People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1893 — THE FLAG INSULTED. [ARTICLE]

THE FLAG INSULTED.

A ParuriM Mob Saek* an American Consulate aod Shoot* the Agent—Detail* of the Affair Are Meager—An Explanation and an Apology to Be Demanded. Washington, April 7.—lt was Chili with whom Uncle Sam had trouble in South America daring the last administration. It may be it* neighbor, Peru, during this. It appears that th* United States consulate at one of the Peruvian ports has been sacked by * mob, with apparent police sanction. The officer acting as consular agent for the United States was fired upon and wounded in the foot. The news comes in a brief telegram through the United States minister to Peru. He omitted such essential details as the name of the place and the name of the wounded officer, or they were dropped from his dispatch in the telegraphic transmission. His telegram is as follows: •‘Lima, April s.—Gresham, Washington: At (place omitted) mob attacked the masonic lodge, sacked the building and burned the fixtures In the street. Incidentally the United States consulate was Invaded, the furnishings destroyed and the acting consulate agent shot In the foot. The archives were saved intact. A squad of Peruvian police looked on while the mob performed its work without interference. The mall brings the particulars. Hicks.” Secretary Gresham conferred with the president on the subject and sent the following telegram to the minister: “Department or State, Washington, April 6, 1893.—Hicks, Minister, Lima: Protest against the failure of the authorities to afford protection to the consulate; and if the facts are well established ask an expression of regret, prompt prosecution of the guilty parties and reparation for the injury to American property or person. Gresham.” There is but one consulate in Peru, that at Callao. In this position Mr. Aquilla J. Daugherty, of Illinois, appointed during Mr. Harrison’s administration, stands on the record as consul. There are under him seven consular agencies, the occupants of which positions are doubtless mostly merchants of the country, who are paid by fees, and those fees seem to be very small, inasmuch as only two make any returns at all to the department of fees collected and those returns are under 825 a year. These consular agents are as follows: Cerro de Pasco, M. C. McNulty; Chiclayo, Alfred Sols; Mollendo, William R. Griffith; Paita, John F. Hopkins, Jr.; Piura, Emilio Clark; Truxillo, Edward Gottfried; Tumbez, William Baldini.

Whether the outrage complained of occurred at one of these smaller places or at Callao no one at the department can determine from the telegram; but inasmuch as it comes from Lima the impression prevails that the scene of the outrage was one of the interior points. <’his impression is further strengthened by the knowledge of the department that in many cases where the natives assault the sub-consulate the trouble is due not to any antagonism to the country represented but to prejudice and illfeeling against the representative personally. This is not an uncommon occurrence in South America or in other parts of the world where the acts of a mercantile consular agent are resented by the people, who would respect the acts of a citizen of the United States duly appointed to a full consular position. It is believed that the matter will be satisfactorily explained in a short time. Secretary Gresham’s action in the matter was marked by promptness and caution. The demands are predicated on a corroboration of the facta, as stated briefly by the minister.