Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-02-11
AN CITIZEN.

Personally it does not much matter
that Mr.. George Francis Train was
arrested and detained by tho British
authorities on his landing at Cork, not
long ago. For Mr.. Train by no means
is the embodiment Of the dignity OF
American citizenship. He is an eccen-
trio, conceited, windy fellow, not lack
ing u certain sort of talent, but utterly
wanting in common sense. He is o
mouomaniac on the subject Of personal
notoriety, and no doubt expects to coin
his late incarceration Into money. But
Mr.. Train, with all his faults and short
comings, is an American citizen. And
the humblest, no less than the highest,
Of the order is entitled to protection the
world over. In that respect, the United
States Government has been. insulted
bv his arrest and detention, and must
take notice Of it. If England chooses
to sit shiveriug with foolish fears on
her own domain, nobody will seriously
object. But when she counsels with
her fears in her reception Of travellers,
she takes one step more than either
courtesy or national respect will justify.
Mr.. Train has been released, and if con-
sidered an unsafe visitor, it is easy
enough to bring the evidence thereof
forward, and to turn him away from
British soil. But no canuot DO held q
prisoner because he addressed an Irish
meeting in Now York, and carried a
| copy Of an Irish newspaper in his carpet
sack. But let US not arrogate more to
the prerogative of an American than
belongs to it. Such u citizen must
respect the laws Of the country he may
visit Us fully as il he were its subject.
He can never rise superior to the
law wherever he may go. Travelling is,
for the most part, q voluntary act. The
traveller chooses to see more Of the
world, and so long MS he conforms to
the laws and customs Of the countries
he may visit, he is entitled TO progress
unmolested. PROFESSIONALLY our rep
resentatives IN foreign countries are
bound to see him righted when ~wrouged.
They are not, however, entitled to be
heard in demand for the release Of any
couutrymau who has broken u law to
preserve order, or to protect property
or life. There is u limit to interference
in behalf of visiting c%outrymen. This
limit was seen in tho punishment OF
American thieves who practised their
art at the Paris Exposition last year.
None Of those skillful gentry appealed
to our agents in Paris for assistance,
nor would they have received assist
ance, save in so far as it related to a
fair trial. But neither Mr.. Train, nor
the gentlemen in his company, were
thieves or murderers. They may, prob
ably do, incline to favor Fenianism.
They may have been openly in favor Of
| that Brotherhood in this country. But
Britain cannot arrest and incarcerate Q
man for his doings here. Though Mr..
Train might have addressed every Circle
in America before he left for Europe, so
long rs he refrained from seditious Ian
guage on British soil, and from med
ding with matters prohibited, any in-
reference with his freedom to come and
90 in Ireland, in England, or Scotland,
was unwarrautable and should be re-
sented by the Government of which he
is u constituent. And this applies to
every American citizen who has been
detained by the British authorities for
| alleged similar reasons.