National Republican., 1883-04-21

Ot Nne emplTes lrlSn ConsplrutOa must po Couelu-
cred criminals and not belligerents.
This is either very loose and ignorant drivel,
or IL is characteristic exhibition Of tho con-
tempt in which those Englshmen for whom
the Times expoctoratcs hold the United States.
We leave Rosss out of the question, and dis
cuss simply the insoent suggestion of tho
Times editorial, to wit: That there may be
some procedure known TO international law
or usage under which citizens Of the United
States can be punished by England for acts
committed in tho United States against the
laws of England. That is exactly tho propo-
sition of the Times. We find the following
upon that question in "Wheaton's Elements
of International Law:"
1t is evident that a state cannot punish an
oifense against It's municipal laws, committed
within the Jurisdiction Of another state, unless By
It's own citizens
at is evident" says the writer. Being
evident, no reasons are given. Aswell argue
whether a man may chastise the children Of
his neighbor for disobedience to the rules
governing the chastiscr's household.
No oitizon of tho United States, nor any
one who has bby declaring his intention to
become one, brought himself within the pro-
lection of our laws, can be called in question
in England for any act committed in this
country. If ho goes there he is answerable
only for what he does after he leaves our
shores Citizens of the United States are
amenablo only to the laws Of this country
The only "sort Of international procedure" |"
by which they can be made amenablo to the
laws of England is for England to declare
war against the United, States. Wheaton
further says:
By the common law OF England which has
been adopted in this respect in the United States
criminal oflenses are considered as altogether
local, and justiciable only by the courts ofthe
country where tho offense is committed.
What wo have said relates only to the acts
of citizens of the United States, and those
who have declared their intention to become
such committed in the United States. 1t is
of such acts the London Times speaks. When
England finds an international door through
which to enter this country to execute it's
laws, it will be when the last spark of ma
tional pride and patriotism shall have been ex-
tinguished here.
AS to our own laws, we have mono which
forbid the lovers of republican liberty from
applauding the efforts of tho oppressed to
throw Of tyrant's yoke
If the Irish should inaugurate civil war
against the British nation, and should want
to borrow money to carry it on with, they
can issue bonds payable whenever England
ceases to control Ireland, and sell them to
whoever will buy in the United States This
will be In exact accordance with the prece-
dent during our own civil war when
the financial agents of the confedoracy
ket, and received good British gold with
which to buy the implements of war against
tho United States. In such time we should
only be restrained by the to rms Of the Wash.
ington treaty, which forbids the fitting out
of Alabanas, but nowhere forbids the lodn.
ing Of money in such cases. If there should
be war between Ireland and England the
United States would be neutral, selling to both
but aiding neither. The people would freely
take sides as they pleased, and our govern.
mont would never interfere except to prevent
the enlistment by either of tho troops in our
territory.
If there is no war our citizens will con-
tribute money for any purpose thoy please
not forbidden by our laws, and will express
their opinions freely concerning public affairs
in England and Ireland.