Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-09
u.rtmaup. the Russian Nihilist.

Assistant Secretary Of State Hill,
speaking Of the case of the Russian Nj
hilist, Hartmann, who recently arrived on
our shores, expresses the opinion that this
government has the right to turn Hart
mann over to the Russian authorities, Il
they should request it as matter OF IN
ternational comfy. Egypt gave Surratt
to our government, Spain turned Tweed
over to the United States authorities.
and Portugal delivered up Angel, the
defaulung treasurer of the Pullman Car
Company, st the request of the Secreta-
" of State. He afirms that murder
is a murder, whether the motive
behind it be political or personal,
and that the plea, therefore, that
crime had been committed to serve
political end, would not secure erimi-
nal protection by this government A
Washington dispatch says that the fact
that no extradition treaty exists between
this government and Russia would
probably not retard the surrender of q
criminal. should his surrender be asked,
for there is s decided aversion on the
part of the authorities here to letting the
impression 60 abroad that criminals can
find safe refuge in this country, much
less federation of their inhammstory talk
or announcement in their murderous de-
signs.
The New York Commercial Bulletin
thinks if the government were to yield
TO the popular impulse and deliver up
Hartmann to the Russian Government
we would have pretty big business on
hand. 1t SAYS:
eve have in New York to day at least
dozen of would-be regicides, along with
we do not know how many other people
who are opposed to about every existing
form of government in Europe, and Chi
cago and other Western cities are swarm
ing with them, some halling from Ger
many, some from Rome, some from
Paris, including Communists, who have
not scrupled at TOmpkins Square mass
meetings 10 boast of the blOwings up and
the petroleum CONGREGATIONS in which
they took part during the reign Of
terror there not many years ago. These
people have found safe asylum here,
and neither the German Kaiser nor
the French President has ventured
upon the experiment Of demanding
their return OF asking Uncle Sam to be
his policeman If the Nihilist fugitive
Is TO be surrendered, these people are
naturally asking, where is the surrender
ing to stOpf The Bulletin must refer
them to the State Department at Wash
ingtOn, some of the officials connected
with which, by the way, within the day
| or two past have been uttering views
touching extradition which are novel. 10
say the least Of it. Both in the State
Department and in that portion of
the press which is understood TO re-
| feet It's impressions, one cannot
/ help thinking there is urgent need of
clearer comprehension of the past policy
/ of the government in such or similar
cases than at present prevails. A good
| beginning to that end, possibly, would
be the republication of Secretary Mar
cy's memorable dispatch to the Cheva-
| lier HulSemann, during the admlnistra-
/ ton of President Pierce, declining to
surrender Martin Kostza 10 the Austrian
| Government. KOsiZs's case. it is true,
was in some respects a different one
from that of Leo Hartmann; but II gave
rise to a discussion of principles Of in
ternational law and internationally,
which ran much 10 the same groove.
Whether Hartmann was in danger Of
being surrendered by our government OF
not, it is gratifying to know that he did
not feel himself safe on American soil,
and that he has gone to seek protection
Of the British flag in Canada. Il would
be a good radiance if all of Lis Tx in
New York, Chicago and elsewhere would
follow his example. Just now is not a
good time for political assassins to seek
refuge in this country.