not necessary to an understanding of the policy announced have, for the
sake of brevity, been omitted.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
· · · · ·
We have now received from the Chilian Government an abstract of the
conclusions of the _Fiscal General_ upon the testimony taken by the
Judge of Crimes in an investigation which was made to extend over
nearly three months. I very much regret to be compelled to say that
this report does not enable me to modify the conclusion announced in
my annual message. I am still of the opinion that our sailors were
assaulted, beaten, stabbed, and killed, not for anything they or any
one of them had done, but for what the Government of the United States
had done, or was charged with having done, by its civil officers and
naval commanders. If that be the true aspect of the case, the injury
was to the Government of the United States, not to these poor sailors
who were assaulted in a manner so brutal and so cowardly.
· · · · ·
It is not claimed that every personal collision or injury in
which a sailor or officer of such naval vessel visiting the shore
may be involved raises an international question; but I am clearly
of the opinion that where such sailors or officers are assaulted
by a resident populace, animated 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 involving an infraction of its rights and
dignity--not in a secondary way, as where a citizen is injured and
presents his claim through his own Government, but in a primary way,
precisely as if its minister or consul or the flag itself had been the
object of the same character of assault. The officers and sailors of
the _Baltimore_ were in the harbor of Valparaiso under the orders of
their Government, not by their own choice. They were upon the shore
by the implied invitation of the Government of Chili 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 the express invitation of the local government to
justify his longer residence. Nor does it affect the question that
the injury was the act of a mob. If 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,
when its extent and character are considered, involving international
rights.
Here follow the details of the attack upon the sailors of the
_Baltimore_ in the streets of Valparaiso, October 16th.
The scene ... is very graphically set before us by the Chilian
testimony. The American sailors, who, after so long an examination,
have not been found guilty of any breach of the peace so far as the
Chilian authorities are able to discover, unarmed and defenceless,
are fleeing for their lives, pursued by overwhelming numbers, and
fighting only to aid their own escape from death or to succor some
mate whose life is in greater peril. Eighteen of them are brutally
stabbed and beaten, while one Chilian seems, from the report, to
have suffered some injury; but how serious or with what character or
weapon, or whether by a missile thrown by our men or by some of his
fellow-rioters, is unascertained.
The pretence that our men were fighting "with stones, clubs, and
bright arms" is, in view of these facts, incredible. It is further
refuted by the fact that our prisoners, when searched, were absolutely
without arms, only seven penknives being found in the possession of
the men arrested, while there were received by our men more than
thirty stab wounds, every one of which was inflicted in the back, and
almost every contused wound was in the back or back of the head. The
evidence of the ship's officer of the day is that even the jack-knives
of the men were taken from them before leaving the ship....
No amount of evasion or subterfuge is able to cloud our clear vision
of this brutal work....
It is quite remarkable and quite characteristic of the management of
this affair by the Chilian police authorities that we should now be
advised that Seaman Davidson, of the _Baltimore_, has been included
in the indictment, his offence being, so far as I have been able to
ascertain, that he attempted to defend a shipmate against an assailant
who was striking at him with a knife. The perfect vindication of our
men is furnished by this report; one only is found to have been guilty
of criminal fault, and that for an act clearly justifiable....
The evidence of our sailors clearly shows that the attack was
expected by the Chilian people, that threats had been made against
our men, and that, in one case somewhat early in the afternoon, the
keeper of one house into which some of our men had gone closed his
establishment in anticipation of the attack, which he advised them
would be made upon them as darkness came on....
Several of our men sought security from the mob by such complete
or partial changes in their dress as would conceal the fact of their
being seamen of the _Baltimore_, and found it then possible to
walk the streets without molestation. These incidents conclusively
establish that the attack was upon the uniform--the nationality--and
not upon the men.
· · · · ·
The testimony of Captain Jenkins, of the American merchant ship
_Keweenaw_, which had gone to Valparaiso for repairs, and who was a
witness of some part of the assault upon the crew of the _Baltimore_,
is strongly corroborative of the testimony of our own sailors when
he says that he saw Chilian sentries drive back a seaman, seeking
shelter, upon a mob that was pursuing him. The officers and men of
Captain Jenkins' ship furnish the most conclusive testimony as to
the indignities which were practised toward Americans in Valparaiso.
