Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1891-11-07 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

QUARREL IN THE NEW WORLD. MIRE is little risk of war between the United States and Chili. Neither the naval nor the military resources of the States qualify her for such an enterprise. There is at this moment no American army or navy worth mentioning. In an emergency the United States could, of course, manufacture a navy, as they did during the Civil War; but this would take time, and their position meanwhile would be rather foolish. The Chilians, on the other hand, though they have a naval armament with which they might make a show of bombarding some American ports, are quite unable to make anything like a rea: stand against a foe who would become extremely formidable by degrees. It may be taken for granted, therefore, that some pacific way will be found out of the present imbroglio. At the same time it must be plain to reasonaldo Americans that their Government does not exactly shine in its relations with Chili. According to the best testimony that can be obtained, the late President Balmaceda was a callous ruffian. Yet there is only too ninth evidence to sustain the theory that his Calke was supported by Mr. Blaine, Mr. Egan, and the Anerican admiral in Chilian waters. Mr. son, it is asserted, had a lucrative contiaet for supplying Balinaceda's troops with stores, and Mr. Egan himself throughout the f,trovgle in Chili showed a strong partiality tovt ards the Dictator. Worse even than this, tl:e American admiral is accused of having given intelligence to Balmaceda of the 1 (moments and numbers of the Congressional forces. This statement, it may be hoped, is uniounded ; but there is enough evidence to *thew that the attitude of the American Government and its representaives was unfriendly to the popular party in Chili, and that the overthrow of Balmaceda was very unwelcome and embarrassing to Mr. Egan. In these circumstances it is not surprising that the anti-American feeling in Chili should be very bitter. This could not justify the outrages which are said to have been committed on American sailors, and if the report which the commander of the United States warship Baltimore has made to his Government is accurate, the Chilians will have to make some reparation. According to this story, American sailors were set upon in the street and barbarously murdered. The incident was not a drunken brawl but a deliberate attack on unsuspecting and inoffensive men who trusted to the hospitality of a friendly port. If this should be proved, It will be impossible for the Chilian Government to refuse redress. On the other hand, the Americans will be expected to institute a rigid inquiry into the conduct of Mr. Egan and Admiral Brown, They will have to find out whether it is true that the son of the United States Minister at Santiago actually held a military contract for Balmaceda during the civil war. If that accusation is made good, then it will bo necessary to revise the conditions which are attached to the office of American Minister in a foreign capital. Jobbing is bad enough in the United States, but the Americans had better restrict it to home consumption instead of allowing it to be exported. What Mr. Egan did probably had the full countenance of Mr. Blame, who is likely to be the Republican candidate for the Presidency next year. Mr. Blaine has brought a good deal of discredit on his country in the course of his career, and it will be rather incongruous for his countrymen to reward him with the highest office in the Union.