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About Plattsmouth weekly herald. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1882-1892 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 1892)
The Pr?rdnt's Special Mcs cr. ChlLa:: Affairs. sto::v or ((;.Mi'.ovrr.lsr. Injury, lutti'i ni.d r.ruUlilr the f Mrf Point of l.Ve- l.y '). Nitulhern 1Ci pulillp '.:' .- V i.i' ConrM) Vln ::. The ltljiloiuiUic tot rtipouiience. Washington, Jaa. 3. The following is President Uarribon's mesbage on ttw Chilean situation, Rent to congress: To tfa Senate Mid IIuum of Ropreeuutativee: In my annnal mew-age delivered to congress at the beginning of the present fusion, after a brief statement of the Licit then in the possession of this gov. eminent touching the assault in the city 1 Valjiaraiso, Chile, ntxm the sailors of the United States ship Baltimore on the eveuiug of the lKth of October last, I uitl: This government is now awaiting the result of an investigation which has ieen conducted by the criminal court at Valparaiso. It is reported unofficially that the investigation is about complet ed, and it is expected that the result will soon lie communicated to this govern ment, together with some adequate and iwtisfactory resionse to the note by which the attention of Chile was called to this incident. If those just expecta tions Bhould be disappointed or further aeedloss delay intervene, I will by a pedal message bring this matter again to the attention of congress for such ao tion as may be necessary. "In roy opinion the timo has now ome when 1 should lay liefore congress Mid the country the correspondence be tween this government and the govern ment of Chili from the time of the breaking out of the revolution against Balmaeoda, together with all the other fucts in the possession of the executive department relating to this matter. The diplomatic corresoudence is herewith transmitted, together with correspond ence between the navid officers for a time In command in Chilean waters, and also the evidence taken at the Mare Island navy yard since the arrivid of tbo Baltimore at San Francisco. Kkuii'i t'ourae lulield. "It may be well at the outset to say that, whatever may have been said iu this country or in Chilo in criticism of Mr, Egan, our minister at Santiago, tha rue history of this exciting period iu Chilean affairs from the outbreak of the revolution until this time discloses not an act on the part of Mr. Egan unworthy i his position, or that could justly bo the occasion for serious animadversion or riticism. lie has, I think, on the wholo, lxmev himself in every trying eircumBtanoe with dignity, discretion ud courage and has conducted tho cor respondence with ability, courtesy and toirness. It is worth while, also, at the beginning to say that tbo right of Mr. Egan tj give shelter in the legation to artaiu adherents of the Balmaceda gov ernment who applied to him for asylum kas not been denied by tho Chilean au thorities, nor haH any demand been aadofor the surrender of these ref Rees. "That there was urgent need of asylum is shown by Mr. Egan's note of Aug. 24, lbHt, describing the disorders that pre vailed in Santiago and by the evidonco ef Captain Schley as to the pillage and violence that prevailed at Valparaiso. The correspondence disclosed, however, that the request of Mr. Egan for a safe conduct from tho country in behalf of ttiese refugees was denied, The pre cedents cited by him in the corre spondence, particularly the case of tho reromtion in Peru in I8tJ5, did not leave the Chilean government in a position to deey the right of asylum to political ref reea, and seemed very clearly to sup port Mr. Egan's contention that a safe eenduct to neutral territory was a neces sary and acknowledged incident of the asylum. These refugees have very re cently, without formal safe conduct, at by the acquiescence of the Chilean mtaoritiee, beon placed on board tite Yorktown, and are now be inff conveyed to Callao, Peru. This incident might be consid ered wholly closed, but for the disre spect manifested toward this govern ment by the close and offensive police enryeillance of tho legation premises which were maintained during most of the period of the stay of the refugees therein, after the date of my annual message and up to tho time of the trans fer of the reiugees to the Yorktown. The legation premises seem to have been surrounded by police in uniform and po lice agouts or detectives in citizen's dress, who offensively scrutinized per sons entering or leaving the legation and on one or more occasions arrested mem bers of the minister's family. 'Commander Evans, who by my di rection recently visited Mr. Egan at Santiago, iu his telegram to the navy de partment descrilied the legation ' a ver itable prison" and states that the police agents or detectives were after his ar rival withdrawn during his stay. It r.p- Twain runner irom ttie note oi .Ir. Egan's of Nov. 20. 