Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-11-27
PREcEDENTs OF OUR OWN SETTING

In 1887 there was an uprising in
Canada, intended to establish a re
publican form of government in that
country. Very naturally, there was
an intense feeling in the U. S.
of sympathy with the Patriots" as
the Canadian Republicans called
themselves, and all along the border
there was an immediate effort to
give aid and comfort to the "Pat-
riots movement. Martin VaRBuren
was then President, and he at once
issued his Proclamation warning all
American citizens to refrain from
taking part in any act against the
British government in Canada, and
giving timely notice to all who neg
lected this caution that, if they were
arrested by the Canadian govern
ment, the United States would not
interfere to secure their release or
procure their discharge from pun,
ishment.
AS was forseen quite a number
of American citizens were arrested;
and they were subsequently tried
and sentenced to transportation.
The United States Government
made no effort to save them, and
they were accordingly transported to
British penal settlements, and re-
mained there until the Queen, many
years afterward pardoned them.
In this instance the principle was
well settled that if citizen of the
United States chooses to go into
the territory of another nation, he
has no claim upon the protection of
the government whose production
he has voluntarily abandoned. He
must abide by the consequence of
his own act.
In 1850 or 1851, during the ad
ministration of Mr.. Fillmore, one of
the Crittenden family took part in a
Cuban expedition, and was captur-
de by the Canban government and
put to death. He was an Ameri-
cBn citizen; but the q. S. did not,
interfere to save him. He was a
brave young man, and belonged to
one of the first families of Kentucky
His name was a natural one and his
case excited the deepest sympathy.
But the U. S. had to abandon him
to his fate, because he had volunta-
rily given up his citizenship here
and engaged in an unlawful attempt
to overthrow the government which
finally executed him. His execu-
tion was brutal as was that of the
Virginius captives; but our govern
ment did not make that a pretext
for going to war with Spain.
In these two cases the precedent
has been fully established that cit
izen of the q. S. cannot claim the
protection Of his government while
engaged in an effort to overthrow
another government with which we
are at peace.
In the light of these precedents,
then, in what does the case of the
Virginius captives differ from those
of the Patriot" sympathizers and
of young Critenden2 Some of them
it seems, were citizens OF the U. S.;
but what were they doing on the
Virginius? What was their object
and business when captured? Was
it not their purpose to engage in the
pending effort to overthrow the es-
tablished government in Cuba? II
so, what right have they, or had
they, to claim the protection of our
government? If we did not resist
the execution of young Crittenden,
why should we go to war for them?
They took their lives in their hands,
and resolved to abide the chances,
just as the "Patriot" helpers of 1887
did, and, ourselves being judges,
their death carries with it no claim
upon us to resent it.
Precedents in course of time, be-
come laws. These precedcnts are of
our own making, and they are ce.-
tainly binding on their makers. The
wisdom of making them was well
settled, at the time; and we cannot
now, with any show of consistency
or right, ask to have them reversed.
If-and that is the point first to be
ascertained-the citizens of the U. S.
on board the Virginius were engag
ed in all act of war upon the Span
ish government,they forfeited there
by all claims upon the protection of
our government.-Pittsburg Com
mercidl.
Shakespeare is shoeing horses in