The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-17
'rIrE MANITOBA FARCE.

Although the authorities at Washington
have received no official notice of the af-
fair at Fort Garry, they have, of course,
been unoflicially advised thereof, and have
taken occasion to intimate the course they
propose to pursue, when their attention is
called to the matter. The State department
is unable to see show diplomatic matter
can he made of it," and why Simply for
the reason that the government will not in
tcrfcrc in the matter. These. officers from
Minnesota having crossed the boundary line
into the territory or state of Manitoba, for
the purpose of kidnapping a fugitive from
justice or an ''escaper" from his bail, upon
British soil, and having succeeded so far in
their object as to get Gordon into their
clutches, but not in abducting him, they
were arrested by the local authorities, and
held for trial for a violation of the law.
Upon this state of facts for such they now
appear to be--we can see no reason for
making a diplomatic matter out of it.
The government propose, as they should
do, to let the matter severely alone. 1t is
ntmated, moreover, that in the event of
the conviction of these kidnappers, the
government will then, if it does any thing
at all, ''do the only thing it can do, that is,
''lnterpose its good Offices" This it always
does in all cases whether person is right
fully or wrongfully convicted. 1t took
this course, and only this course, in tho
case of the Fenian prisoners in confinement
in England, in whose cases, or with some
of them, it was a matter of grave doubt
whether any offense had been committed
some of them, at least, being convicted
solely for acts done or words spoken in tho
United States. The charges which were
presented against them, as well as thu
whole record of their trial, showing this
and only this. The government might
with propriety, and, perhaps, should have
gone further than this and permptorily
demanded their release, but it only 'exer
ciscl its good Offices" which did moi
amount to anything.
There is q little parallel in this case
which it may be well to refer to. There
is nothing like consistency of action anC
consistency Of principle. If the govern
ment is to be sustained and its authort,
respected by its citizens, owing allegianc,
thereto its laws must be faithfully and i'm
partially executed upon all offenders alike
be they rich or poor, white, black or cop
per colored So, if as a nation we are Il
be respected and feared by other nations
we must be governed by the same rules an,
principles of international law whethe
the nation, we are dealing with, be ricl
and powerful, or poor and defenseless, an
we must exact the same treatment for our
selves. Take this case for example. Coz
don had committed depreciation upon on
or more of our citizens to the amount o
over thirty-seven thousand dollars, escape,
into British territory with his plumber, an,
those who had suffered, or their officer
and agents, pursued him over the line an,
took him prisoner, but before they coul,
return with their captive, they were, il
turn, captured and thrown into prison
where the United States proposes to lie
him remain A short time ago, some con
per colored individuals were supposed I,
have been making some depredations
though 1t transpired that they were limo
cent--they were pursued into Mexico, as |