Towards the close of 1890, a revolution occurred in
Chile, South America.
It was the result of certain abuses of power on the part of the
President of that republic, and the conflict was carried on with great bitterness between his adherents and the revolutionary party with the Chilean Congress at its head.
Early in the course of the war almost the entire Chilean navy deserted the cause of the
President and espoused that of the
[
126]
revolutionists.
Among the vessels employed by the latter was the
Itata, originally a merchant ship, but then armed and refitted as a cruiser.
In the spring of 1891 this vessel put in at the harbor of
San Diego, Cal., for the purpose of securing a cargo of arms and ammunition for the revolutionists.
The secret, however, was not well kept, and when it came to the knowledge of the
United States authorities, steps were at once taken to prevent her from accomplishing the object of her mission.
Officers acting under the neutrality laws seized the vessel and placed a
United States deputy marshal on board.
Soon afterwards, on the night of May 6, the
Itata, disregarding this action of the
United States, sailed away from
San Diego with the
American officer on board.
The latter, however, was landed a few miles south of
San Diego.
the
Itata then took on board, from the American schooner
Robert and Minnie, a cargo of arms and ammunition which had arrived from the
Eastern States, and immediately sailed for
Chile.
On May 9 the
United States warship
Charleston was ordered in pursuit, with instructions to take her at all hazards.
The chase lasted twenty-five days. the
Charleston reached the bay of
Iquique first, and there learned that the revolutionists, fearing to provoke the hostility of the
United States, had resolved to surrender the
Itata to the authorities of that country.
A few days later that vessel, upon arriving at
Iquique, was promptly given over to the
United States officers.
She was manned with an American crew, and sent back to the harbor of
San Diego, where it was intended she should remain until the settlement of the question at issue concerning her cargo and her responsibility to the
United States.
The Chilean war, however, was brought to a close in the autumn by the complete success of the revolutionary forces, and the case against the
Itata was allowed to drop.
About the same time another complication arose between
Chile and the
United States.
While the United States cruiser
Baltimore was in the harbor of
Valparaiso, a party of her sailors became involved in a riot with the Chileans, Oct. 16, 1891.
In the course of the melee several sailors were wounded, of whom two died; thirty-six were arrested by the authorities.
When the news of the affair reached the
United States it created considerable excitement.
On Oct. 23
President Harrison despatched a message to
United States Minister Egan at
Santiago, demanding reparation, and two war-ships were sent to the country.
On Dec. 11, the Chilean minister of foreign affairs,
Matta, sent a communication, which became known as the “
Matta note.”
The Chilean request for
Mr. Egan's recall, and the phraseology of the “
Matta note,” gave offence at
Washington, and in January, 1892, the
President despatched a protest to the Chilean government, and on Jan. 25 sent a message to Congress.
Meantime at
Valparaiso an inquiry was held on the riot, and three Chileans were sentenced to penal servitude.
President Montt, who had now been inducted into office, directed the minister of foreign affairs to withdraw the “
Matta note” and also the request for
Minister Egan's recall, and
Chile paid an indemnity of $75,000.
The affair was variously interpreted in the
United States: by enemies of the administration as the bullying of a weaker power; by the administration's friends as an instance of a vigorous national policy.
During 1893 and 1894
Chile was shaken by several domestic revolutions, during which much American property was destroyed.
In November, 1895, Señor Barros, a liberal, formed a cabinet and paid to the
United States $250,000 for damage done during the revolutions.
In 1896
Chile concluded peace treaties with all her neighbors.
China 