When American sailors, even of merchant ships, can only secure their
safety by denying their nationality, it must be time to readjust our
relations with a government that permits such demonstrations.
As to the participation of the police, the evidence of our sailors
shows that our men were struck and beaten by police officers before
and after arrest, and that one at least was dragged with a lasso
about his neck by a mounted policeman. That the death of Riggin was
the result of a rifle-shot fired by a policeman or soldier on duty is
shown directly by the testimony of Johnson, in whose arms he was at
the time, and by the evidence of Charles Langen, an American sailor
not then a member of the _Baltimore's_ crew, who stood close by and
saw the transaction. The Chilian authorities do not pretend to fix the
responsibility of this shot upon any particular person, but avow their
inability to ascertain who fired it, further than that it was fired
from a crowd....
The communications of the Chilian Government in relation to this
cruel and disastrous attack upon our men, as will appear from the
correspondence, have not in any degree taken the form of a manly and
satisfactory expression of regret, much less of 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 a Chilian 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 expression, even if the beating and killing of our men had been
justifiable. It is not enough to say that the incident is regretted,
coupled with the statement that the affair was not of an unusual
character in ports where foreign sailors are accustomed to meet. It is
not for a generous and sincere government to seek for words of small
or equivocal meaning in which to convey to a friendly power an apology
for an offence so atrocious as this. In the case of the assault by a
mob in New Orleans upon the Spanish consulate in 1851, Mr. Webster
wrote to the Spanish minister, Mr. Calderon, that the acts complained
of were "a disgraceful and flagrant breach of duty and propriety,"
and that his Government "regrets them as deeply as Minister Calderon
or his Government could possibly do;" that "these acts have caused
the President great pain, and he thinks a proper acknowledgment is
due to Her Majesty's Government." He invited the Spanish consul to
return to his post, guaranteeing protection, and offered to salute the
Spanish flag if the consul should come in a Spanish vessel. Such a
treatment by the Government of Chili of this assault would have been
more creditable to the Chilian authorities; and much less can hardly
be satisfactory to a government that values its dignity and honor.
· · · · ·
On the 21st instant I caused to be communicated to the Government of
Chili, by the American minister at Santiago, the conclusions of this
Government after a full consideration of all the evidence and of every
suggestion affecting this matter, and to these conclusions I adhere.
They were stated as follows:
"First. That the assault is not relieved of the aspect which the
early information of the event gave to it, viz.: That of an attack
upon the uniform of the United States Navy, having its origin and
motive in a feeling of hostility to this Government, and not in any
act of the sailors or of 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 of the Chilian soldiers and sailors were themselves guilty of
unprovoked assaults upon our sailors before and after arrest. He [the
President] thinks the preponderance of the evidence and the inherent
probabilities lead to the conclusion that Riggin was killed by the
police or soldiers.
"Third. That he [the President] is therefore compelled to bring the
case back to the position taken by this Government in the note of Mr.
Wharton of October 23 last, ... and to ask for a suitable apology and
for some adequate reparation for the injury done to this Government."
In the same note the attention of the Chilian Government was
called to the offensive character of a note addressed by Mr. Matta,
its Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Mr. Montt, its minister at
this capital, on the 11th ultimo. This despatch was not officially
communicated to this Government; but, as Mr. Montt was directed to
translate it and to give it to the press of this country, it seemed
to me that it could not pass without official notice. It was not
only undiplomatic, but grossly insulting to our naval officers and
to the Executive Department, as it directly imputed untruth and
insincerity to the reports of the naval officers and to the official
communications made by the Executive Department to Congress. It will
be observed that I have notified the Chilian Government that, unless
this note is at once withdrawn and an apology as public as the offence
made, I will terminate diplomatic relations.
The request for the recall of Mr. Egan upon the ground that he was
not _persona grata_ was unaccompanied by any suggestion that could
properly be used in support of it, and I infer that the request is
based upon official acts of Mr. Egan which have received the approval
of this Government. But however that may be, I could not consent to
consider such a question until it had first been settled whether our
correspondence with Chili could be conducted upon a basis of mutual
respect.
