Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1883-03-14
Diplomatic Correspondence Rela-
tive to Their Protection.
The President Anxious That
All American Citizens
Should be Protected
by It's Flag.
How tho Crimes Act May Operate
on Am srtcan Tourists

Is now in courae of publication. When
it will make volume of
600 pages. Nearly all tho selected
letters and "extrscts" from letters of
any general Importance now printed
In this volume have been covered by
current newspaper publication
Among those that have not been
printed of present interest are two
letters written by Minister Lowell and
Secretary Frelipghuysen In regard to
the Irish "Prevention of crime act"
Lowell to Frelinghuysen:
log tlon Of Unit,d stato', Lonuon, July Il,
SIR:-I have the honor tc inclose
two copies of the ci imes (Treland) act,
which has just received the roya! as
sent. 1t revives he alien act, which
alone directly concerns our relations
with this government. Questions are
likely to arise under it which will
heed to be treated with extreme deli.
oacy and discretion. 1. will be In the
matter of the personal application Of
the act to overt acts that the chief OBJ
jeotion will lie, and should be glad
to be armed before hand with the
opinion of the president as to what
my general line of action should be
under these new circumstances. There
must be great number of naturalized
American citizens In Ireland, besides
those that have rendered themselves
obnoxious to the local authorities, and
the allen clauses of the act may very
probably strengthen the temptations
Of private enmity to bring false accu.
cations, as 1t undoubtedly increases
the opportunity for them. I have
every reason to believe under the
present government the act will be ap
piled with caution and Discrimination
but change of nit istry may take
place at any moment. In anv event
however, l think myself safe In pre-
dieting that the provisions of the act
will be brought to bear only in cases
of men who have m sde, or may make
themselves particularly prominent by
incitment to disorder or defiance OF
authority.
(Signed) j. r. LOWELL.
Frelinghuysen to Lowell:
Department Of State, Washington, September
%, 1892.
SIR have in an instruction of tn.
10 IN oi August isSt, ackno ~isdesa n,
receipt of your dispatch of the 14.t
of July In relation to the prevention
of Crime (Ireland) act, recently passed
by the British parliament. The care
full attention which you have evidently
given to the subject aud your just
comments on the policy that could
have dictated 40 extraordinary q
measure In country hose traditional
history in regard to the freedom
of the individual, the security
of the domicile and the right
of every man accused of crime to On
impartial trial has formed Its crowning
glory, relieve me from the necessity OF
giving you anything more than gen
eral directions as to your future con.
duct III connection with csses affecting
American cltiz rs that may possibly
come before you. Nevertheless deem
1t proper in the interests of our citi.
zsns, and in compliance with your
own expressed desire to that effect,
to put you In possession
of the general views of the
president on his recent act
of the British parliament an act which
he concelves may seriously affect o
large number of citizens Of this re.
public. 1t is as yon justly observe
the revival of the lien act az part oi
the crimes act that most directly con.
Germs US, and 1t Ia the feature of the
measure which has caused the presi
dent to feel some anxiety as to its
possible effects on the business anG
social relations of American citizens
particularly those of Irish birth
Many Irish American citizens have
parents, brothers and sisters, residents
In Ireland, and whenever they
learn their destitution, as thu
most effective mode of relief they send
member of the family to Irelanc
with means of aid. The possibility
that persons In pursuit of their Lawful
business enterprises or on their mis-
sion of benevolence should come under
the operation of the proceedings con-
templated by the provisions of th'
new law is much to be deprecated
Opportunities for this kind ol
annoyance which the act affords
for the qualification of private
enmlty, as you justly remark, In
creases the ground of this spprehen
sion, and when to this Is added thu
superserviceable zeal of local off
GERS, 1t is hardly to be ex
pected that an Irish-AmericaI
citizen, however innocent he might b.
In che act and intention, should con
slider his person or property safe II
that country. His private, although
temporary, abode may be forcibly Wis
tied by night or day his papers and hi
valuables may be taken from him AM
sub; ;ected to search, and he may b
ordered out of the country at will
with the stigma CT guilt upon him AM
withou. having had an opportunity TO
heasing or trial. The President more
ov( Cannot contemplate the enforce
ment of this measure on mere sua
picions against an American citi
zen without fears OF Its hay
ing an unhappy Influence tn
god feeling which exists between tn
two great nations of common origi
and common language. l need seal
cely add that this government has n
sympathy with the motive or method
OF that class of indlsoreet Individual
Insignificant In this country, whose i
directed zeal can neither serve IN
cause Of Ireland nor reflect credit o