Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-07-19
|OLHVELAND ON AMERICAN CITIZEN
SHIP.
From the N. Y. Herald.

L --H.l-.
Some of the Blaine sheets that dread
the nomination Of Governor Cleveland,
and Tammany shouters who do not like
him because he is not one of their kind,
have been trying to create the impress
sion that Irish American voter have rea-
son to go against Cleveland and for
Blaine They refer, OF course, to
Blaine's s'vigorous foreign policy" and
hint that Cleveland cares little for the
rights of naturaliZed American citizens
abroad. They probably know-at least
they would know if they were cogni-
zsnt of the fact--lhat a comparison be-
tween Blaine and Cleyeland Dill this
point is not to the advantage of Blaine.
When the latter was secretary of state
he pushed his lingo policy on pretty
much every foreign question except that
relating to the rights Of naturalized citi-
zens abroad. On this II point his course
was cOnspicuously lacking in that "vig-
Or, of which his admirers are always
boasting.
Now, it 80 happens that although
Governor Cleveland was secre-
tary ofstate, his views ON this very ques-
ton are on, record, land are more
Istatesmanlike and praisewOrthy than
any ever expressed by Blaine. They
were spoken-n Buffalo when Mr..
Cleveland wasmayo of that city and
at a meeting at which the state depart
ment under Blaine was criticised and
tor its lack Of activity in be-
half of the rights of Irish American cit
liens arrested in Great Britain. From
Mr.. Cleveland'sr speech on that occa-
sion we reproduce this passage:-
1T needed not Sthe statute which is
nowthe law Q ftheland, declaring that
k"all 9naturalizeds citizens while in for
'eign lands are entitled to and shall re-
Iceive from this government the same
protection of person and property
which is accorded to native born citi-
zens," to, voice the policy of u ma
ton. i,
In all lands where the semblance of
liberty is preserved the right Of a per-
soa arrested to q speedy accusation and
trial is or ought to be a fundamental
law as it is q rule of civilization.
.andthis is enc ofthe rights which we
undertake to guarantee to any native
born or naturalized citizen of ours,
whether he be imprisoned by order OF
The Gar Of Russia or under the pretext
of law administered for the benefit of
the landed aristocracy of England.
We do not claim to make laws for
other countries, but we do insist that
whatsoever those laws may be, they
shall, in the interests of human freedom
and the rights of mankind, 30 far as
they involve the liberty of our citizens,
be speedily administered. We have q
right to say, and do say, that mere sus
picion without examination or trial is
not sufficient to Justify the long i'm
prisonment Of a citizen of America.
Other nations may permit their citizens
to be thus imprisoned. Ours will not.
And this in effect has been solemnly
declared by statute.
We have met here tonight to cOnsid-
err this subject and to inquire into the
cause and the reasons and the Justice OF
the imprisonment OF certain OF our fel.
low citizens now held in British pris-
ons without the semblance of a trial OF
legal examination. Our law declares
that the government shall act in such
cases. But the people are the creators
of the government.
There is no Blaine jingoism in these
sentiments, but they show Governor
Cleveland to be a thorough believer in
the principle of fully protecting Amer
lean citizens, native born Or naturali-
zed, wherever they be.