In submitting these papers to Congress for that grave and patriotic
consideration which the questions involved demand, I desire to say
that I am of the opinion that the demands made of Chili by this
Government should be adhered to and enforced. If the dignity as
well as the prestige and influence of the United States are not to
be wholly sacrificed, we must protect those who, in foreign ports,
display the flag or wear the colors of this Government against insult,
brutality, and death inflicted in resentment of the acts of their
Government, and not for any fault of their own. It has been my desire
in every way to cultivate friendly and intimate relations with all
the governments of this hemisphere. We do not covet their territory;
we desire their peace and prosperity. We look for no advantage in our
relations with them, except the increased exchanges of commerce upon a
basis of mutual benefit. We regret every civil contest that disturbs
their peace and paralyzes their development, and are always ready to
give our good offices for the restoration of peace. It must, however,
be understood that this Government, while exercising the utmost
forbearance toward weaker powers, will extend its strong and adequate
protection to its citizens, to its officers, and to its humblest
sailors when made the victims of wantonness and cruelty in resentment,
not of their personal misconduct, but of the official acts of their
Government.
Upon information received that Patrick Shields, an Irishman and
probably a British subject, but at the time a fireman of the American
steamer _Keweenaw_, in the harbor of Valparaiso for repairs, had been
subjected to personal injuries 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 San Francisco;
and that testimony is also herewith transmitted. The brutality and
even savagery of the treatment of this poor man by the Chilian police
would be incredible if the evidence of Shields was not supported by
other direct testimony and by the distressing condition of the man
himself when he was finally able to reach his vessel....
A claim for reparation has been made in behalf of this man, for
while he was not a citizen of the United States, the doctrine long
held by us, as expressed in the Consular Regulations, is "the
principles which are maintained by this Government in regard to the
protection, as distinguished from the relief, of seamen are well
settled. It is held that the circumstance that the vessel is American
is evidence that the seamen on board are such; and in every regularly
documented merchant vessel the crew will find their protection in the
flag that covers them."
I have as yet received no reply to our note of the 21st instant, but
in my opinion I ought not to delay longer to bring these matters to
the attention of Congress for such action as may be deemed appropriate.
BENJ. HARRISON.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
January 25, 1892.
INDEX TO SPEECHES, ETC.
Akron, Colorado, reception address at, 460
Albany, Oregon, reception address at, 402
Albany, New York, reception address at, 498
Alger, Gen. R. A., response of, 69
Allen County, Ohio, to delegation from, 149
Alliance, Ohio, reception address at, 284
Altoona, Pa., reception address at, 487
American Fork, Utah, reception address at, 435
Anderson, Indiana, reception address at, 271
Anniston, Alabama, reception address at, 308
Ashland, Oregon, reception address at, 400
Ashland, Nebraska, reception address at, 464
Atchison, Kansas, reception address at, 259
Atlanta, Georgia, address to students, 304
farewell address, 305
Mr. Wanamaker's address, 306
Augusta, Georgia, to exposition committee from, 549
Bakersfield, California, reception address at, 362
Baker City, Oregon, reception address at, 425
Banning, California, reception address at, 341
Bartholomew County, Indiana, to delegation from, 90
Bellefontaine, Ohio, to delegation from, 89
reception address at, 277
Bellows Falls, Vermont, reception address at, 540
Benicia, California, reception address at, 392
Bennington trip, 1891, personnel of party, 493
Bennington, Vermont, Battle Monument address, 502
at great tent banquet, 505
