West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-10-10
Nrr. Cleveland ON American Siti-
Ncnship.
(From DE Neio York Hemd.)

(Fr0m Tie Neio y ORR Herdld.)
Mr. Clevelands recorded sentiments on
the rights of American citizens i'm foreign
lands and the duty Of the government to
protect those rights present striking con.
trast TO the indifference and neglect shown
by MIR. Blaine when Secretary of State.
The Coercion act went into force March
2, 1881. Three days after James q. Blaine
became Secretary of State. Had he been
imbued with the true American spirit. had
he been duly mindful of the rights of Amer-
can citizens, had he observed the law which
he was sworn 10 obey, his first official act
would have been protest cabled To Lon
don warning the British government i'm ad-
vance against the arbitrary arrest of Amsri.
can citizens and their protracted imprison-
ment without trial and when the first citi.
zen of the United States was arrested on
suspicion he would demand of the British
government speedy trial Of the accused.
Yet three months after the Coercion act had
gone into operation Blaine cody confessed
that he had not read the law, and during the
time he had charge OF the foreign affairs of
the nation naturalized citizens of Irish birth
were arbitrarily arrested on mere suspicion
and cast into British jails for long term 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 i'm Balne's
placer Mr., Cleveland has defined his 20
sition on this important question OF Ameri-
can citizenship. Az 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 admirable and states
maniko speeches TO be found anywhere on
this subject.
The following excellent passage is well
worthy Of repetition here:
(" In all lands where the semblance OF liberty
ia preserved the right OF person arrested TO "A
speedy accusation aud trial ought 10 be a fund
amental rule, as II Is "A rule Of civilization.
At any rate, We hold II to bo so, and this Is
one OF the rights which we undertake to guaran-
tee to any native horn or naturaliZcd citizen Of
ours, whether he be imprisoned by order OF the
Car OF Russia or under the preteXtof law ad-
ministered for the benefit Of the landed arstOc-
racy OF England.
We do not claim TO make laws for other
countries, but we do insist that whatever those
laws may be they shall, ia the interest Of hui
man freedom and the rights OF mankind so far
as they involve the liberty OF our citizens, be
speedily administered.
We have right TO say, and do say, that mere
suspicion, without examination or trial, IL not
sufficient 10 justify the long imprisonment OF n
citizen OF America. Other nations may permit
their citizens to be thus imprisoned Ours will
not. And this, In effect, has been solomnly dc.
clared by statute"
Unlike Blaine, Governor Cleveland is n
man who says just what he means, and
means just what he says.