The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-15
THE MswEENEY CASE.
Mr.. john Finerty, the Irish NJ. O., Gives the
Facts as They Were.

/ 80 @AA~J
Chicago Citizen.
Daniel insolvency was at one time a resident
of California, and no doubt, became a citizen of
the United States. In 1876 he returned to his
native place in Ireland, near Cardonagh, Done
gal He took up a residence there occupied a
a farm and titled it, and after few years was
elected poorlaw guardian for his district Of
the Dunfandghy union In 1879, $780, and 1881
he took very prominent part in the Land
league movement. His American experiences
made him the most aggressive Land Lacquer
perhaps, in all Donegal He was suspected by
'BuckShot Forster, was arrested under
the coerc1on act in July. 1881, and claimed
American citizenship. This it will be
remembered was after Garfield had been shot,
and while he was lying on bed Of pain. About
a month after he was arrested Insolvency. wrote
to Mr.. Lowell claiming American protection.
Mr.. Lowell, who is a slow going person. and
particularly slow when the cases of Irish Amer
lean citizens are concerned communicated with
Mr.. Simms, the American consul at Belfast, and
requested him to investigate the McSweeney
case. Mr. Sims did as requested and reported
that Mr.. McSweeney, though at one time an
American citizen, had apparently returned to
his former allegiance, inasmuch as he had ac-
cepted Office in Ireland office created by the
British government contrary to the protest of
the Irish people-and had taken up his domieile
permanently under the British crown thereby
FORGETTING his claims to American citizenship.
Mr.. Simms advised Mr. Lowell that Mr.. Nc
Sweeney's case was not one for the in
reference Of the American government
While this correspondence was going on, Mr..
| Insolvency. became impatient, and wrote 20 Mr.
Blaine, then Secretary of State. Mrs Nc
Sweeney also wrote. Mr. Blaine of course, re-
ferred their letters to Mr.. Lowell who commune
Gated back to Mr. Blaine the result of his in
vestigations Mr.. Blaine advised further
scrutiny, because of the appeal made by Mrs.
Insolvency.
Before the reply to the American minister at
London was received Garfield had died. and Ere
linghuysen had Blaine's place. The action of
Mr.. Blaine however, had been productive of
good, and IL a few months after Mr.. MeSweeney
was released These are the facts as far as his
case is concerned.
Mr.. Blaine did not answer his or his wife's let
tiers. This is foolish. If the Secretary of State
replied to every complaint made there would be
no surplus in the treasury-that is certain. Mr..
Blaine did what was meet and proper under the
circumstances. He referred the case to Mr..
Lowell, the American minister to Great Britain.
Mr.. Lowell acted, though tardily, on Mr..
Blane's instructions
Now it must be remembered in this eonnee-
ton that Mr.. MeSweeney had acted as British
subject in Ireland by holding office He has
held the same Office ever since. He is now
poor-law guardian Of the Dnnfanaghy union,
Donegal, Ireland, and only few months ago he was
a defendant in a British court at Londonderry,
ireland, at the suit of an officer of the union.
He is also q candidate for Parliament II elected
lie would have to take an oath of allegiance to
Queen Victoria, though when he became
American citizen he foreswore allegiance to that
parsonage
What would American citizens think of
man, an Irishman, or Enghshman, or
Scotchman, for instance, who, after accepting
the Office of alderman, county commissioner. or
supervisor, should, when arrested under Ameri-
can law, claim British protectiong McSweeney,
the Donegal poof-law guardian, claiming Ameri-
can protection is parall Ell case, is it notl