The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-09
English, Irish and American Views on
the Great Puzzle.
WILL HE DO ANY GOOD?
Hogan's Slogan to the Tip
perarianS.
WHAT THE THUNDERER THINKS.

WHAT THE THUNDERER THINKS.
John Mitchell. Esq. NJ. P. for rpperary, has
not only given "Dlzzy," MIR. Bright Mr.. Whaliey,
the Irish home rulers and the British Parliament
generally something TO do-a pleasant, spicy re-
lief from the ordinary wearisome routine OF par
liamentary dulness-Dut he has furnished
irish fellow citizens and those Interested in inter-
national questions with an exciting theme OF con-
versaton. Has he a right TO claim a seat In the
British Parliament the lawyers ask Can his
admission to Parliament help the Irish cause? IN
qures tue Irish patriot. Who, Will come OF this
funny episode in parliamentary history! queries
the Indifferent reader who views the affair simply
from the standpoint OF curiosity, ana is glad OF
any occurrence that will I'LL his favorIte news
paper with plquant and exciting reading.
vICIssIrUDEs OF AN IRISH PATRIOT.
There Is another element OF local interest which
must not be passed over John Mitcnel apart
IRON being u great eauer OF Fenianism, has flg-
ured so conspicuously in this country ana espe-
cally in New York that great many who care but
little for the Irish patriot, take rather lively IN
terest in the man and his extraordinary history.
To see the eX-cOnvict OF Australia the eX-rebel OF
the SOUTH the ex.edi.or OF the Irish Citizen and
the ex-envoy OF the Fenians in Paris, turn up
again IN the role oil the honorable member for the
county Of ripperary, aud as the prospective COL
league Of Disraeli and Gladstone, affords another
curious illustration OF the changes which the
whiriigig OF time may bring iortn And what Is
the sentiment OF New York as regards this extra
ordinary case? The opinions given below are
selected from various classes OF the community.
prominent Engshman, high in Official station,
thinks nat Mitchell Is yet an American citizen and
would therefore be deDarred from sitting in Par.
hament, even II he were not disqualified from
doing SO by the TACT OF his being an ex-convict.
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
An Irish gentleman well known among his coun-
srymen for his patriotism and loyalty to the irish
cause thought that Mitchel's disqualification as
rebel and his subsequent refusal to take tho oath
Of allegiance deprived him OF all claims to Amer
lean citizenship. Mr.. Agernon s. Sullivan, the
distinguished lrtsh-American lawyer who looked
at the question from purely legal point OF view,
concurred In this opinion, at the same time ex-
pressing high opinion OF the personal qualities OF
John Mitche. These, or course, are but repre-
sentative views; they are taken from among
large number OF opinions gathered yesterday. 1t
was quito evident that there Is no tendency in
New York among any class OF people to Geplore
the refusal OF Parliament TO admit Mitchell to his
seat. On the contrary, manf OF his best friends
think that 1t Is the best thing Tor HIN, Tor Ireland
ana for the cause OF home rule that could have
an event OF importance IN Shaping the destinies
Of Ireland, for the opinion prevails among those
VINO know the physical lnnrmilv or the man that
be would not i've long to raise the echoes OF West.
minister Hall.
VIEWS OF MR.. SULLIVAN.
Mr.. Algernon s. sullivan gave an interesting
opinion, which he delivered with that cleai.
ness and impresslveness peculiar 70 MS re-
.'ur. Mitchel's case Is difficult one Tor US
Americans TO understand. We know him per-
and MS polite manners. His fortunes interest
us, but cannot perceive how he can be eligible to
q scar in Parliament. always understood be had
become naturallzed citizen OF the United States,
ana as such his status was subject to all treaty
Btipulatons his adopted country. The late treaty
between Great B!i,aln tthe allegiance TO wnicn
Mr.. Mitchell had renounced) and the United States
had for It's CHIEF purpose to settle the questions OF
expaLrIaton and naturalization OF the respective
SUBJECTS OF the two countries. The treaty limits
TO two years from its ratification me right OF any
naturallZed ciL'Zeu to reassune the allegiance OF
his nativity. Mr. Mitchell does not claim, so far as
AN informed, TO have complied with the conditions
to be that lie Is an American citizen and ineligible
to the position proposed of him n parl smens
waited TO the most honorable positions."
VIEWS OF A wELL-xNOwN PATRIOT.
patriot a noted publisher, who was ior many
years one OF MitchePs best friends. form q striking
contrast to those quoted above: he ., was Of the
American citizen. lie lost his British citizenship
by MS convection as a felon and the legal conse-
quences OF this conviction He lost his American
citizenship BY espouslng the rebel cause and re-
iusing to lake the oath OF allegiance when Presl-
dent Johnson's ofier OF amnesty gave him an
opportunity OF political rehabilitation. According
TO this gentleman John Mitchell was In the extra
ordinary position OF o man who was citizen Of
NO nation whatsoever, could claim the protection
Of no government whatsoever, and was. In TACT.
dependent exclusively upon John Mitchell.
PERSONAL RECoLLEcTIONs
"Mr. Mitchell became citizen IN 1854" he said,
land you, probably. know as well as do mis-
mand OF Fort Sumter Although his RANK was
only that OF captain he exercised the functions
n Va 40 10 N
Buch a thorn In Jererson Davis sioe that the
latter was unwilling to promote the son. Mitchell
abused tho President Of the Southern Confederacy
~ various papers, pointing out what he considered
Toe faults or his policy. As To Michel's personal
member OF the ambulance corps in Richmond dur.
Ing the siege. Alter the rebellion hs came 10 New
vOen, ne ne the tine o %
Ners tnat ne was thrown into Fortress
to o as ws Ss suD s
he was liberated he was sent to Paris as the envoy
Of Inc Fenian cause he was under salary IN hat
parls until the breach between the two wings OF
fenanism began.
Then he rosigned refusing TO attach himself to
either party, and returned to New York where he
was popular. but It SOON lost its popularity when
i began to attack lndiscrninalcy both parties.
he attacks MIS- friends generally lar more bitterly
than his enemies"
Tho conversation then reverted to the present
aspects OF tile case, and the gentleman gave his
opinion In q Straightforward manner. "Tas great
trouble 49," said he, "that Mitchell afniates with
no party OF Ireland existing at this time. The
home rulers have on general principles stood up
Tor his right to MS seat, but they 90 not approve
OF his policy. He Ia useless In any case so far as
Ireland Is concerned; Tor even II Pariament con-
Guided TO admit him, lie would not take the GA h
OF allegiance and thus voluntarily disqualiy him.
sell to serve. IL lsa great misfortune tnat he IS
always trying TO precipitate movement: he did
20 III lS45. when no preparations oil any Kind had
been made. ana thus caused untold ruin and
misery"
MITCHEL's CONVICTION.
AllUelon was then mado 70 MlicncPS CONVICTION,
ana the speaker thought that nj Mitchell RAD not
erected HIS escape the courts would undoubtedly
nave reversed MS convection. There Is no doubt
Whatever tDat the jury beiore which no was tried
was packed. Every Catholic was carefully OK.
GUIDED ana also every Pro eetant VINO had Lne
ieast procllVlty l0r lish independence The Jurors
were ali Orangemen." Speaking o! Mitcneis po.
ntical capacity, he remarked that Mitchell had the