Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1891 — DOES IT MEAN TROUBLE? [ARTICLE]

DOES IT MEAN TROUBLE?

Chili’s Unsatisiactory Answer May Cause War. Mach Ado Created by the Chilian Reply— What Naval Officers Say and Think of the Affislr. The President and members of the Cabinet were in secret consultation for several hours on the 29th over a cipher dispatch from Minister Egan, in which he gave the reply of the Chilian government to the of October 23, asking reparation for the recent murderof American sailors in the streets of Valparaiso. Late on the night of the 29th a translation of Minister Egan’s dispatch was made public. It is as follows: The Chilian Minister of Foreign Affairs replied that the government of the United States formulates demands and advances threats that.without being cast back With acrimony, are not acceptable, nor could they be accepted in the present case, or in any other of like nature. He does not doubtthe sincerity, rectitude or expertness of investigation on board the Baltimore, but will recognize only the jurisdiction and authority of his own country to judge and punish the guilty in Chilian territory. He says the administrative and judicial authorities have been investigatring affairs; that judicial investigation tin der Chiliaulaw is secret, and the time has not arrived to know tho result. When that time does arrive he will communicate the result, although he does.uot recognize any other authority competent ta judge criminal cases than that established by the Chilian people. Until the time arrives to disclose the result of the investigation he can not admit that the disorders in Valparaiso or the silence of his department should appear as an expression of unfriendliness toward the government of the United States which might put in peril the friendly relations between the two countries. According to such information as can be obtained the course urged by the more moderate members of the Cabinet was to Take no decisive action until the permanent goverment which has just been chosen in Chili shall take the place of the present provisional government. The Cabinet meeting last week and the meeting held since, at which the subject has been discussed, decided that Chili should be allowed a reasonable time to investigate the bloody work in the streets of Valparaiso and tender reparation for it. If the demand is not promptly met by a suitabl o apology, the punishment of the criminals and an indemnity in money, American vessels will begin to concentrate on the Chilian coast and every preparation made for the bombardment of Valparaiso, if such a course be deemed necessary. The President and Secretary Blaine are very much in earnest in the feeling that we should allow no trifling in so serious a matter, and that we should not allow it to appear that we are indifferent to, the sufferings which have been inflicted on the families of our sailors by their causeless murder,.,nor to the dignity of dur uniform by the outrage put uppn it. The Chilians believe that the English would come to their assistance in order to protect the hitrate beds, in which English capital I s ■heavily, invested. They aginc that, the openlng of Aiiferlcan guns on the defenses of Valparaiso would be. the signal for counter fire from English ironclads.

Naval officers are confident that the dispute with Chill can only be settled by a display of force by this government. The talk about available vessels and the possibility of assembling a sufficient fleet before. Valparaiso to compel Chilian respect is animated among naval meh, and officers are beginning to think of active duty on board ship Secretary Tracy will, no doubt, in a few days, if the dispatches from Chili are not more courteous and reassnrlng. send the Chicago and the Nestatk after the Yorktown and the Boston, which have started for Valparaiso, and later on will support the vessels already under orders for Chili by others, including, if necessary, the ships of the North Atlantic squadron, now almost ready to sail. Admiral Gherhardi has unofficially suggested to the Navy Department thathe be ordered to sail for Valparaiso at once with the Philadelphia and Concord. It seems probable that his suggestion will be acted upon, though no orders have yet been issued. But the presence of the U. S. fleet would probably bring to Valparaiso a large fleet of British war vessels*. British interests in Chili are large, and it is assumed that any demonstration by th 0 United States would be watched with concern by the British fleet, and that if a determination to shell the city was' reached by this Government, the lives and property of the subjects of Great Britain would have to be considered. The suggestion of British intervention is not likely, however to deter the United States from following a course that will compell respect for our flag, and an expression of respect for taking the lives of menwearing the uniform of the United States. If Great Britain is influential in Chili, it is believed that its power could be exercised beneficially to btflng the Chilian authorities to their senses. The Government can not take any immediate action at Valparaiso to'enforce its demand. The Baltimore alone would not be equal to the task of compelling Chili to make a speedy and satisfactory answer. Several weeks must pass before the fleet can be greatly increased. The interim may be used to reach an amicable settlement, and it is possible that it will be employed by Chili in preparation for sustaining its attitude of defiance and apparent hostility. The greatest ferment exists in the South American trade in London, over the news from South America. The general impression is that Chili will light and that the United States is now in a position' where It must light or retreat with dis--ftonor. Nd person of responsibility has yet been found who doubts that America will come out foremost in the end, but the general impression is that Chili will have for the present a decided advantage. The sentiment of the merchant!le houses trading -with Chili is strongly against war, and

the nitrate interests are opposed to it on the grounds that the United States mighty through an arrangement with Peru, get possession of the nitrate beds. The change of feeling since Wednesday is most significant Then the idea of war was poohpoohed. Thursday the South American opinion in London was exactly the reverse and war is regarded as almost inevitableDispatches of Saturday, from Santiago, say: ‘An official account of the fight closes as follows: “Of the combatants, thirty Americans and eleven Chilians were committed before the judicial authorities. They fought with knives, stones and everything they could lay their hands bn. There was one killed and several wounded. It is estimated that there were 160 American sailors froth the Baltimore on shore at the time of the tumult.” It is suggested by a Chilian, friend of Senor Montt that the disparity between the numbers of the arrests of Americans and Chilians was, perhaps, due to the readiness with which the latter would find concealment, whereas the American sailors, wearing uniforms and beingstrangers, were readily apprehended. United States Minister Egan, Captain Schley, of the Baltimore, and William B. McCreery. United States consul afValparaiso, were in close consultation throughout the day, and though it is not possible to obtain any definite statement from them for publication regarding the nature of the result of their long deliberations, it can be said that they all consider the reply of the Junta to Minister Egan’s note asking for proper explanation of the Valparaiso collision as decidedly insulting to the United States government. It is also known they regard the situation at present as serious. The reply of the Junta they think means that Chili is indignant at the demands of the United States; that she will take her own time to consider the matter, and that when the Junta reaches a conclusion that government will settle the matter without reference to the views of the United States on the subject. It is generally admitted here by thtf supporters of the government and by the Americans and those in sympathy with them, that the situation of affairs as regards the dispute between the United States and Chili has not yet improved. In fact, the anti-American feeling is growing in bitterness, and all the American officials in Chill are apprehensive that further trouble is brewing. The exact nature of this trouble they are unable to define, but they see little prospect that an amicable settlement of the Valparaiso incident will soon be reached, and the signs of increasing popular animosity toward the United States Government give ground for apprehension and indignation.