Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-13
a Commitment from Abroad.

A good word for Cleveland comes from /
England. The London Duly Nelrs says that (
Americas foreign relations win be safer 4
in CleYeIand's hands than in those Of 4
Blaine. That is very true. Biaine's 7
idea would be, if elected, to call attention /
to his administration by trying to disturb 4
the peaceful relations between this c0un- !
try and foreign governments. He would /
keep the country uneasy by an aggres- /
sive, irritating policy which would 7
do the country no good, but /
would have a dampe1ing effect
on business. Cleyeland's aim would be
to maintain pleasant relations with other
powers without sacrificing either dignity,
self-respect or principle. Because CleYe- /
land has not figured in national affairs il
does not follow that he has not wen de-
fined views on all the great questions now
before the country, or that have occupied
the attention Of the government since the
war. If, however, the English journals
think that be would not be quick TO re-
sent any attack on American interests
or any infringement ofthe rights Of Ameri-
can citi%ns, they are very much mis-
taken. He wouldn't be all the while
looking for somebody to knock a chip of
his shoulder, but he would at all times
be prepared to insist upon the fullest
measure Of justice to America and TO
American citizens. Whenhe was Mayor Of
Buffalo there was some excitement about
the Imprisonment Of American citizens in
British jails, and he had occasion to ex-
press his views on the question at issue.
In a speech in that city he said:
1t needed not the statute which is now
the law of the land, declaring that sail
naturaliZed citizens while in foreign
lands are entitled to and shall receive
from this government the same protection
OF person and property which is accorded
TO native born citizens" to voice the poll
cy Of our nation.
In all lands where the semblance Of lib
erty is preserved, the right of person ar
rested 10 speedy accusation and trial is
or ought to be a fundamental law as it is
a rule Of civilization.
At any rate, we hold it to be so, and this
is one Of the rights whiehwe undertake to
guarantee to any native born or naturaliZ-
ed citizen Of ours, whether he be impris-
oned by order Of the Car Of Russia or I'M
der the pretext of a 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 whatso-
ever those laws may be. they shall, in the
interests Of human freedom and the
rights Of mankind, so far as they involve
the liberty Of our citizens. be speedily
administered. We have a right TO say.
and do say, that mere suspicion without
examination or trial is not sufficient to
justify the long Imprisonment 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 consider
the subject and to inquire into the cause
and the reasons and the justice Of the
Imprisonment of certain of our fellow
citizens now held in British prisons with
out the semblance of a trial or legal eX-
animation. Our law declares that the
government shall act in such cases., But
the people are the creators Of the govern
ment.
Blaine was Secretary of State when this
speech was delivered, and was attracting
a good deal of attention to himself by
what he was pretending to do rather than
by what he was actually doing. CleYe-
land felt the time had come for some sort
of action on the part of our government,
and he did not hesitate to point out the
course that ought to be pursued. Had he
been in Blaine's place, it is probable that
he would have talked less and done more.