1SU1, that on one oc casion at least these police agents, whom lie declared to be known to him, invaded the legation premises, pounding upon ita windows, using insult ing and threaten ing language toward persons t heroin. Tl.ia breac h of the right of a minister to freedom from police espionage and re straint seems to have ken so flagrant the Argentine minister, who w is deau of the .diplomatic i rps, having observed it, felt cal!".i v.w.n ! protest against it to the Chilean minister of foreign affairs. The Chilean authorities have, as will le olwerved from the correspondence, charged the refugees and the iumates of the legation with insulting the police; but it seems to me incredible that men whow lives wre in jeopardy and whose safety could only be secured by retire ment and quietness should have sought to provoke a collision which could only end in their destruction, or to aggravate their condition by intensifying a popu lar feeling that at one time so threatened the legation as to require Mr. Egan to appeal to the minister of foreign affairs. The Baltimore Incident. "But the niot serious incident dis closed by the correspondence is that of the attack on the sailors of the Balti more in the streets of Valparaiso on the loth of October last. We have now re , ceived from the Chilean government an abstract of the conclusion of the fiscal general upon the testimony taken by tho judge of crimes in the investigation which was made to extend over nearly three mouth. I very much regret to be j'tipell(d tj .i.y that this re;,ortd i' .'. Miuiiie me to ni'Kiifv the e.rie us oiis Announced in my minimi ms a .'. 1 am etili of ll:e opinion li;'t our ;;nlein wore ieatih I, hr.i'en, rt-.l,l ami VM:. ' r't ir nc i!.inc: tl.iy ; n:iy one of them had liene. lint lr h"t the r"v- eminent of ih L iiiteit K.'ate.s had d- -ne. or was ( r.iaved with having duiiu, by its civil oflicers and naval commanders. If that be tV nio select of the case, the injmywis to the government of the Vuite-.l ''.;..;, int Ut those r.r i- . .1 rs v !" were i.e'vcl in a manner so i 'i.i:l..l au4 R'i . .V.ariily, -l-.'c'orc . :.e.::'...i:'g to give an ou'lire ( of the facts tt-x.u which this co?1,.. i,n . r.-' is, 1 tiiii'k it rig-it to say a '.void or t two upon the legal aspect ot tho case. "The Dal ti more was in the harbor of Valparaiso by virtuo of that general in vitation which nations are held to ex- , tend to war vessels of othei powers ! when they have friendly relations. I This invitation, I think, must be held ! ordinarily to embrace the privilege of such communication with the shore as is reasonable, uecessary and proper for the convenience of the oflicers aud men of such vessels. Captain Schley testifies that when his vessel returned to Valpar aiso on Sept. 14, the city officers, as is customary, extended the hospitalities of the city to his officers and crew. IntornHtlonal Blghti InvoWed. It is not claimed that every personal collision or injury in which a sailor or officer of such a naval vessol visiting shore may be involved raises an interna tiomd question, but I am cleurly of the opinion where such sailors or officers are assaulted by tho resident populace, ani mated by hostilities to the government whose uniform these Bailors 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 involving an infraction of its rights and dignity; not in a secondary way, as where a citizen is injured and pre sents his claim through his own govern ment, but in a primary way, jirecisely as a minister or consul or the flag itself oe the object of the same character of assault. The officers and sailors of the Baltimore wero in the harbor of Valpa raiso under the orders of their govern ment, not by their own choice. They wero UHin shore by the implied invita tion ot tho government of Chile and with the approval of their commanding officer, and it does not distinguish their case from that of a consul that his stay is more permanent or that he holds an express mvitatiou from the local gov ernment to justify his longer residence. Nor does it affect the question whether the iujurv was the act of a mob. 11 there had been no participation by the police or military in this cruel work, and no neglect on their part to extend protection, the case would still be one, in my opinion, where its extent and character is considered involving inter national rights. lie reviewed at somo length the story, of the assault on the Baltimore's men, the investigation of which followed both at Valparaiso and Sun Francisco, and commented on the same. Not SHtlnfttctory. After summarizing the correspondence up to a certain point, the presidentsays: "The communications of the Chilean government in relation to this cruel and