closed his establishment in
anticipation of the attack, which he advised them would be made upon
them as darkness came on.

In a report of Captain Schley to the Navy Department he says:

In the only interview that I had with Judge Foster, who is
investigating the case relative to the disturbance, before he was aware
of the entire gravity of the matter, he informed me that the assault
upon my men was the outcome of hatred for our people among the lower
classes because they thought we had sympathized with the Balmaceda
Government on account of the _Itata_ matter, whether with reason or
without he could of course not admit; but such he thought was the
explanation of the assault at that time.

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 origin of this feeling is probably found in the refusal of this
Government to give recognition to the Congressional party before it
had established itself, in the seizure of the _Itata_ for an alleged
violation of the neutrality law, in the cable incident, and in the
charge that Admiral Brown conveyed information to Valparaiso of the
landing at Quinteros. It is not my purpose to enter here any defense of
the action of this Government in these matters. It is enough for the
present purpose to say that if there was any breach of international
comity or duty on our part it should have been made the subject of
official complaint through diplomatic channels or for reprisals for
which a full responsibility was assumed. We can not consent that these
incidents and these perversions of the truth shall be used to excite
a murderous attack upon our unoffending sailors and the Government
of Chile go aquit of responsibility. In fact, the conduct of this
Government during the war in Chile pursued those lines of international
duty which we had so strongly insisted upon on the part of other nations
when this country was in the throes of a civil conflict. We continued
the established diplomatic relations with the government in power until
it was overthrown, and promptly and cordially recognized the new
government when it was established. The good offices of this Government
were of