National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-04
BRITISH BASTILES.
AMERICAS CITIZENS IN JAIL.
Letter from Man Who Suffered for Eleven Year,
In a Dungeon Relative TO Mr.. Orth's Reso.
luton in the House-Cases In
POint-.An Earnest Appeal.

Edward oMeagher Condor, who suffered 81
many years In British dungeon, writes 10 THt
REPUBLICAN, rs follows;
The resolution OF Hon. Mr.. Orth, Just passed In
the House by unanimous vote, respecting Amerl.
can citizens In British prisons will, IL Is to be
hoped lead TO prompt and energetic action on be-
half Of our fellow .cltizens now undergoing tn,
punishment of felons In Ireland without trial
conviction, or sentence Though the events foi
some time past Transporting In Ireland are only par.
italy known TO the general public through the
control exercised by the British government ovei
the telegraph, yet enough has been shown TO justify
the most prompt and determined action by oul
Government on behalf OF our incarcerated. fellow
Citizens am not unaware that individuals hay,
been found to depreoate and dCuounce any pre-.
sumed or prospective action on the part Of oui
Government to do anything which might cause
any sympathy with the still suffering victimi
OF that despVtism to whose overthrow America
natural and traditional feeling OF our people viii
not be influenced to ony extent by British or pro.
British open or insidious efforts TO warp or dis
tort H.
AT THE PRESENT MOMENT,
without going into the general question OF VIVA
obligations America is under to the British gov,
eminent and what to the Irish nation, Il appear
only necessary to show the course pursued by oui
Government In the past under somewhat similar
circumstances IN order 10 indicate what should be
expected now on behalf of our fellow veitizcns
Although the children and even grandchildren
OF those born under British rule were held TO BE-
British subjects by the laws Of the Georges
yet, In consequence of certain proceeding
at Yorktown, those laws became inopera
tiye on American soil though they were
still enforced ut sea, until some rather emphati,
expressions Of dissent on the part Of the United
states in lsi2.H caused their notification or
that element also. Coming down 10 lSlS we fine
That the British government became apprehep
siye, during the general upheRval in Europe
that the Irish might initiate the example Of
the Americans. II became moreover impressed
with the belief that Americans sympAthized with
freedom In every land, and especially in Ire.
land, and that they might speak and even act on
her Delnlt III occasion demanded. a secret order
was accordingly Issued commanding the arrest Of
all Americans found In Ireland Vigorous pro.
test was made by our Government 10 which tht
order soon became known, and IL wns altered so AZ
to apply TO citizens Of Irish birth only The other
were TO be liberated, but watched. This amiabl,
cong esson AID not. however, satisfy the United
BUCHANAN WROTE TO Bar.Aarr
in December 1913 that IAN invidious and offensive
distinction has been made against American citi,
zens. They have been placed In n worse and
more degrading position than those OF any othei
OF The world" "THe distinction between nativ,
and naturalized citizens Is invidious and unjust
obligations 70 protect both CLASSES are In all 70
tween the and the other nor permit this TO b.
done without protesting and demonstrating II
| the strongest manner" Bancroft, theI
Minister at London, had previously written
| The law is thoroughly arbitrary and dcspotlc
Yet am always answered that ii isthe law Of tn,
land" at is utterly dcspotc in its character, ye
| II received the sanction Of Parliament" on hear
| ing of the arrest of r. r. RYAN, of the Cincinnati
bar IOuCey, al interim secretary OF STATE wrote tt
bancroft; 1t will be the right and the duty fthe
Government 10 seethnt those arrested have the full
benefit of legal defense In the present instance II
beyond the strict limit Of securing them
II full and fair trial" In consequence of the de-
| termincd stand taken by our Government. Ryan
and anothcr-tho only ones then in prlson-6efe
released, and the Secretary writes TO the Minister
| that "their liberation affords evidence almost
| existed for these orders" The same remark APP
plies exactly TO the case of Boyton lately released.
