The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-17
FINERTY'S WRATH.
The Chicago Congressman Airs His Opinion
of the English

The Chicago Congressman Airs His Opinion
of the English.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-In an interview to-
day, Congressman Finerty expressed himself
freely in regard to the probable event of O'Don-
nell being hanged on Monday. He said he had
called on the President in regard to the case
within a few hours, but obtained no information
beyond the assurance that action had been
taken, and the result would be announced
through the State Department when the reply
was received from England. The President did
not express an opinion, Finerty said, but was
courteous usual, although he appeared rather
serious and somewhat anxious.
I'm case O'Donneli is hanged on Monday"
continued Finerty. cit Will be a snub to the
United States The House, by resolution, re-
quested the President to ask for respite. If it
has been asked, which I suppose it has, and re-
fused. both the executive and the House,
has been not only snubbed, bug insulted. We
may, in that event, acknowledge that our gov
ernment is utterly unable to obtain even the
snghtest concession Of common Justice for one
OF It's citizens from England. We may AS well
say to Great Britain, Arrest every American
citizen you suspect; keep hum in Jail without
trial; hang him outside even the forms of your
own law. We, as a nation have fallen so low.
we cannot do anything to hinder you. You may
do, in short, with our people what You dare not
do on your own dung-hlll.' Sir William Vernon
Harcourt will be the medium through whom the
refusal of the respite Will be communicated. He
is the Home Secretary, and detests Americans
with that narrow hatred that only inSular En-
giishmen can develop. He is a sarcastic brute,
whose Taco always wears sheer. Gladstone
holds such man In that position on the prlnci-
pie, perhaps, that man often keeps vicious
dOg-he may be disagreeable to others but use.
fnl TO him. Gladstone can never get along with
out some cantankerous person i'll his govern
ment."
"What can Congress do if O'Donneu is
nangedR" was asked.
Fold its hands after quietly pocketing the in
sulI. If you had asked me what any other ma
tion of our national strength, or less than our
national strength, would do under like clrcum-
stances, 1 might answer. In fact woHld an-
swer 1t would suspend diplomatic relations
with Great Britain until the insult Elk
planned or atoned for"
"Would you vote for such proceedingq"J zf
''What would be the use il il dds"
Commercial interests, as they are called, will
evtr in this country be superior to the ideaf of
national honor. might stand nearly alone in
that position, and certainly do not desire prac-
teal isolation. We are a commercial people.
We're we belgerent nation there would be mu-
sic in the air before Monday night. We
are the second largest Caucasian nation
in regard to population, and
t 6e ec,S gt sTease are 5a
island that has navy to assist itself with, right
or wrong. The successive administrations and
Congresses of the last fifteen years, which have
allowed our navy TO rot in the stocks, deserves
hearty reprobation President Arthur has GER
tainly done what he could to remedy the state
of affairs, and hope his recommendations about
the navy to the present Congress will be sus-
tanned, without reference to party"
Suppose Congress should declare for a sus-
pension of diplomatic relations and England de-
clare war"
'England will do nothing of the kind. She
knows she has everything to lose in such strug-
gle. She might blockade all ports, but we
would not starve We wonld be healthy and
happy on hog and hominy, If nothing else, while
our letters of marQue authorizing privateers to
prey on her commerce would soon make havoc
with her carrying trade. She might annoy us
badly for six months after war was declared,
but within year eighteen months at most,
we could starve her TO death, and she knows it.
Her fleet, great it is, could never protect her
vast merchant marine."
''What do you think, leaving out the question
of war, Congress will do in the premises2"
81 have heard that, should O'Donnell be exc
cuted on Monday, a resolution will be intro
dueed asking the State Departmental lay all the
correspondence on the subject before the House.
Then / suppose will have debate of a good
deal OF sound and fury indeed, but that will be
the end of it. The conservative element of the
House will not in my opinion, permit vigorous
action to be taken. England is called "a nation
of shop-keepers' now. 1 am afraid the descrip-
ton applies more truly to ourself. Great
Britain has always adopted citizen chin upon
her fingers, but her chip will not be knocked off
and the national nose will seek refuge in the
stars and stripes, which rapidly, in our for
eigh relations, has degenerated into sort of
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. In the adopted-ciUizen
business it is more of Haunting lie' than even
In the worst days of slavery. L am sorry to
have to speak so rudely of the national symbol,
but frankness sometimes develops wholesome
remedies"
"What remedies do you propose to restore the
stars and stripes to their ancient responsibility
abrOad2"
"Give some other element in the country than
shep-keepers a chance; reconstruct the navy;
send an American representative to London and
recall that weak snob and dude of dudes, the
Lord Rector of the University of EdInburg. An
adopted Scotchman is pretty representative of
the United States in England"