Benton Harbor, Michigan, to delegation from, 41
Benton County, Indiana, to delegation from, 44
Berkeley, California, at State University, 393
dumb and blind institute, 394
Billings Park, Vermont, speech at horse fair, 535
Birmingham, Alabama, reception address at, 311
luncheon address, 313
Blackford County, Indiana, to delegation from, 163
Blaine Club of Kansas City, address to, at Indianapolis, 76
Blaine reception, demonstration at Indianapolis Oct. 11, 1888, 170
Bloomington, Illinois, to delegation from, 62
Boise City, Idaho, reception address at, 427
Boone County, Indiana, to delegation from, 46
Boston, Mass., reception address at, 226
Mayor's Club banquet, 228
G. A. R. national encampment, 230
Bradford, Vermont, reception address at, 536
Brandon, Vermont, reception address at, 516
Brattleboro, Vermont, reception address at, 542
Bristol, Tennessee, reception address at, 291
Brown County, Indiana, to delegation from, 70
Buena Vista, Colorado, reception address at, 444
Burlington, Vermont, reception address at, 519
California delegates to Chicago, visit from, 29
California tour, 1891, personnel of party, 289
Cañon City, Colorado, reception address at, 446
Canton, Ohio, reception address at, 283
Cartersville, Georgia, reception address at, 302
Cascade Locks, Oregon, reception address at, 421
Castleton, Vermont, reception address at, 515
Centennial address, New York City, April 30, 1889, 207
Centralia, Washington, reception address at, 412
Champaign County, Illinois, to delegation from, 55
Champaign, Illinois, reception address at, 241
Charlestown, New Hampshire, reception address at, 539
Chattanooga, Tennessee, reception address at, 301
Chehalis, Washington, reception address at, 420
Chemawa, Oregon, reception address at, 405
Chicago, Marquette Club banquet address, 16
to committee from Marquette Club, 31
to Irish-American Club from, 124
to commercial travellers from, 140
to delegation business men from, 155
to Union veterans and others from, 166
to German-American Club from, 172
Auditorium dedication address, 218
Chilian Minister, official reception of, response to, 557
Chilian affair, message on, January 25, 1892, 564-70
Chrisman, Illinois, reception address at, 479
Cincinnati, Ohio, to Lincoln Club from, 49
Cincinnati Exposition Committee, visit from, 136
Cincinnati Exposition, invitation committee from, 171
Clay County, Indiana, to delegation from, 60
Clayton, Indiana, reunion 70th Regiment, 115
Clearfield, Pa., trip to the coal regions, 231
Cleveland, Ohio, to delegation from, 152
Garfield mausoleum dedication, 222
Clifton Forge, Virginia, reception address at, 235
Clinton County, Indiana, to delegation from, 72
Coles County, Illinois, to delegation from, 57
Colorado Springs, Colorado, address to scholars, 450
reception address, 453
Colton, California, reception address at, 339
Columbus, Ohio, to delegation veteran voters from, 145
to Garfield Club and Gov. Foraker, 174
reception address at, Feb. 25, 1889, 192
reception address at, May 14, 1891, 487
Commercial travellers of Indiana, address to, 40
Commercial travellers of Ill. and Ind., address to, 92
Commercial travellers of Chicago, address to, 139
Commercial travellers of United States, address to, 177
Council Bluffs, Iowa, reception address at, 471
Cresson, Pa., to visiting Altoona veterans, 231
Crestline, Ohio, reception address at, 278
Crete, Nebraska, reception address at, 462
Danville, Indiana, to Republican Club from, June 25, 1888, 25
Danville, Illinois, reception address at, 240
Dayton, Ohio, to delegation from, 137
reception address at, 485
Decatur County, Indiana, to delegation from, 87
Decatur, Illinois, reception address at, 476
Defiance, Ohio, reception address at, 94
De Graff, Ohio, reception address at, 276
Delaware County, Indiana, to delegation from, 87
Del Rio, Texas, reception address at, 332
Deming, New Mexico, reception address at, 335
Denver, Colorado, address at Capitol, 454
address at Hotel Metropole, 459
Depew, Hon. Chauncey M., visits the nominee, 171
Detroit, Michigan Club banquet address, 9
Diaz, President Porfirio, telegram from, 350
Douglas County, Illinois, to delegation from, 84