disastrous attack upon our mon. as will appear from the correspondence, have not in any degree, taken the form of manly and satisfactory expressions of re gret, much less 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 the Chilean port, the incident was grave enough to have called for some public expression of sympathy and regret from the local authorities. It is not enough, to say that the affair was lamentable, for humanity would require that ex pression, even if the beating and killing of our men had been justifiable. It is not enough to say that the incident was regretted, coupled with the statement that the affair was not of an unusual character in ports where foreign sailors are accustomed to moet. It is not for a generous and sincere government to seek for words of small or equivocal in meaning in which to convey to a friendly power an apology for an offense so atro cious as this." Reference is made to the assault by the mob in New Orleans upon the Span ish consulate in 18M, and the action of the government of the United States in promptly apologizing for it. and it is contrasted to the present tTeatmont of our government by Chile. Continuing, the message says: "Iu our note of Octorlier 23 last, after receiving the report of the board of offi cers appointed by Captain Schley to in vestigate the affair, the Chilean govern ment was advised of the aspect which it then assumed and was called upon for any facts in its possession that might tend to modify the unfavorable impres sion which our report had created. It was very clear from the correspondence ttiat before the receipt of this note the examination was regarded by police au thorities as practically closed. It was, however, reopened and protracted through aperiod of nearly three months. We might justly l.ave complained of his unreasonable delay, but in view of tho fact that the government of Chile was still provisional, and with a dispo sition to le forbearing and ho-feful of a friendly termination. I have awaited the report.which has but recently been made. On the 21st inst. I caused to" be commu nicated to ho government of Chile, by the American minister at Santiago, the conclusions of this government after full consideration of all evidence and every suggestion affecting this matter, and to these conclusions I adhere. They stated as follows: The DviiiHiul for Ilepiirnt Ion. "First That the assault was not re lieved of the aspect which the earlv in formation of the event gave it, viz: That the attack upon the uniform of the United States navy had its origin and motive in a feeling of hostility to this government, and not in any action of the sailors or any of them. "Second That the public authorities of Valparaiso flagrantly failed in their duty to protect our men, and that some of the police and Chilean soldiers and sailors were themselves gnilty of unpro voked assaults upon our sailors were themselves guilty of unprovoked assaults upon our sailors before and after the ar rest. He (the president) thinks the pre ponderance or evidence and inherent probabilities lead t the conclusion that Riggin was killed hy police or soldiers. "lhird That he (president) was there fore compelled to bring the case back to the position taken in the note of Whar ton Oct. 23 last, and ask for a suitable apology and some adequate reparation for the injury done to this government. In the same note the attention of the Chilean government was called to the offensive character of a note addressed by Matta, ex-minister of foreign affairs, ; to Alontt, its minister at this capital, on the 1 rth nit. This dispatch was not officially communicated to this govern ment, but as Moutt was directed to translate it and give it t the press of this country, it seemed to me it could not pass without official notice. It was not only undiplomatic, but grossly In sulting to our naval officers and to tha executive department, as it directly im puted untruth and insincerity to the re ports of the naval officers and to the Official communications made by the executive department to congress. It win ue observed that I have notified the Chilean government that unless this note ia at once withdrawn and an apology as public as the offense, is made, I will terminate diplomatic relations. "The request for the recall of Egan upon the ground that he is non persona grata, was unaccompanied by any sug gestion that could pro'ierly le used in support of it, and I infer the request was based upon the official acts of Egan which had received the approval of this government. But, however that may lie, I could not consent to consider such a question until it had first been settled whether our correspondence with Chile could be conducted upon a basis of mutu al respect. Chile Should lie Drought to Time. ...4 "In submititing these papers to con gres for