The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-05-04

Thu People Of The United Stat. Have too Prosd Sense Il
Justice and their Owa Strength ad cIsrieu DMtily h
srhmt Longer 10 Policy Wiki Permits tho American
Ci!l,n. ths American Flag, and Tho American Name u \
Outraged With lnpaniy by Foreign a,tena'
SENATE CHAB.H,
WASHINGTON. d. G.. April Ia. 1852.
DO President pro tempore of tho Senate to-
day presented the following resolutions, which
were adopted by the great mass-meeting held
at Cooper Union, New York, April 81
RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.
Revolutions Paused BY tie Citizens Of New York. IN
Aass-Meeting Assembled. At Cooper Union. april 5,
1882 Hon. William r. Grace. Mayor. Presiding.
WHEREAS. There are now confined in English pris-
ons . number OF American citizens, some OF whom
have been deprived Of their liberty for ten months
or more and whereas those imprisoned men sre un-
convicted Of any offence against law but are held in
confinement merely on "susricion Of having said
or done things not to the liking Of some in Dub
lin Castle; and whereas those imprisoned Ameri-
have pesistenty protested their innocence and
have repeatedly demanded . trial. In conformity
even with English law. but In vain and whereas
the Government Of this Republic owes protection to
it, citizens Ut home and abroad In lieu Of tho alo-
glance which il exacted from them In return ana
whereas. furthermore. by an act Of our National
legislature passed by both houses Of Congress. and
approved by the Executive. July 81 1885, 1t II made
the duty of the President Of the United States when
it becomes known that citizen Of this country
has been "unjustly deprived Of his liberty under
any foreign government forthwith to demand Of
that government the reasons for such imprison-
ment and. II 1t appear to DO in violation Of the
rights Of American citizenship. tie Psesdent sAoH
rthciM demand the release Of sch citizen, and tho
release demanded is unreasonably delayed or re-
fused, the President shall use such means, mot
amounting to acts Of - he may think necessary
and proper to enectuate the release =; and whereas
that duty yet remains unperformed. although tho
facts challenging attention to its requirement have
become matters Of common notoriety: Be it thero-
fore
Heso'red That we. the citizens of New York, IRE
spective Of creed extraction. political afa-
tion. desire to express our earnest sympathy for
those imprisoned citizens aud our deep displeasure
1t the official neglect or evasion Of duty which has
abandoned them to the mercies Of their unscrupu-
10 jailers:
Resolved That the sycophantic bearing Of James Rus
sell LOWELL our Minister ut the Court Of st. James.
joined with his supercilious replies to tho appeals
ofour unlawiully imprs med fellow citizens has been
viewed by with mingled feelings Of disgust and in
dignation that his conduct. II endorsed will de-
and that the honor OF the nation demands his recall
and the substitution of some man in his place who
has the will and the ability to discharge the functions
Of the Office:
Resolved. That, to quote the observation Of Vice
President Davis. there were no treaty to protect
them international comfy. and the constantly
fessed friendship between Great Britain and the
Unit, States entitled these imprisoned citizens to
at least the rights under the boosted law -
Rssolred That. in the language Of President Madi.
sons Message. January l. 1912, "our moderation
and Cancellation toward England have had NO other
effect than to encourage her perseverance and TO
large her pretensions !" that then now, I've be-
hold citizens tho daily victims Of her lawless
violence" that. IN the words OF Thomas Jefferson.
elm spite Of treaties England IL still enemy -
that the professions Of friendship she makes to
rs are hollow pretence. which II put forward in :
time Of perplexty created by the operations Of her
Ubiquitous laws in Ireland. and ought to be inter-
preted - the tribute which the hypocrisy Of the
British Empire pays to the rising power Of the
American Republic;
Resolped That the hunkeyism which airs itself In
Ang!icized circles in this countryside acctation for
English ways. the Difference for English opinion the
apng OF English manners-is to be viewed - the
manifestation OF bastard Americanism which u at
enmy with democratic institutions that It 10 en-
trey torei to the spirit of the fathers that haa
ito our humiliation be it said emasculsted the
gies Of official life which in other days asserted
American rights with dignity and hrmness; and
that II not vigorously throtted by the genius Of the
Republic may sap the foundations and change the
very form OF the Government itself;
Reso ued That. Notwithstanding the profound
sympathy which true Americans feel for Ireland and
her cause since that is kin that OF the spirit
of TO- the issues now involved constitute not IN
Irish question. nor an English question. but simply
AN AMERICAN QUESTION that it should be con
sidered aud decided altogether on its merits: and
that respectfully but co nestly request Chester
A. Arthur President OF the United States In compl
sncs with the duty imposed upon him by law. t.
forthwith demand Of the British Government the
prompt release Of American citizens now unjustly
deprived Of liberty by and under said Government
and urge fellowctzens of other cities OF thu
Union to initiate the example thus set them to. might
by the metropolis of America:
Resolved. That the Chairman aud Secretary Of Thu
meeting he requested to Onward copy Of these Res
utions the President and Vice President to ever,
member OF the Cabinet. and TO every member Of tn,
Senate and House OF Representatives Of the United
States
Attest
WIZ R. GRACE. Chairman of Meeting
PATRICK FORD. Chairman Com. of Arrang to
JOHN P. BROPHY. Secretary of Meeting.
A. +. FORD. Secretary.
The resolutions, the reading Of which Va.
listened to with marked degree Of attention
were referred to the Committee on Foreign Re
lations Then, after some ordinary work had
been disposed OF, Senator Voorhees, Of Indian,
rose and began his great speech, Protection
Of American Citizens Abroad" which he intro
duced with the following resolution
Resolre5. That the conduct of the State Department
of this Government in relation to the arrest and i'm
prisonment of Daniel McSweenay and other Ameri
can citizens by the authorities of Great Britain 10 II
violation o. American law. inconsistent with tn
value Of American citizenship. and derogatory TO tn
honor Of the United States.
Mr.. Voorhees, said Mr.. President the reso
luton just read relates to . question vital +
the rights and liberties of the American people
AZ much SO as any asserted in the Declaration
of Independence or secured on the fields Of thl
Revolution.
The security, the dignity, and the inviolabilit!
Of American citizenship constitute, more thai
all other things combined, the strength ant
honor of this Government. A government
which il indifferent to the tate of its own citi
zens, whether at home or abroad, which fa,ls t
respond boldly and swiftly to their appeals 10
justice and leaves them to waste away thel
lives in prisons, untried, uncontrolled, 10 IN
worthy OF allegiance and ought not to hav
and will not long retain respectable posiuol
among the independent powers Of the earth.
If the citizen fails to keep upright faith Wit
His government, and bear true obedience to II
laws in peace and in war. be Weakens, and POI
haps totally destroys his claim npon that gov
eminent for protection. II the government II
self, however, abandons tho citizen TO injustlc
and oppression, permits HIM to 30 stripes
naked Of all legal security or defense, turns