The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-10-29
New York speciall

come to Daniel Insolvency., "the American
suspect" at the Academy of Music, Friday
night. brought out an immense gathering of
Irish-Americans. Mr.. McSweeney was es.
corted from the New York Hetel to the Acsd-
envy by the Sullivan Club, which bore
Cleveland and Hendricks banner presented to
them by Mrs. Hendricks. The route was
illuminated with fireworks. Civil Justice
w. Fl. Kelly called the meeting to order
with brief speech. Mayor Edison followed
in speech accepting the post of presiding
officer and expressing the opinion that ma
tive and foreign citizens should be treated
alike. Then Algernon s. Sullivan addressed
the meeting in exposition of the legal aspects
of the case of McSweeney and other Ameri-
can citizens who have been imprisoned in
British dungeons BE said thas American
citizenship is not worth bauble unless it is
backed by the Marcy principle and a Demo-
cratic President such as Governor Cleveland
will be, and that the people of the United
States will never forgive James g. Blaine
for the part he took in denying the rights of
nsturslized citizens. Mr.. Sullivan then
INTRODUCED M'swEENEY,
who spoke as follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITIzENs-I thank
You from the bottom of my heart for the warm
welcome you have given me. am inexperienced
in these arts of speech OF which We have just had
such brilliant example. but there are times when
the difhdent summon confidence and the outraged
heart finds confidence in convincing tones. am
here TO relate the story of the cruel injustice In
hicted on me by the English Government, and,
at | feel much more kee ly the manner in
which Iaturalized American citizen was aban-
doDed 10 that inju.tice when appealed to James
q. Blaine and his subordinates, the American
Minister TO the English Court, James Russell Low
ell. In accordance with the advice of my ply
stefan left San Francisco IN the summer OF
1877. and moved with my family to Ireland solely
on account of my health. Mr.. Blaine no y says
that be viii protect those who go abroad on q law
full Grand. went on lawful Grand and always
expressed my intention of returning soon as
j recovered my health. My FIRST act on king up
my temporary residence there was to hoist the
American flag over my dwelling. and on every
subsequent day that was suitable for the American
flag 10 be boosted In the United States-for In
stance, the Fourth OF July the 18th OF January, the
I'D OF Fetruary-to show my love for my adopted
country. The Deputy Lord Lieutenant Of the
county lived opposite my house. and on seeing the
flag inquired why did those things. "DIi y0u
not come here 10 live among US and are you not
one OF nsP'
No, / said. came here to remain temporarily.
and expect to be protected by this flag. l refused
10 at their elections, take any part In their
political affairs, though repeatedly urged TO do so,
giving my rsason that was an Amer can citizen.
4 Wa summoned to serve as juror. aud refused
on the same ground. For this TRfusal was flned,
and paid tie fines under protest on two OCCASIONS.
was careful Y watched by the government a de-
tectlye being appointed to dog my every step.
Under an oppressive and unconstitutional law
was seized in the deao hour OF the night, torn
from my family while suffering from severe a..
tack of illness, dragged a distance OF 200 hundred
Dundalk jail, where J endured seventeen or
eighteen months imprisonment without trial by
Judge or jury, without charge or accusation.
As said be ore in going to ireland and taking
up "a temporary residence there, | believed that
the American Government would protect me in
the rights guarantee d to the citizens OF TITS Re.
m m m
YearOlo boy ran out and hokted this emblem OF
liberty displaying small American flag and
will suffer for 1t yet. On the very afternoon en-
tered Dundalk jail l sent for the American Vice
Con nj at Belfast laid my case before him,
claimed protection as an American citizen, denied
emphatcally having been guilty OF any crime,
demanded the cause OF my arrest and, If there
was any charge against me, 70 be confronted by my
accuFers and have an immediate trial. as was my
Tghtunder International law. That gentleman, Mr..
Sims, communicated at once with Mr. Lowell, our
Lowell answered that my case had been. referred
10 his dear Granville" Four months passed
away, during which / remained In jail, ana
heard nothing from him. On August 8 1851, my
wife wrote a letter from Ireland to Mr.. Blaine
himself ASKING that the Department. of state see
justice done 10 me, ana stating all the circum'
stances attending my arrest. This letter YVES re-
ceived in Washington on the 10th OF the same
month, at a time when President Garfield was
living iii from the effects of Guiteau's pistol-shot
but Ar. Blaine, who was then In the enjoyment OF
his fun powers as Secretary OF State. took no no
The speaker then gave the volnminous
correspondence between himself, Mr. Lowell,
and Lord Granville. The latter declined to
interfere in his behalf. ResumlDg, Mr.. Nc
sweeney said:
During my correspondence with Mr.. Lowell, he
inforned me that he was in communication with
the Department OF State OF Washington. Now,
gentleman, who was the Department OF State at
this timer
James G. Blaine the man that is aspiring TO the
Presidency n Nha
asks my fellow-cOuntrynen to vote for him on the
ground that he is friendly to the Irish, terminated
Lowell Alter that Mr.. Lowell and mis- chief.
Mr. James G.. Blaine the head of the state Depart
| d ent in Washington, seemed to have abandoned
me 10 he tender merctes OF my British jsilers,
| for never heard word from either of them
! from that day until the expiration of the
coercion act when 1t would appear that new de-
parInre n International relations OF the Amer'cln
State DE- pariment was made manifest to the Brit
ish hon e Office. and Iece.ved my unconditional
release at toe hands of TIRE Lord Lieutenant, and
once more IePGined my liberty Then IL was that
| learned that even this t,rdy action on the part
| of the Republican administration at Washington
was only undertaken when IL was made manifest
| by the eloquence of Mt. Hunt and by the count
United states thai the people Of the United States
did not en6erre the action Of james q. Blaine and
James Russell Lowell in their ideas of the rights
| of An eIiean citizens and that my indignant
| fellow citizens demanded the unconditional
| release of Americans imprisoned in Ireland.
Lately, TO my amusement l learned that
| States were being deIuded into voting for james
| II. Blaine, the man who was my official iailer dur
| ing thoke eighteen month"; / Immediately &C.
] tefmined OF ny sacrifice, 10 come hack 70 my
| adoptCd country and lay before my countrymen
| the Fbameful treatment had received at the
| hands Of James q. l.iaile aud his subordinate.
| level. have tonight laid before sou the plain
| story of my wrongs, and leave It to the good
| sense OF my fellow counrymen TO say whether.
| after hearing the story OF how an American citi-
| zen of Irish birth has been treated BY Mr.. James
| G. blaine, when he had the power to protect me.
| they will trust him In he future With the power
| 10 again assist the British Government IN admin
isiering the outrageous and tyTannical provisions
| men in the beautiful island which they ell claim
| as their mOthPrand.
II IL said that the administration Of James G.
Blaine viii insist tina, every American in foreign
| lands VIII has been accused OF an ofense. or Il
| sought to be pressed into the military service oil
the land he abjured when ne became an American
citizen. shall be given fair and immediate trial
that he shall be given az opportunity 70 use hi'
| own means In his own defense. eHd that the
nearest American Consul or Minister shall
| be informed Immediately OF any man
| who Is or claims TO be an American citizen.
that the power of the Government may
be used to secure for him complete and imne-
diaie justice. But did Mr.. Blame carry eut this
| policy in my regard? l am q living witness that
he old not. In my case he was aware that had
committed no crime. ! was an American dtzen
beyond all question, proof of which iurnlned 10
him. committed no act at home or abrai by