that grave and patriotic consid eration, which the questions involved demand, I desire to say I am of the opin ion that the demands made of Chile by this government should be adhered to and enforced. D! the dignity as well as the prestige and influence of the United States is not to be wholly sacri ficed, we must protect those who, in for eign iKirts display the flag and wear the colors of this government, against insult, brutality and death inflicted in resent ment of the acts of their govern ment and not for any fault of their own. It has been my desire in every way to cultivate friendly aud inti mate relations with all the governments of this hemisphere. We do not covet their territory. We desire their jieace and prosperity. We look for no advant age m our relations with them, except increased exchanges of commerce upon a basis of mutual benefit. We regret every civil contest that disturbs their peace and parlyses their development, and are always ready to give our good ollices for the restoration of peace. It must, however, be understood that this government, whilo exercising the ut most forbearance toward weaker pow ers, will extend its strong and adequate protection to its citizens, to its oflicers and to its humblest sailors, when made the victims of wantonness and cruelty in resentment, not of their personal mis conduct, but of the official acts of their government. Our 8eamen Must lie Protected. "Upon information received from Pat rick Shields, an Irishman, and probably a British subject, but at the time the fireman of the American steamer Keewa na, in the harbor of Valparaiso, for re pairs, had been subjected to personal in juries in that city, largely by the police, I directed the attorney general to cause the evidence of the officers and crew of that vessel to be taken upon its arrival in Son Fran cisco; and this testimony is also herewith transmitted. The brutality and even tno savagery or trie treatment of this poor man by the Chilean police would be incredible if the evidence of Shields was not supported by ether direct testi mony and by the distressing condition of me man nimseii wnen he was finally able to reach his vessel. The claim for reparation has been made ou behidf of this man, for while he is not a citizen or the United States, the doctrine so long held by us, as expressed in the cousular regulations Is: 'The prin ciples which are maintained by this gov ernment in regard to protection, as dis tinguished from relief of seamen is well settled. It is held that the circum stances that the vessel is American is evidence that the Bcamen on board are such and in every regularly documented merchant vessel the crew will find their protection in the flag that covers tnein.' "I have as yet received no reply to our note of the 21st inst., but, in my opinion, I ought not delay longer to bring these matters to the attention of congress for such action as may be aeemeu appropriate. "Benjamin Harrison. "Executive Mansion, Jan. 23, lB9a." The Ultimatum. The terms of the ultimatum to Chile have not been correctly given in any of the dispatches referring to it. Three subjects are covered by the document. The assault upon the Baltimore sailors is the first. The secretary of state di rects ?.Ir. Egan to infoim the Chilean government that after a full and careful examination of evidence of that affair as submitted by the Chilean authorities and as shown in the examination of the Bal timore's sailors, the president feels com' polled to stand by the terms of Assistant Secretary Wharton's instructions to Minister Egan, given Oct. 23, and to in sist upon au apology and reparation therefor. The second subject is the Matta cir cular note of Dec. 13. This note, the Chilean government is informed, is offensive to the president and other officials of the United States, and that unless it is promptly withdrawn and the language disavowed by the Chilean gov eminent in equally public form u ! . iu which the note was circulate I, Jim ister Egan will w-k for purports and diplomatic relations between the countries will cease. The third isproiiosed the recall of Min ister Egan, Acknowledgment is made lor receipt of Minister Montt's note, stating that Mr. Egan is non person grata to the government of Chile and announcing the readiness and desire of that government to receive another rep resentativeof the United States -at Santi ago. Upon this subject the government of Chile is informed that theuote cannot now lie considered. There are other and weightier matters pending settlement aud when they are satisfactorily disjosed of this government will then consider the request for the recall of Mr. Egan. The United States minister was, of course, notified of the receipt of the note from Senor Montt, aud it is said a mes sage has been received from him stating that the niemlx-rs