National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-07
A snub Which Did Not Disturb MIR.
RlniuC.

"a 1uNb " mon Alitl Nui biNAhEb NAhs
Blaine.
The British government now holds in
Jail American citizens upon unsupported
accusations of violation of the coercion
act This act authorizes the imprson-
ment Of unconvicted persons and pro-
yides against their having a trial Min
lister Lowell says that he asked TO be in
formed Of the particulars of the charge
in onoof these cases To this Lord Gran
vile replied, substantially, that it was
none of his busincss that the law
allowed British subjects to be
imprisoned without any knowledge
of the oficnscs with which they
were charged, and any American citizen
foundo on British soil must be liable to the
same treatment. In short, Great Britain
claims the right to deprive our citizens
of personal liberty without explanation
because she exercises that power over
her own subjects. Here is letter from
our Minister ut London TO an imprisoned
American citizen who had applied to him
for interference:
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
LoNDoS sept. 80.
Mn. y. McSwEESEV.
SIR have to acknowledge tho reception Of
your letter ofthc 27th instant, and In compliance
with your request therein contained herewith
enclose the certificate of citizenship and copy of
warrant Of your arrest. 50 far from treating your
appeal with contempt" It Is proper for me to say
that on the 10th Of June last addressed note to
Lord Granville, stating your American citizenship
nnd your denial that you had ever melted any
people in Ireland to riot but, on the contrary, had
advised against the commission Of crime and the
violation OF the law. also stated that should be
glad TO be informed Of the particulars of the
charge against you.
Lord Granville, in his reply Of the 2sth Of June,
declined to recognize any distinction between the
| liability of foreigners and British subjects In re-
spcct of unlawful nets committed within the
| limits Of British jurisdiction. lie added that the
government had no reason to believe that there
was ground to suppose that American citizens had
met with exceptional treatment. And In another,
dated the Sth of July last he stated in regard TO
my request to be furnished with the particulars of
the unlawful acts alleged to have been committed
| by Mr.. Walsh that the government could mako
| no distinction between foreigners and British sub
jecls aud that IN the case of the latter the only
! information that could be given was that con-
| taincd in the warrant.
Under these circumstances, and In the absence
Of amy information showing that your case was
different from that Of the great majority of othcr
when parties were arrested under the coercion
act, did not think 1t proper to intervene any nir
thcr in your behalf I am sir, your obcdicnt ser.
want J. Il. LOWELL.
Without any pretcnsion to much
knowledge of international law, it occurs
to us that there is some limit to this plea
that the municipal law of a nation is a
sufiicicnts explanation for outrages upon
the persons of the citizens of friendly
nation. When Minister Adams rcmon.
strated to Earl Russell during our civil wal
against the sailing of war-cruisers
from English ports under the confederate
flag, that sturdy Briton poohed at hin
aud told him that the municipal laws of
England had not been violated, and that
we must submit to any outrage that was
not in violation of English law. Bu
that did not square the account. Afte
the war Great Britain paid our GorerTmen
Sl5,0OO,OO0 for wrongs inflicted upon on
citizens in strict accordance lcih Engtisl
municipal iaw 1t may be tina
every American citizen who happen
to have trusted himself TO British
hospitality may be snapped up under TIN
coercion act and incarceratcd in prison
and that our Government may be snubbet
for asking what oheuses they have com
mitted. 1t may be that it will be u suf
fcient answer for our Minister to be toll
that the tyrannical acts are no wors
than England perpetrates on her owl
subjects. But such is not the doctrin
laid down in the Alabama treaty as /
the efficacy of England's municipal Ia,
as defense for wrongs committed agains
our citizens.
Is it tnot strange that during the month
of October and November, when vigol
Gus foreign policy prevailed under Nj
Blaine's premiership, there was no wor
of rebuke from him of this arbitrary con
duct on the part of John Bull ? But ther
, are no guano deposits in Ireland.
KANSAS will elect her three extra Congressme
at large but Texas IS to be redlstrcted so as to in
cude her entire eleven, II is to lie hoped thl
the Lone star State will not undertake to put
veto on Mr.. &. Wash Joncs's ambition by gerry
Wandering him out Of n chance to run for Cor
gress on Liberal Republican, National Green
back anti Bourbon.a ything to. bC.clectcd pla
form somewhere in the STATE Washington Post.
The Post will find that "Mr. G.. Was
Jones" is hard man even for Boul
bon Legislature TO sit down on. Their
= might be such Il thing a. gorrymanderin
- him into the gubernatorial chair
THERE is great fuss over the questio
of how the midnight telegraphic order t
, President Garfield, sent by Whitela
: Reid through Johnny Hay, became pul
lie. There need be 10 mystery about i
1t was read to General Garfield in tn
presence of halfa dozen men, and was
far from being private as the editorials
> the New York Tribune.
$ THE PuLPITS POWER.
, Rev. Dr. PaTiOn's First sermon Under II
New Pastorate in New York.
2 NJ the West Presbyterian Church, Fouy.secor
sirppt the DastOr- elect. the RUV John r. pAytO