Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-10-09
Mr.. Blains's Action IN the Case Of Amer
lean Citizens.

The Chicago Citizen John +. Finerty's Paper.
On the oath Of May, 1881, before the coer-
cion act had come into his possession, he wrote
TO Mr.. Lowell to use all care and diligence in
protecting American citizens, and on the I'd OF
June following wrote to Mr.. Lowell . letter,
from which we extract the following instruc-
ions in reference 70 the case Of Joseph
Walsh, Of Castelar,, Mayo:
Whatever the necessity may be in the esti-
nation Of her mAjesty's government for the
existence and enforcement in Ireland OF the
exceptional Legislative measures recently en-
acted in respect 20 that country, this govern
ment cannot view with unconcern the Appica-
ton Of the summary proceedings attendant up
on the prosecution OF these measures TO natur
allied citizens OF the United States OF Irish
origin, whose business relations may render
necessary their presence in Ireland OF any part
OF the Urited Kingdom, or whose hlial instinct
and love for kindred may have prompted them
10 revisit their native country,
'If American citizens, while within British
jurisdiction, offend against British avs, this
government will not seek to shield them from
the legal consequence Of the acts but IL must
insist upon the application TO their cases OF
those common principles OF criminal jurispru-
dence which In the United States secure 70
every man who offends against its laws,
whether he be an American citizen or foreign
subject those incidents 10 q criminal prosecu-
ton which afford the best ~saieguardtG liberty
and the strongest protection against opPres-
sion under the form o FLAW, which might other
wise be practiced through excessive zeal
That an accused person shall Immediately
upon arrest be informed OF the specific ef1mC
or offense upon which he is held, and that he
shall be Afforded an opportunity for a speedy
trial before an impartial court and jury, ale
a.aanNs.la a. awar.r arspafpal Rraa..ntann aaanaa.
sary alike 10 the protection OF innocence and
tie ascertainmept Of guilt You Will lose nc
time in making the necessary inquiries into tht
cause OF Mr. Walsh's arrest and detention, in
which il is probable Mr. Barrows, the consuL
at Dublin, may be able TO aid YOU And Il
You shall find that the circumstances OF tht
caae, in the light OF this and previous
instructions, are such as 10 call for interfer
ence vn the part Of this government you viii
make such temperate bat earnest representa-
tions as in your judgment will conduce TO hil
speedy trial, or in case there is no specific
charge against him, his prompt release from
Imprisonment
Of your proceedings TO the department will
as little delay as oonvepientn Now VIVA
bosder doctrine in regard 10 american citizen
ship could Irish-Americsns ask than is enun
ciated here!
Mr.. Blaine acted on IL throughout though
Guiteaa's bullet sped soon after the receipt o
the instructions by Mr. Lowell, sadly interfer
ing with his course
We have been asked several times in the pss
three or -four weeks To explain what is caIle'
the McSweeney case. We have refrained 8
far from doing so, waiting until the campaig
orators had exhausted themselves. Now for tn
facts:
Daniel McSweeney was at one time a residen
Of California, aud no doubt became a citizen o
Of the United States. In 1876 he returned TO hi
native place in Ireland, near Cardonagh, Don
egal. He took up his residence there. occupied
farm, and TILED IL, and after q few years wa
elected a poor-law guardian for his district q
the Dunfanaghy union. ~ 1879, 1880, an
1881 he took a very prominent part in the Ian
league movement His American experiences
made him the most aggressive land leagnei
perhaps, in all Donegal He was suspecte
by "Buckshotn Forster, was arrested unde
the coercion act in July, 1881, and elaine
American citizenship. This, it will be remem
bered, was after Garfield had been shot. an
while no was lying on q bed O
pain. About q month after he was arrests
McSweeney wrote to Mr.. Lowell claiming
American protection. Mr.. Lowell who is
SLOW going person, and particularly slow whel
the cese OF Irish American citizens are con
cerned, communicated with Mr.. Simms, tn
American consul at Belfast, and requested hin
10 investigate tho McSweency case. Mr.
simms did as requested, and reported tina
Mir. McSweeney, though st one time sn Ameri
can citizen, had apparently returned 10 hil
former allegiance, inasmuch as he had &C
cepted Office in Ireland, an Office created b,
the British government contrary 10 the pro
test OF the irish people, and hSd takei
up his domicile permanently under the British
Aa-.,. - - A. -
can citizenship. Mr. Simms advised Mr.. Low
ell hat Mr.. McSweency's case was not FOL
the Interference Of the American government
While this correspondence was going on Mr.
McSweeney became impatient and wroteto Mr
Blaine, then Secretary OF State. Mrs Nc
Sweeney also wrote. MIR. Blaine OF course 10
ferred their letter- 20 Mr.. Lowell, who corhmu
nicated back 20 Mr.. Blaine the result OF his in.
yestgaiicns NJ, Blaine advised a further
scrutiny, because Of the appeal made by Mra
McSwceney.
Before tho reply 10 the American min
lister at London was rocefvod. GARFIELD
had died, and F~relinghuysen has taken
his place. The action OF Mr.. Blaine
however had been productive OF good. and Il
a few months after Mr. McSweeney WAS re
leased These are the facts "a far as his cas-.
IN concerned
Mr.. McSweeney, 10 be sure, complains tina
Mr. Blaine did not answer his or his wife's LET
ters- This is foolish. IL the Secretary O
State replied TO every complaint made, Their,
would be no surplus in the treasury, that i
certain Mr.. Blaine did what was meet an,
proper under the circumstances He referred
the case 10 Mr. Lowell, the American ministe
TO Great Britain, Mr., Lowell acted. thougl
tardily, ON Mr.. Blaine's instructions.
Now, II must be remembered in thi,
connection, that Mr.. McSweeney had acte,
as q British subject in Ireland, b,
holding Office. He has held the same ohicI
ever sinco. He h nov y poor-lav guardian 0
the Dunfanaghy union, Donegal, Ireland, an,
only q few months ago he was a defendant in
British court, At Londonderry, ireland, at "a
suit OF an officer OF the union. He is also
candidate for parliament II elected, he woui,
have 10 take an oath OF allegiance 10 Queei
Victoria, though when he became an America,
citizen he fOreswore allegiance 20 that per
sonage
What would American citizens think OF
man, an irisbmsn, or an Ergiishman, OF
scotchman, for instance, who, after acoeptin,
the Office Of alderman, county commissions
or supervisor, should, when rrrested unde
American law CLAIM; British protec.ions Nc
Sweeney, the Donegal poor-law guardian, claim
lng AMERICAN protection, isa parallel case, is