The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-10

with autocratic power over the liberty of
every American citizen who might happen
TO be sojourniDg or travelling in Ireland.
This arbitrary law was repugnant to the
American theory of personal liberty. 1t was
hostile to the express provision of the Ma.
tional Constitution which guarantees every
accused person 1.-THE right TO a speedy and
public tIiar' and Ito be informed of the ma
ture and cause of the accusation" Neither
our Constitution nor our statutes shield
from punishment a citizen who has violated
the laws of q foreign nation. But the priu-
ciples embodied in the Constitution. the
theory of our institutions and the doctrines
of International law give TO this country the
right to demand that an American citizen
arrested in a foreign land shall promptly be
informed OF the charges against him aad
speedily tried.
The Coercion act went into force March ,,
1881. Three days afterward James G.. Blaine
became Secretary of State. Had he been
imbued with the true American spirit, had
be been duly mindful OF the rights of Ameri-
can citizens, had be observed the law which
he was swern to obey. his first o1iicial act
would have been protest cabled to London
warning the British Government in advance
against the arbitrary arrest of American citi-
zens and their protracted imprison ment with
out trial; and when the first citizen of the
United States was arrested on suspicion he
would have demanded Of the British Coy
eminent a speedy trial of the accused. Yet
three months after the Coercion act had
gone into operation Blaine coolly confessed
that he had not read the law, and during
the time he had charge of the foreign af-
fairs of the Nation naturalized citizens of
Irish birth were arbitrarily arrested on
mere suspicion and cast into British jails for
long terms OF Imprisonment by the dictum
of one man. while Blaine continued his
shameful policy of inactivity, indifference
and neglect.
What would Mr.. Cleveland have done had
he then been President or in Blaine's place?
What would he do under like circumstances
in the future? Fortunately we are not left
to guess. Mr.. Cleveland has defined his po-
sition on this important question of Ameri-
can citizenship. At a mass meeting called
at Buffalo when he was Mayor of that city
to protest against the policy of indifference
to the rights of our naturalized citizens i'm
prisoned in Ireland Mr.. Cleveland, who
was chosen to preside over
the meeting, made one of the most ad-
mirable and statesmanlike speeches to be
found anywhere on this subject No higher
estimate than has been put upon the true
meaning and value of American citizenship
and the sacred obligation of the Nation to
protect citizen, native born or naturalized,
at home or abroad. We invite, he said the
people OF foreign lands to become our citi-
zens, and what should be given them in re-
turn? "Manifestly, good faith and every die
tate of honor demand that we give them the
same liberty and protection here and else
where which we vouchssfe to our native born
citizens"
The following excellent passage is well
worthy of repetition here:
"In all lands where the semblance of lib
erty is preserved the right of person ar
rested to speedy accusation and trial. IS. or
ought to be, fundamental law, as it is q
rule OF civilization.
AT any rate, we hold it to be so, and this
is one of the rights which we undertake to
guarantee to any native-born or naturaliZe
citizen of ours, whether he be imprisoned
by order of the Gar of Russia or under the
pre;ext of law administered for the bene.
III OF the landed aristocracy of England.
1--WE do not claim to make laws Tor other
countries, but we do insist that whatever
those laws may be they shall, in the interest
of human freedom and the rights of man
kind so far as they involve the liberty of our
citizens, be speedily administered. We have
a right to say and do say, that mere sus2i-
cion, without examination or trial, is not
sufficient to justify the long Imprisonment
of 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"
Unlike Blaine, Governor Cleveland is a
man whosays just what he means and means
Just what he says. As public officer he has
always lived up to the sentiments he has
publicly avowed and performed the prom
ises he has made. The principles of citizen
ship which he has declared would govern
his policy as Chief Magistrate of the Nation
his manly assertion OF the rights of our
naturalized citizens abroad, would put to
shame Blaine's cold indifference and neg
lapt