The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-09-09
TIE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1884.
" Tuesday, October 18th, is
Election Day.
MARCY VS.. BLAINE.
Rights OF Citizens Under Demo
cratic and Republican Govern.
mentS.

-, 49,
A correspondent of the New York
Herald makes q comparison between the
course ot the late Hon. William l..
Marcy, Secretary Of State during Pierce's
administration, and the course OF James
g. Blaine during Garfeld's. administra
ton in reference to the recognition and
enforcement Of the principle OF "once a
citizen always a citiz D." The cores
pondent writes:
Ii there were no other count in the
issue between Mr.. Blaine aud the Ameri.
can people-if even there were not his
prostitution Of the Speakership, his sus-
picious connection with the Snlpherd
claim OF his reckless interference in
South American aft irs-than his course
howard American citizens in foreign pris-
ons there would be more than ample
reason for repudiating him, vigorously
and efiectually, at the polls.
The issue cannot be too often stated
1t is explicitly COMMANDED by the United
States statutes that whenever it is made
known that an American citizen has been
deprived of his liberty bv or under the
authority Of any foreign government the
reasons for such imprisonment shall he
forthwith demanded by the government
American cit zens appealed from Irish
prisons for prots ction, pointing out that
no charges bad been made against them !;
that no bearing could he obtained; that
In default OF action by their government.
they must remain helpless in prison at
The absolute pleasure OF foreign nation.
Mr.. Blaine, as Secretary Of State, re-
piled that be had no right to interfere !;
that 1t was tan elementary principle OF
public law" that the English government
could alone administer and interpre, the
Coercion act, with all its monstrous pro.
visions.
n Bot Mr.. Blaine went ont Of office and
another Secretary OF State came in who
took diametrically opposite view Of the
rights OF American citiz,ns to that ex.
pressed by MI. Blaine. The English
government admitted the justice Of this
view, and onr imprisoned citizens we're
released. Meanwhile, however, these
American citizens bad lain many months
In prison because OF Secretary Blaine's
refusal to enforce their rights
This is.bis responsibility to the Ameri-
can people. He had betrayed the right
gained by the revolution of 'i6. The war
of 1872, and by that gallant act OF Cap.
tsin Ingraham which Congress and the
people indorsed With an enthusiasm al
most unparalleled, and which led to an
official expression OF the intention Of
this government to protect its adopted
citizens at whstever cost. Tiis is what
Secretary Marcy wrote in 1853 to the
Apstrian government:
Whenever, by the law OF nations, an
individual becomes clothed with our
national character, be he a native horn
or naiuraliz'd ID citizen, and exile driven
from bis early home by political oppres-
zion, or an emierant enticed from 1t by
the kopes Of better fortune for bimselt
and posieritJ he can claim the protec-
tinn Of this governm mt, and it NAV re
spond to thai claim without being obliged
to explain its conduct to any foreign
power. for it is its duty to make its
nationality respected ny other nation:
and respected in every quarter Of the
globe.
What a contrast between the fervid
words and actions OF Secretary OF State
William L. Marcv in the case OF the i'm
prisoned Martin Kpszia and the tempo
T zing and un-American refusal Of Sec
.retary OF State james G.. Blaine to Sc
cure TO Dennis O'Conner, Daniel Nc
Sweeney and the rest their rights as
American ciiz ms
The story of Martin Kosz'a's arrest
imprisonment and release at the muzzls
of American cannon is instructive.
Kosz'a was Hungarian refugee. witt
Kussutb, TO America While here be
..declared bis intention" to become {
citizen; he had not even been clothed
with iul citizepship, as had O'Conner
McSweeney and Walsh. For some rea
son he went to SMYRNA and was there or
the right OF June %. 1856, lassoeG BY .
band of Greeks hired by the Austrian
government, thrown into boat OF th,
Austrian brig Huzzar lying in Smyrn,
barhor, taken to the vessel and cast intt
her hold, where he was loaded will
chsins.
On the next day the 81. Louis, al
American schooner of war. appeared il
the harbor. Csptsin Duncan N. Ingra
ham was informed Of the outrage, ant
at once put himself In communication
with the American Charge d'Affaires a
Constantinople. A demand was mad
on the Turkish Government to inter err
for Koszia's release The Porte did no
act, and Car tain Ineraham made tn
same demand upon the captain OF tn
Huzzsr. That officer femporized. Cap
tain Ingrahsm was permitted to se
Kosz,a and to ask him II he claimet
American protection. Koszta made tn
claim, exhibiting o copy OF his "decla
ration Of Intention" Captain Ingrahau
simply said, "You shall have protection,
returned to his ship 6nd renewed his de
manu- IOI hctZ'd u icruSc, tuio bue PIC
rmptorily. On July ] be gave MOTTO
that unless Koezta was put on shor
within eight hours be would open fire ol
the Huxzar. Then be got under way
anchored close up TO the Austrian bril-
and cleared his decks for acton.
Meanwhile large Austrian schoone
of sixteen guns bad entered The harbol
and, on that critical morning, lay I
about half mile from the Hpzzar. Th
two vessels carried double the number
gnns of the American. Deputation
came off from ehore begging IDgrahar
not 10 p,ecipi,ato trouble. His arswe
was brief and TO the point: "Gentlemer
the man must be gwen up into son
ones hands ON shore, else 1 will tax
him. My cause is that OF justice, and
cannot fail have stated the time"
As the limit OF tine approached
hurried consultation was held betwee
{ tie American, Austrian and French cor
suls. Ingrahsm's terma were submitte
10 and Koszta wss ordered brought o
shore. As o bost put of from the HUI
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