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

retire 70 our cold cells trembling with cold Il r.
quifss strong constitution to stand Il long fear
many Sf our brave fellows will succumb before the
Winter 10 over. Az wss only sentenced for sixteen
months. thought ct nrst might live Il out but
you know ! was In dslicats health when wa Ar.
rested being barely sbls TO move shout asr severe
attack or sickness.
Sir, this il picture Of wanton brutality such
% barbarians alone inhict on prisoners.
whether guilty or innocent. II shows that tho
spirit Of torture, which for 90 many spea
stained and blackened English history, 10 vet
alive and active, and especially 30 whom the
victim belongs TO government whose admin
istration cares nothing for his safety, and still
less. II possible, for ito own honor.
But to continue Mr.. McHweeney's lettor -
All efforts on the part Of your mother and all our
friends failed to discover the cause Of my arrest
appealed to Mr.. Lowell. United States Minister a
London for protection. but no answered that il il
absurd for naturalixed citizen Of tho United states
TO claim protection. He ssys that even IN American
citizen could only have recourse to an appeal to tho
courtesy OF the British Government to be released
He added in latsr communication. that the British
Government refused to give him any Information
about the charge against me. and that they snubbsd
him.
Strong q this statement ID, contained in )
letter written in jail from father to aldaughter,
yet will show that IL 10 tho exact truth when
como to comment on the dispatches and official
conduct of Mr.. Lowell, the American Minister
ct London. Mr.. insolvency, however, pro-
coeds in his letter -
w.. .rAh rnHA An NJ
but that gentleman did not dsign even reply. l
| heard nothing whatsoever from him. 1 am
| now In Jail going on mouths charged with NO
crime. and not even . shadow Of suspicion that
violated any law and when our American Minister
asks civil question about mo no u snubbcd insult
Cd and his nag tramplel on but he does not appear
to make much fuss about It. and the American Gov
srnment takes NO notice Of the question any mors
| than thu king Of the Sandwich islands would.
Sir, think Mr.. McSweeney docs injustice IA
the foreign policy Of King Kalakaua in placing
it Is low and weak % our own. hut be con.
tinucs -
Truly II 10 rather an awkward position for mo.
have sworn allegiance to the United States renowned
my allegiance TO al kings. princes or foreign poten
tates forever but most particularly 10 Queen Veto
ria. Of whom II was alleged vas . subject. but
which deny: but I went through the form lest che
might claim mo.
Then, exercising tho only right which chains
and dungeons cannot take away, this man on
joys the freedom Of his thoughts ct least IN the
following strain Of wise and philosophic reisc-
tons -
4 have in my possession very nice document. with
the proud American eagle pcrched Il. purportins
70 Be . certificate Of American citizenship The
American Government viii not recognize me (; have
no claims on Franco or Russia; have NO country
or government to raise its voice while England d
slowly but surely putting mo to death. But death
itself would be preferable to this torture. 80 you
eco now what the once proud title to American
citi1enship amounts to.
! Sir, doubt IL anything has ever occurred in
connection to tho official affairs Of thls Govern
ment moro remarkable for . just appreciation
for tho rights of . citizen, or for pathetic pa
tience under injustice, cruelty. and neglect,
than the letter from which have read. II ~
peared. - have already stated, in the public
press Of California, Jan. %. 1882. On the next
day, Jan. "a. 1882, il appears that citizen oi
West Oakland. California, Mr.. John Cuddy, in
closed it directly 10 the President Of the United
States with respectful letter Of his own in
and upright policy
A understand the laws Of our country. there Il
distinction difference between native or for.
eign born citizen with the exception Of The
bility Of tho TO the once Of President
Vice President In al other respects thoy are equal
Therefore In this Mr.. McSweensy 10 entitled to
tho same protection - IL he was General Grant
What could be done for General Grant under like cir
cumstancss can likewise b done for Mr.. McSwseney
lido not know Mr.. Cuddy, but most heartily
commend his sentiments 10 the Department oil
State. If they were embodied in diplomatic
circular to foreign powers they would DO hailed
with moro satisfaction by the American people
than any paper which has emanated from that
quarter in tho last 25 years. There 10 no owl
dence. however, in the Executive document be-
fore the Senate that tho slightest attention was
given to tho letter Of Mr.. Cuddy or to tho en-
closed letter Of Mr.. McSwecney. Some three
weeks later, February 8. / find that Hon. C. p.
Berry, member Of tho House Of Represents
tives from California, addressed the Secretary
Of State, from his seat in the Hoase, . note, en-
closing the letter of Daniel McSweeney, and
calling special attention TO it, and also to the
fact of his inhuman treatment in tho Dundalk
Jail. II is not pleasant to say, but il is the
truth, that even this communication from one
of the Representatives of tho people met with
no Response whatever. On the 18th day Of
February, ten days after tho note Of Mr.. Berry,
the entire California delegation in Congress,
four members Of the House aud both her Sena-
tors, joined n tho following note TO the Secro
tary of State -
WASHINGTON. y. c.. Feb. 10. leee.
The undersigned respectfully transmit for your
consideration and such action the case may -
qurs joint letter TO ua numeroasly signed BY our
best citizens representing that Daniel Mcsweensy.
now In British prison. 10 . citizen Of the United
States. and for 20 years rssident Of San Fran.
CISCO aud asking that he receive nom our Govern
ment that protection which law and Justice In his
case require. We bog to cay that share in those
Wishes and deairss. and hope that your department
viii do the favor 70 assuro that what . right
win Be- promptly and effectively done.
This Was tho voice Of an American State, ut
tered through her entire representation in Con-
gress in behalf Of tho liberty Of IN American
citizen.
Sir, have thus far carefully traced the HE
tory Of this case BY tho light Of tho correspond
ence now officially publ,shed. and with refer
ence to tho startling dates therein contained,
for the purpose of showing beyond tho possibal-
partmens has boon in open, 6agrant violation Of
American law. All this ID shown BY Mr..
Lowell himself in his correspondence. And
yet tho days, tho weeks, and tho months won't
by, the American citizen languished in Biit-
ish jail. uniustly deprived Of his liberty, and
the American authorities looked after things Of
minor importance. or busted themselves about
base squabblss. - If there were no obligations
Of law or Of duty on them u al IN regard 70 Z
matter Of this kind.
Sir, . day OF reckoning must como TO the
party in power on this great question. and il
may ~ we'll commence now. Tho act Of Con
gress Of July p, 1868, now standing - Section