IN THE CASH OF MARTIN KosTRA
| the Hungarian who came here declared his in-
tention of becoming a citizen, and amer remain
| ing one year and eleven months, went to Smyrna,
where he was taken by the Austrians and put ON
graham demanded his release. gave his capio
ready for action. declared that # The pr i
would be taken by force, He was reyased
and the Government approved Of In<rahanl
action. Kcsras release was demanded OH the
ground that he had taken steps. TO become an
American citizen At a later day, November no,
| Secretary Seward wrote TO NUiser Adams:
| In the practice which has Obtained OF an indefinite
suspension of the habeas corpus In time fpesceand
with no declared insurrsction in Ireland while
| The privileges Of the wrlt remain undisluroed Y
England aud Scotland. The practice especially
| operates TO discriminate dangerously aSalns one
class of citizens of the United States when SO
| journing abroad, that class being one that
though Disseminated against in Great Britain
| ton FROM the United States" Much more might
| be quoted If time permitted to prove thai ouI
| Government has hitherto respected and caused
other governments TO respect the rights Of It's ci,
gems, native or nauralized. We only ask on behalf
or those now imprisoned by the British thai they
SHALL HAVE 4 FAIR TRIAL
or DO set free. II they have broken English so.
called law, why not prove the breach2 Why moi
give them an opportunity OF confronting their ac'
ensers? Docs any one suppose that u Is merci.
full feeling which prevents this from being donei
Or rather does not every one know that II Is the
fact that there is no proof whatever that those men
have DTokpu the " law ~ which thpir
ing brought 10 trial and punished2 Now, az
formerly, citizens Of this Republic are
thOrties, and again do they attempt
to introduce the distinction between native and
natunliZed citizens, attempted with so much III.
success before. Mr.. Redpath, Mr. Locke, ana
many other native born citizens have come safely
out of Ireland, though giving vent TO strong and
they witnessed. in most vigorous and emphatic
language, too, while the hish born citizen who
prison as a reasonable suspect Ii is time thai
tins should be stopped. AZ one who has spent the
best years OF his
LIFE IN a BRITISH DUNGEON,
incredible and intolerable sufierings endured
there, am anxious and eager to sec those now
pining and perishing under the some system BET
free. AS one who has seen q brave and faithful
comrade and soldier in the war for the Union con.
victed OH The evidence Of bribed and perjured
witnesses by packed jury sentenced by
special commission, and strangled by an
English hangman, ! feel that no hesita.
in obtaining any sort Of testimony which
may give color to its proceedings In furnishing
those whom II hates, and that consequently il Is
necessary to do as has been done belore--pTocurc
legal aid and give all needed assistance TO those OF
our citizens who are now in British prisons And
as one who, al the request OF tue officers OF tho
National and Congressional Republican Commit.
tee, has exerted himself for the success OF thcrY
party seeking no personal advantage sipuiating
for no prelerment or reward, but asking-and re.
ceiving from the highest source-the assurance
that friendly and generous feeling would Os
TOWARD THE IRISH PEOPLE,
earnestly hope for the needed promplness In car
rying out the inquiry called for by Mr. Orths Teso'
luton and such further action may be necessary
10 obtain the deveranee of our fellow -cizens, on
the part of the administration aud the majority in
Congress, believing confidently that from the mi
nority there will be no serious if any, opposition
q belief sustained by the warm and earnest sup.
port given 20 the resolution by the Hon. Mr., Cox.
This is not, however, party question; II Is one
which concerns the Nation. Those whose relief Is
sought have only done what certainly no citizen
Of this Republic would have hesitated TO do.
expressed their adherence at the outrages on
humanity, decency, and civilization perpetrated
account Of business, health, or pleasure, they
had no ulteTior motives no intention of III
terfering with the British government. II
is certain that through prompt and en-,
their release can be effected, and 1t Ia 10 be hoped
earnestly that such action may result from the
resolution lust before the House, and that the
dignity, honor, and rights OF citizenship may be
asserted and maintained In manner worthy Of the
greatness Of the Republic and the love OF liberty
OF Its people.
Senators Saunders and Van wyck, ofNebrOskA
telegraphed to Omaha last Tuesday follows
awe are assured that Omaha need have no nppTes
hension as TO the removal Of military headquar
Sers." This refers to q paragraph published
The REPUBLICAN some time since 10 the eeot