The Rock Island Argus., 1882-04-19

ican sloop-of war, the st. Louis, Capt. In
graham commanding. had, with shotted
guns and lighted matches, rescued, in
distant sea, from chains, dungeons.
and certain death, the person OF
wanderer and an exile, who
had barely touched our shores,
but who, in that brief stay had clothed
himself with the mantle of American ma
tionaiity The imperial house of Hapsbnrg
demanded that the government OF the
United States should deliver him up to
Austrian vengeance; that it should disavow
the conduct of Captain Ingraham and all
the American agents in the affair, punish
them severely, and then tender to Austria
such satisfaction as she might deem pro-
portionate to the outrage complained OF;
and, in order TO enforce this demand upon
the United States. Austria applied to the
principle powers of Europe, and actually
induced them 10 warn and admonish this
government in regard to its duty in the
premises 1t was under these circumstances
with the whole world looking on, and all
Europe in sympathy with Austria, that
Marcy wrote his immortal communication
to the representative of Austrian power
and despotism. The Hungarian refugee
was not delivered up; the conduct OF In
graham and the other American agents at
Smyrna was not disavowed; they were not
punished; they were honored, and no other
kind of satisfaction than this was ever ten
dered to the empire of Austria. (Manifes
tations of applause in the galleries.) Now
an American secretary of state is content
for the British government to inform him
distinctly, through the American minister
that it is none OF his business why Amer
ican citizens are in British jails; that the
cause of their arrest will not be given, and
that they shall neither be tried nor releasz
ed The contrast is complete; it can gs
no further.
Mr. Voorhees, concluded as follows:
There are nearly 10000, 600 American
citizens and inhabitants now of foreign
birth They come not here as aliens in
blood, with race prejudices against them.
They are our kindred; their blood and ours
commingle. We are of common parent
stock Shall they be denied the pro-
lection of those institutions which
they helped to purchase at so dear a cost,
and which they have done so much to up
hold and honor? Sir there are now five
senators on this floor who were born sub
iects of Great Britain-three in Ireland,
one in Scotland and one in England. Shall
they fall under the law of suspicion if they
should revisit their native homes be ar
rested at the pleasure of the British gov
ernment, cast into dungeons without
sworn charge, and held there Indefinitely
without trial? They arc as liable TO such
fate as Daniel McSweeney or any other
naturalized citizen, and under the servile
policy of the department of state and Mr.
Lowell, they would remain in their cells
instead of returning to their seats in this
body. 1t has been announced that an emf
nent American woman contemplates a
visit to her imprisoned son in Ireland.
Mrs. Pafnell would doubtless be arrested
as suspect" There is a two fold reason
why the suspicion of British spies would
haunt her-she is the mother of one who
believes his people ought to have chance
to own their homes, and who loves liberty
and Justice well enough to suffer for them.
She is likewise the daughter of Stewart, of
the Ironsides, who saluted the British flag
en- the high seas in 1912 to better purpose
and with far greater propriety than the
salute of October last at Yorktown. Ap-
plause in the galleries. l plead for the
right of this woman, and of all women and
men of foreign birth, or with foreign al
liances, to visit their kindred, share in their
joys and their sorrows, look upon the
graves of their forefathers, and caress the
loved ones they left behind them, without
molestation or hindrancc from any power
whatever, as long as they break no law. |
There is not a question as TO the people of
any one nativity; it is not an Irish nor a
German question; it applies to every cline
md land, and it effects their rights and |
their safety on whatever sea or shore they
nay wander 1t will be settled at no dis
sant day in accordance with American |
lonor. The people of the United States |
nave too proud sense of justice and of |
heir own strength and glorious destiny to
submit longer to the policy of party |
which permits the American citizen, the |
American flag and the American name to |
'e outraged with impunity by foreign na
ions, lApplause in the galleries