of the Chilean govern ment authorized to speak upon such matters have verbally assured him that they were satisfied with hiin, and that similar statements were made to the ministers from other countries. This dispatch raises s question of veracity between Minister Egan and Senor Montt,, which subsequent correspondence or events may aid in settling. Certain it ii that up to the receipt of Mr. Montt's noto the records do not show any indication of dissatisfaction with Mr. Egan by tlw Chilean authorities. i.OM ATIC mKllESI'ONDENCK. The long I)Urnlon Iletween the Two Coiintrlfa on the Suhjert. WasulnuTon, Jan. Co. The Chilean correspondence from the department of Ftate forms a volume of several hmdrel printed i ages. It bens with Minister Egan's dispatch of Aug. 13, 1&)0, notify ing the department of the beginning of the controversy between the executive and legislative departments of Chilean government resulting finally in the overthrow of President Balmaceda. The success of the revolutionists and downfall of Balmnceda are covered by numerous dispatches. From Aug. 27 to. 81 disorder reigned at Santiago attend ins the change of governments. The police deserted their posts, the houses ol Balmaceda's supporters were sacked and 3,000,000 worth of property wantonly destroyed. All tho legations, except the English, which refused to accept any, were crowded with refugees, which alone avoided a great sacrifice of life. Sept. 1 Mr. Egan announced the in stallation of the new government. On the 4th he was instructed to recognize it, which he did on the 5th. During the excitement the United States legation entertained neai ly one hundred refugees, including Balmnneda Arl hiu fnmilv. They remained three days. Britain at the Bottom of It. Rent. 1 Mr. Kpan wrnti rhnf Avar otnnA the Itata incident a hitter feeling hn.1 been held against the United States by rne young nnu untmnmug element or those then in opposition to the govern ment, a feeling which, said Mr. Egan, the English did all in their power to pro mote ami roster. A manifestation cf this was shown in th elmm-o hv Vop. .. .. - p . irana. who acted as secretary of thn urnw or tne nortn, who wild that on the day of the landing of the northern army at Quiteros on Aug. 20 tho San Francisco went to that bay and from there carried back tho most important information to the government authorities at Val paraiso. Rear Admiral Brown denied tho charge absolutely, stating that tho landing had leen effected and was fully known to the government officials before he left and that he had no communica tion with them after his return. Sept. 24 and 23 Mr. Egan telegraphed that it bad been intimated that he was expected to turn the refugees out that were in the legation to be prosecuted, but that he would pennit them to go out only under safe conduct to neutral territory; also that the feeling against the United States because of the Itata incident was being fomented. Secret police sur rounded the legation arresting persons, twenty in number, for entering it and placing two of Mr. Egan's servants in prison. Against this Mr. Egan pro tested to the minister of foreign affairs. By direction of the president Mr. Whar ton telegraphed to Minister Egan Sept. 26 to insist firmly that the respect and inviolability due the minister of the United States and the legation build ings, including free access, be given and observed fully and promptly by the Chilean authorities. Nov. 18, in response to questions, Mr Egan informed the state department that he bad supiorted the refugees at the legation at his own expense, then amounting to more than $3,000. Nov. 17 he reported that he was compelled to complain that the secret police who had been watching the legation for two weeks had become boisterous under the influence of liquor, and from the street had used insulting language toward the refugees. Mr. Matta replied, denying that the disturbers were police spies and said drunkards created the disturbance. He said a report from the intendenteof Santiago Bhowed that Mr. Egan was not well informed. He charged that per sons that were employes of the legation of North America committed indiscre tions which might provoke replies and reprisals not pleasiug to the rights or the decorum or anybody. Hatta'i Statement Contradicted. To this Mr. Egan responded that the facts he complained of were known to him personally aud were matters of pub he notoriety. The drunken crowd gath ered about the doors of the legation, and sometimes entered it, trying to induce the refugees to go outside. That condi tion of things, Mr. Egan said, showed want of respect for the legation, and was not calculated . to promote the maintenance of that spirit of cordial friendship which was de sirable to cultivate betweeen the two countries. Further correspondence took phce between Messrs. Egan