Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-09-04
r. r. DEL VALE,
The Iron Facts.

passage in American politics than the
attempt to secure the Irish vote for Blaine
on pretences so gauzy and unsubstantial
that those who use them have to stick
their tongues In their cheeks TO pre-.
won't their laughing outright. Blaine as
q sympathizer with the wrongs of Ireland
Is spectacle calculated to excite the
laughter Of Gods and men. The whole
thing is made oil tho more ridiculous by
the fact that Blaine in the most ostenta.
tious way surrendered the cardinal Amer
loan doctrine Of naturalized citizenship
in order to allow Great Britain to fling
Irish.Americans, absolutely without
cause, into British dungeons, to rot or
sigh away tho best years Of their lives in
durance vile, while Mr.. Cleveland, on
the other hand was presiding over a
meeting In Buffalo called to denounce
these outrages.
The Democratic press very prop erly
and pertinently applied itself to the ex.
posure Of this transparent fraud and the
result has been clear demonstration of
the fact that Mr.. Blaine's conduct, to
use IN Irish phrase, was not even "eivil
and strange" He was positively hostile
to the vote upon which he now relies,
almost altogether without foundation,
in our Judgment, to make good to his
party and himself the great detection OF
Independent Republicans and the Ger
man voters. The result Of their dill
gent investigation has been the disclos-
ure of tho fact that Mr.. Blaine was just
~ much Of toady to Great Britain as
even Minister Lowell himself.
Cnagrined beyond measure at the de-
vslopnent of the truth, portion Of the
Republican press, amongst which is the
San Francisco Chronicle and other met
ropolitan papers, next applied them
selves to belittling the character of the
Irishmen who were imprisoned in Brit
ish jails and who were so shamefully
neglected by Mr.. Blaine. Mcsweeney
particularly, probably because he was
not only an Irish American citizen but
had been a resident Of San Francisco as
we'll, came in for large measure of
abuse.
What manner of man McSweeney
was appears from the following letter
addressed to Mr.. Blaine, Mr.. Gariield's
Secretary Of State, by the four Repre-
sentatives and two Senators of Califor-
mia. II is the most complete answer
conceivable to the underhand efforts of
Republican newspapers to blacken his
character. We quote from the Con-
gressional Record.
The undersigned respectfully transmit
for your consideration and suoh action
as the case may require joint letter to
us, numerously signed by our best citi-
zens, representing that Daniel Me-
Sweeney, nov in British prison, is
citizen Of the United States, and was for
twenty years resident of San Fran
cisco, and asking that he receive from
our government that protection which
law and justice in his case require. We
beg TO say that we share in those wishes
and desires, and hope that your depart
ment will do us the favor to assure us
that what is right will be promptly and
effectively done.
The circumstances Of McSweeney's case
are briefly but lucidly explained by
letter from his wife, Julia McSweency.
to Mr.. Blaine. 1t ran as follows:
Some four years ago l came with my
family on account of my husbands fail
ing health to reside temporarily in this
country Qrelaudl. / was aware that
England claimed this island, but was
under the impression that Americans
might venture to travel or reside abroad,
protected by their flag, but in this was
mistaken. 1t was not alleged
that he [her husbandl committed any
crime or violated any law. He, be-
ing an American citizen, Immediately
forwarded his naturalization papers, to-
gether with solemn protest against
this British outrage, to the American
Minister at London. That gentleman
answered that the matter would be laid
before Lord Granville, and that inquiries
would be made as to the ground OF his
arrest.
How these inoffensive naturalized
Americans were treated is shown in the
following cold and indifferent letter of
Mr.. Lowell to McSweeney on full
presentation OF the facts of his unlawful
detention in prison. 1t also is taken
from tho Congressional Record;
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
LONDON, Sept. ., 1881.
SIR:-I have to acknowledge your let
ter Of the 18th inst. i have not thought
it proper to make any application for
your release from prison for the follow
exceptional and arbitrary, and contrary
to the spirit and fundamental principles
of both English and American jurispru-
dence, is still the law of the land, and
controls all parties domiciled in the pro-
claimed districts of Ireland, whether
they are British subjects or not. 1t
would be manifestly futile to claim that
naturalized citizens of the United States
should be excepted from Its operation.
The only case, in my opinion, in which
/ ought to intervene weuld be when an
American citizen who was in Ireland at.
tending exclusively to his own business
and taking no part whatever in public
meetings or political discussions should
be arrested. Under these circumstances
it wouli be proper to appeal to the cour
tesy Of the government here on the
ground of mistake or misapprehension
and ask for the release of the prisoner.
have communicated these views to
the Department of State, and have re-
ceived so far no instructions in q contra
ry spirit. 1t does not appear to me that
he reasons above given for Intervention
exist in your case, SO far as | understand
it. am, sir, your obedient ser.
want, ]. X. LOWELL.
Mr.. D. McSwEESEY.