Duluth, Minnesota, to delegation from, 156
Ecumenical Conference, address to, at Washington, 550
Edgar County, Illinois, to delegation from, 57
Election results, popular vote for President, 1888, 188
Electoral College, extract from President's message, Dec., 1891, 560
Eleventh Indiana Regiment, survivors received, 171
Elkhart County, Indiana, to delegation from, 146
El Paso, Texas, reception address at, 333
Ex-prisoners of war, address to, at Indianapolis, 129
Fair Haven, Vermont, reception address at, 514
Florence, Colorado, reception address at, 447
Floyd County, Indiana, to delegation from, 122
Foraker, Gov. J. B., congratulates the nominee, 174
Ford County, Illinois, to delegation from, 89
Fort Wayne, Indiana, reception address at, 99
Foster, ex-Gov. Charles, introduces the nominee, 97
Fountain County, Indiana, to delegation from, 162
Fresno, California, reception address at, 365
Fulton County, Indiana, to delegation from, 156
Galesburg, Illinois, reception address at, 243
address at reunion 1st Brigade, 246
Alumni Hall, Knox College, 251
Phi Delta Theta banquet, 251
at 1st Brigade banquet, 252
Galveston, Texas, great speech and reception, 322
Garfield Club of Columbus, address to, at Indianapolis, 175
Garfield Monument, address at dedication of, 225
G. A. R. veterans and Gov. Rusk, address to, at Indianapolis, 120
G. A. R. installation officers, address to comrades, 189
G. A. R. camp fire, Indianapolis, address to comrades, 216
G. A. R. national encampment, address at Boston, 228
Gilroy, California, reception address at, 377
Glenwood Springs, Colorado, reception address at, 437
address to miners, 438
address to children, 440
Godfrey Commandery of Chicago, visit from, 83
Grand Rapids, Michigan, to delegation from, 159
Greenville, Tennessee, reception address at, 296
Grundy County, Illinois, to delegation from, 134
Hamilton County, Indiana, to delegation from, June 25, 1888, 26
to delegation from, August 14, 1888, 83
Hancock County, Ohio, to delegation from, 149
Hannibal, Missouri, reception address at, 472
Harrison, Gen. Benj., biographical sketch of, 7-8
Harrison League of Indianapolis, address to, 33
Harrisburg, Pa., reception address at, 488
Hastings, Nebraska, reception address at, 461
Hendricks County, Indiana, to delegation from, June 25, 1888, 25
to delegation from, Nov. 9, 1888, 188
Henry County, Indiana, to delegation from, 67
Hill, Gov. David B., his invitation to the President, 497
Hood River Station, Oregon, reception address at, 421
Houston, Texas, reception address at, 321
Houtzdale, Pa., reception address at, 233
Howard County, Indiana, to delegation from, June 25, 1888, 26
to delegation from, July 18, 1888, 50
Huntington, Indiana, reception address at, 101
Hyde Park, Illinois, to delegation from, 166
Inaugural Executive Committee, personnel of, 193
Inaugural address, March 4, 1889, 194-203
Indianapolis, to his neighbors, June 25, 1888, 27
to Indiana delegates, June 26, 1888, 29
to colored citizens, June 30, 1888, 33
to veterans 70th Regiment, 28
to veterans 26th Infantry, 134
to veterans 7th Cavalry, 131
to veterans 79th Regiment, 176
to veterans and neighbors, 32
introducing Gen. R. A. Alger, 69
official notification, July 4, 1888, 35
to Tippecanoe veterans, July 4, 1888, 38
to railroad employees, July 13, 1888, 47
speech at State Convention, Aug. 8, 1888, 80
on returning from Put-in Bay, Sept. 4, 1888, 105
great street demonstration, Sept. 6, 1888, 106
address to children, Sept. 8, 1888, 107
to the Porter-Columbian Club, Oct. 3, 1888, 158
Labor-Day address, Oct. 25, 1888, 183
to railroad clubs of Indiana, Oct. 27, 1888, 185
to the saw-makers of city, Nov. 9, 1888, 188
to G. A. R. veterans, Jan. 1, 1889, 189
farewell to neighbors, Feb. 25, 1889, 191
dedication Soldiers' Monument, 211
at G. A. R. camp-fire, Aug. 22, 1889, 216
at reunion 70th Regiment, Aug. 23, 1889, 217
the home welcome, May 14, 1891, 481
Indio, California, received by Gov. Markham, 338
Irish-American Club, address to, Sept. 15, 1888, 125
Iroquois County, Illinois, to delegation from, 131
Jacksonville, Illinois, to delegation from, July 19, 1888, 51
to delegation from, Aug. 17, 1888, 90