and Matta on this subject under dates of Nov. 23 and Jk), the hitter repeating Ids insinua tions that tho troubles were caused by the actions of the refugees in the lega tion and their agents outside. To this Mr. Egan replied in spirited terms, denying the connection of any person in the legation with the disorders and insisting that they wore undoubted ly ageuts of the public authorities. The Attack on the Baltimore' Men. Coming to the attack on the sailors of the Baltimore and its consequences, the first notification was in a telegram from Miuister Egan, dated Oct. 18, the tight having occurred on the 10th. On the 19th he transmitted to the depart ment of stnte Contain Kelilnv'a letter ti Minister Egan and to the intendente, that to the latter asking an investiga tion and said: "The general impression is that the attack was unprovoked and pre meditated. Somo weeks ago an attack was made upon a nnmWr of the sailors of one of the German ships of war, re uniting in the killing of one of the Ger mans, and it is understood that the at tack was made iiecause Chileans mis took the Germans for Uuited States sailors." Then followed the telegram of the president to Minister Egan. through .Assistant Secretary of State Wharton, of Oct. 23, which has been printed, in which Mr. Egun was instructed to in form the Chilean government that the United States government had no doubt a prompt and full reparation would lie offered by Chile if the facts were as found by the board composed of the Baltimore's officers which investigated the affair. An Outrage at Valparaiso, Nov. 7 Mr. Egan reported the ill treat ment of Patrick Shields, a fireman of the United States steamship Keewana, and an American citizen, who, accord ing to a report from the United States consul at Valparaiso, was arretted for drunkenness, a charge denied by him, kept for several days in jail without process of law, forced to sweep the streets and brntally beaten by police oflicers. The consul said that he had been medically examined and found to be in a serious condition aud that the local authorities had been remonstrated against. The statement or Shields, tne ivee wana sailor, to Surgeon White and the report of the chief of police of Valpar aiso to Consul McCreery are included in the correspondence and confirm the truth of this statement. In Mr. Euran'c dis patch later ail the documents in the case, whieh are set out in full in the corres- iwmdonoe, were transmitted to Senor dalt.i by Mr. Egan, in connection with Shields' claim for3,000 damages. The ' x ii i . lu :.M . I iouownig upon ine quesuou oi ouierns citizenship a;o suggestive: Valparaiso, Nov. 20. In t he eise of IV trick Shields, of the Keewana, whn mnkes a claim against the j government of Chile for injuries claimed t to have lxen receive! nt the hands of the police of thw city, I desire to state that the crew list of the steamship shows that he was bora iu Ireland, and is a subject of Great Britain. William McCkeeky, United States Consul. Santiago, Nov. 23. rn Replying to your communication of the 2uth inst., in reference to the case of Patrick Shields, of the United States steamship Keewana, I beg to refer you to paragraphs 170 and 171 of consular in structions, in the latter of which you will find the following: "The principles whieh are maintained by this government in re gard to the protection as distinguished from the relief of seamen are well settled. It is held that the circum stance that the vessel is American is evidence that the seamen on board are such, and in every regularly docu mented merchant vessel the crew will And their protection in the flag that covers them. Shields is therefore in this case and also in the matter of relief, he hav ing shipped in a port of the United States, entitled to the same pr Section as if he were a United States citizen. Patiuck Eoan." On the same day, "Nov. 7, Mr. Egan reported a public meeting called to de nounce the United States legation and to request the delivery of the refugees. This was due to attacks in the press. Tho government sent a squadron of cav alry to protect the legation. This meet ing was called by a proclamation which charged that the refugees in the legation had conspired to kill Olnnel Canto. After the meeting the vatendento issued a proclamation denying the existence of the conspiracy, a proclamation which, Mr. EgHii said, would have been much more valuable before the meeting. Of this incident Senor Matta wrote to Mr. Egan that "the government does not alarm itself, however it may disapprove the misdemeanors of speech, spoken and written, which, an has been observed hy the honorable minister plenipotentiary, were not borne out by the results." Chile' Insolent Attitude. Senor Matta's renlv Oct. 27 said that the government of the United States formulated demands and advanced