The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-16
Finnersy interviewed.


WHAT HE THINKS or THE ATTITUDE OF TIE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE o'DoSNELL
CASE.
fBy telegraph to the Dispstchl
WASHINGTON, ID. c., December 1j.--In
an interview with an Associated Press re-
porter to-day Congressman Finnerty eX-
pressed himself freely in regard TO the
probable event Of O'Donnell being hanged
on Monday. lie SAID he had called upon
The President in regard TO the case within
u few hours, but had obtained no iniorma-
ton beyond his assurance that action had
been taken and would be announced
through the State Department when n re-
ply had been received from England. The
President did not express any opinion.
Dir. Finneriy said. but was as courteous as
usual, although he appeared rather serious
and somewhat anxious.
''ln case O'Donuell Is hanged Monday"
continued Mr.. Finnerty. ait will be snub
TO the United States. The House by its
resolution requested the President to ask
respite. IL it has been asked, which |
suppose 1t has, and refused, both the Exec
utivc and House. and consequently the
whole country, will have been not only
Snubbed, but insulted. We may In that
event acknowledge that our Government
is utterly unable 10 obtain even the slight
est concession of common justice for one
of It's citizens from England"
"What can Congress do If O'DonnelI is
hnngedY" was asked.
"FOld its hands, after quietly pocketing
the insult. II you had asked me what any
other nation Of orr nationa! strength or Of
less than our national strength would do
under like circumstances, might answer
I'm fact. | would anSwcr-that it would sus-
pend diplomatic rclctionS with Great
Britain until The insult was explained or
atoned for"
Would you vote for such proceed
ing?'
"What would be the use ii did? The
commercial interests, rs they are called,
will ever i'm this country be superior TO the
idea OF national honor. ] might stand
nearly alone i'm that position. and | GER
tainly do not desire practical isolation.
We are commercial people. Were we Il
bclligercnt nation there would be music
in the air before Monday night. We are
the second largest of the Caucasian nations
in regard TO population, and, believe,
territory, Russia being ahead Of us in the
latter respect. and We: we are afraid to
sneeze because we might displease a id
little island that Las navy to assert itself
with right or wrong"
suppose Congress should declare for Il
suspension OF diplomatic relations and
England should declare war;"
England will do nothing OF the
kind. She would back down completely,
because she knows she has everything to
lose IN such a struggle. She might block
ade all our ports, but we would not starye.
L..
and hominv il nothing else; while our let
tiers Of marque authorizing privateers to
prey on her commerce would soon make
havoc OF her carrying trade, She might
annoy lis badly for SIX months aitcf war
was declared, but within a year, or eigh-
teen months ut most, we could Starve her
10 death. and she knows it. Her fleet.
grea, rs it is, could never protect her vast
merchant marine"
'What do you think, leaving ont the
question Of war. Congress will do in the
PREMISES"
IL have heard that should O'Donncll he
executed on Monday Il resolution will be
introduced by some member asking that
the State Department lay all correspondence
on the subject before the House. Then,
suppose, we will have a debate-a good
deal OF sound and fury indeed-but that
will he the end OF il. The conservative ele-
ment in the House will not. in my opinion,
permit vigorous action to be taken. England
used to be nation Of shopkeeperS. Now
/ am afraid the description more truly APP
plies 10 ourselves. Great Britain has always
adopted thecitizens' chip upon her Shout
ders. She Hips our national nose with her
fingers. but the chip will not be knocked
. Il ,,.tI
in the stars and stripes, which is rapidly
in foreign relations degcnerjting into a
sort OF INTERCHANGEABLE. In the adopt
ed-citizcn business it is more OF Il flaunt.
ing lie than it ever was in the worst days
OF slavery. | am sorry to have to speak so
rudely of the national symbol, but frank
nns. N snmefirnns Mhnlcsnme'