hours
after they landed they were attacked by
a mob of about 5000 Chilians. Eighteen Of
our sailors were stabbed or brutally beaten
and two or three received fatal injuries. The
Chilian authorities instituted a sham investiga-
ton. which failed to identify tho guilty parties.
and threw the blame of the affair on the sailors
of the Baltimore. When the findings of the
court were received by President Harrison he
promptly instructed our Minister in Chilli to
demand a suitable apology and adequate repara-
ton for the outrage. He also sent q special
message to Congress, Jan. rs. 1892, from which
I quote what follows:
The Baltimore was In the harbor Of Valparaiso by
virtue of that general invitation which nations arc
held to extend to the war vessels OF other powers
with which they have friendly relations. This In.
v~itation. I think, must be held ordinarily to embrace
the privilege Of such communication with the shore
as 10 reasonable. necessary. and proper for tho com.
fort and convenience of the Officers and men OF such
vessels. Capt, Schley testines that when his vessel
returned to Valparaiso, on Sept. IL. the city ofdcers,
as is customary. extended the Inequalities Of the city
to his officers and crew. 1t is not claimed that every
pvAooho& y Na "AASh esaAoa VI oAiSoE
OF such naval vessel visiting the shore may be in.
volved raises an international question; but I am
clearly of the opinion that where such sailors or
officers are assaulted by q resident populace. ami.
mated by hostility to the Government whose uniform
these sailors and Officers wear and in resentment OF
acts done by their Government. not by them.
their nation must take notice of the event as one in.
volying an infraction OF Its rights and dignity; not In
q secondary way, as where q citizen 10 injured and
presents his claim through his own Government, but
In q primary way, precisely as II its Minister or Con-
sui or the nag itself had been tho object Of tho same
character OF assault. The Officers and sailors Of the
Baltimore were in the hsrbor Of valparaiso under
the orders OF their Government, not by their own
choice. They were upon the shore by the implied In
~vitation of the Government OF Chilli and with the
approval OF their commanding ofncer; and Il does
not distinguish their case from that of q Consul that
his stay is more permanent or that he holds the ex.
press invitation of the local governments to justify
his longer residences Nor does II AFFECT the question
that the injury was the act of . mob. II there had
been no participation by the police or military in this
asuaI xuneE and No aaIan n ~ xhat. a. .-..-.