threats that, without being cast back with acrimony, were not acceptable, nor could they le accepted iu that case or any other of like nature. He did not doubt the sincerity, rectitude or earnest ness of the investigation on board the Baltimore, but would recognize only the jurisdiction and majority of his own country to judge and punish the guilty on Chilean territory. He said the ad ministrative and judicial authorities had been investigating the affair; that the judiciid investigation under Chilean law is secret and the time has not vet arrived to make known the result; when that time did arrive he would communi cate the result, although he did not rec ognize any other authority competent to judge criminal cases than that estab lished by the Chilean people. Until the tinw arrived to disclose the result of tho investigation he would not admit that the disorders in Valparaiso or the silence or nis aepartment should appear as an I expression of unfriendliness tnwnrd rh I government of the United States which might put in peril the friendly relations between the two countries. MlnUter Matta'i Note. On Dec. 13 Mr. Egan telegraphed the state department as follows: "The fol lowing telegram from minister of for eign relations, sent Chilean minister, Washington, with sanction of president, was read in senate and published in pa pers today: Senor Pedro Montt, Washington: Having read the portion of the report of t he secretary of the navy and of the mes sage of the president of the United States, I think proper to inform you that the statements on which bottf report aud mes sage are based are erroneous or deliber ately incorrect. With respect to the persons to whom an asylum has been granted, they have never been threatened with cruel treatment nor has it been sought to remove them from the legation, nor has their surrender been arfked for. Never has the house or the person of the plenipotentiary, notwith standing indiscretions and deliberate provocations, been subjected to any of fense, as is proved by the notes of Septem ber, Octoljer aud November. With respect to the seauieu-of the Baltimore there is, moreover, no exactness nor sincerity in what is said at Washington. The occur rence took place in a bad neighborhood of the city, the maintop of Valparaiso, and among people who are not models of discretion and temperance. When the police aud other forces interfered and calmed the tumult there were already several hundred people on tho ground and it was ten srpiares or more from the place where it begun. Mr.Tracy and Mr. Harrison have been led into error lu respect to our reople and our government, Their instructions recom mending impartiality nud friendship have not been complied with, neither now nor before. If no oilicial complaint has been made against the minister and the naval oflicers, it is liecause the facts, public and notorious both in Chile and the United States, could not, although they were well proved, he urged by our confidential agent. This telegram was published in tho official diary and transmitted by the Chilean minister at Buenos Ares to all Chilean legations in Europe. On the same day the correspondence between Messrs. Egan and Matta on the Balti more case was published in all the Val paraiso papers. Mr. Egan at once wrote Minister Matta asking if the published text of the tele gram was correct, and the latter replied it was, and added: "Inasmuch as tho telegram is au official act of the govern ment of Chile whereby it communicates instructions to its envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary in the United States of North America, any ex planation or dissertation on the part ol the undersigned could add nothing to its contents, which are to serve as a guide for lon I edro Montt at Washing ton in treating of these matters." rending- further instructions Mr. Egan notified the state department on Dec. 17 that he had swqiended com- Open Care to Be Bemodeled. "The days of the street car, grips u well as trailers, having the seats ar ranged crosswise instead of parallel with,. the car. are numbered." This rem ft fk was made a few days ago by a w known Chicago physician who is medical examiner fr an accident insu nnce company which insures the lives manv street car employees as welU patrons. "Why do you say that?" was the query of a friend. "For this reason the cars built with tho seats crosswise almost invariably . have footboards running alongside bo .1.. . - Aw mat ine passenger may B--k vu ui uu iuu car 'ut any spot in the road,' as the sport would say, and these footboards facili tate a passenger in getting into danger. For instance, the rdles of all the cai companies require the passenger to get on or off the car on the side nearest tli tb sidewalk. This rule was intended keep the people off the track of the c. going in the opposite direction. But these rules are not obeyed, and street car companies muBt pay damages when any one is hurt, and the conductor has no opportunity to stop his car if the passenger takes a notion to get oft with out signaling him to stop, and many peo ple are injured while getting off a cat' while it is in motion sometimes by be-! ing struck by a vehicle or another car. sometimes by slipping on the treacher ous footboard or by making some kind of a misstep. "The car with the end door as the only means of exit is the one which protects the company from many damage suits. The open car with the running foot board may be cheaper in construction, but statistics will show that nine-tenths of the accidents caused by getting on and off cars occur on open cars or grips with the cross seats and running foot boards. I think there should bo a city ordinance ngainst their use. Besides, the street car companies will some day awaken to tho fact that cars of that style sometimes cause in one niinut damage equal to their first cost." Chi cago Times. Allirrt Edward's Slumming Etperlence. There are just now stories flying about of the Prince of Wales visiting the "slums" under a rather comical disguise, but though it is known that the prince. ' r J r 1 . uimseir acquainted witn the "seamy,4r side of life, very little art was required to conceal his identity. Indeed, it is surprising, tnongn i.ngiisnmen are as rule familiar, more or less, with the ap- pearance of their future sovereign, how often his presence in a place whore he is ' . i . not exacted passes without recognition. iy Some years ago the prince, quite in- T cognito, traveled down to Folkestone, to meot Princess Louise, who was coming over from the Continent, and as there was some time to wait before the arrival of the steamer, he strolled about on the quay and ultimately went out with a boatman of local fame for a short cruise in the channel. When they got safely back the prince remarked, "Perhaps yon would like to know who I antf" "I don't know as I cares; it ain't no odds to me," came the reply. "Well, I'm the Prince of Wales." ' "The Prince of Walesl" ejaculated the old mariner, giving his customer a play ful dig in the ribs. "Get along with yer!" London Cor. Chicago Times. A Storehouse of Electricity. Minnesota, not to be behindhand ia marvels, tells of an electrio well which one of its citizens claims to have been discovered near Red Wing recently. Ac cording to thetstory the drillers had drilled about 150 feet when tHey lost their drill roils and a diamond drill. The whole business had dropped to no where in an instant. There was quite a force of air coming out of the hole, and the men said there was no nse going any farther, because there3 wasn't any bot tom. They concluded to fish for the rods and drill, but as soon as the rods were dropped into the hole they began to shiver in a queer way. One of the men took hold of the bar with a pair of leather gloves, and he was knocked down. Then Holly well touched the ropa and got a shock, because it was's wet. There 8eeni3 to be a perfect natu- ral storehouse of electricity. It is gen- 1 erated in some way in that pocket whers ft the drills went, and there is enough of it to execute a whole county at once un der the New York law. Philadelphia Ledger. A Grand Old Commoner. Though essentially a modest man, Mr. Smith had a certain pride of his own. Public rumor was always conferring a peerage upon him, and I suppose that had he lived he would have accepted one. But he was proud, of his inde- pendent and "self made" position as a I wealthy commoner. "You see," he said ' to me, "I have no aristocratic connec tions, no family interests; indeed, I haven't a male relative alive except my own ooy. i urn completefy unprejudiced advantage this gave him. He was rich and a plebeian, and his colleagues had confidence in him accordingly as a strong administrator. Pall Mall Gazette. Question of Telephone Charge. A proposal has been mado by Dr. Strecker, of Berlin, which seems to solve the question of telephone charges. He proposes to levy a fundamental charge to meet the expenses for installation, maintenance and depreciation, in addi tion to a time charge, to meet the work ing expenses. Nothing could be fairer than to charge for the nse of the tele phone according to the duration of con versation, and Dr. Strecker proposes to nse a clock which goes as long as the con versation ;asts.-New York Telegram. A New Way to Throw Rice. A practical joke which the best man at an autumn wedding perpetrated was to deliver to the porter of the parlor car in which he saw them off a sealed telegraph envelope with instructions to .deliver it at a certain station. The darky duly did so and the groom broke tho seal to have a small avalanche of rice iwur through his fingers. New York Times. i J