New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-10-18
FIGHTS or AMERICAN CITIZENS.

W lSfllpton. Executive DoCuHtu' awe ''''
submitted to the House of Representatives. on
April D. 1882, contains a complete history OF
| the negotiations relating to American citizens
| imprisoned in Ireland. The facts are all there
| and Mr. Blaine is indicated by them. Instead
of going to an American source for their intor-
nation these malicious critics ransack the Eng
| lish Blue Books and repeat an English insult
aimed at Mr.. Blaine. If they had made an
honest effort to ascertain the facts, instead OF
quoting Lord Granvles slurring insinuation
| that the United States Government was not dis-
| posed 10 take mp too warmly the cause OF Amer
| lean citizens, they would have found Mr. BlaineS
admirable letter of June 2. 1881, which we
republish below:
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
| WAsnINGToN. June 2. 1881,
SIR Referring 20 my general instruction of the 10th
ultmo no 1860. in relation to the case OF Michael r.
Boyton inclosc to you copy OF letter OF the
3oth OF the same from the Hon Samuel j. Ran
dali in behalf Of Mr.. Joseph b. Walsh citizen OF tue
United states who II appears arrested on the 81 OF
March last under the of the late act OF Para-
| ment known as the Protection Act" MIR. Walsh ia
represented cling imprisoned In Dublin and II IL
probable that KilmaInham Jail is the place OF confne-
ment His relations I'm this country knowing only OF his
arrest ,and imprisonment. unable TO AFFORD the De
partment any Information AS to the specific charge II
any, upon which he Is held; and IT seems quite likely
that the prisoner himself Is also In Ignorance In regard I"
the particular offence for which h. Ia thus subjected 70
| summary detention and confinement. Mr.. Walsh has
been "A citizen Of the United states since 1879. Ills
character IA law abiding and good citizen Is vouched
for 10y we'll known and respectable citizens OF Pfnnsyi
vana incosc copy of his certificate Of natutaliHa-
| ton
have already Indicated to you. In my instruction OF
the 2Gh of May the entire absence ~ any disposition on
"a. tnfi IpN Interfere
taon of the local or general municipal laws o I" eat
Britain Tho laws Of that country aud especially those
that relate to the personal liberty anu security of tho
cltson. have awHyN boon al much In harmony WIN tho
principles NJ jurisprudence cherished by Americans ~
btthrgh that thoy have mover failed Ia command ia"
rrapcct ~ the Government and people ~ the United
stntca Hut. whatever the nccc'ny may hc VI tho 'Htl
nation ~ Tier Malcntya Government Tor tho existence
and enforcement in Ireland OF the exceptional legislative
measure, recently enacted In RESPECT To that country
l, Ooyrrnmcut cannot view with uneonccrn the apll
cation Of the summary proceedings attendant nponthe
execution Of these measures naraizcd citizens OF the
United states of Irish origin whose business relations
may render necessary their presence In Ireland or any
other part the United Kingdom. or whose hal ln~
snct. and love for kindred may have prompted them TO
revisit their native country.
II American citizens while within British jurisdiction
offend aeninst British laws. this Government will not
seek To shield them from the legal consequences OF thcr
acts but insist upon the application to their
cases Of those common principles OF criminal luriSpru-
acncc which IN United states secure to every man
who offend, against it, laws whether he be an American
citizen or foreign subject those incidents 10 q criminal
Prosecution which afford best safeguard to personal
liberty aud the strongest protection against oppression
under the of law which might otherwise be prac-
tscd through excessive zeal.
That an acci, ed person shall Immediately upon arrest
informed OF the specific crime or offence upon when
he is held and that he shall he afforded an portunty
IN nIv
essentials to every criminal prosecution necessary alike
to tn protection o, innocence and the aSceTalneht Oh
guilt You will lose time in making the necessary IN
qurcs in the Of Mr. Walshs arrest and detention
in which 1t probable Mr.. Barrows the consul Dub
In may able aid you and you shall hnd that the
cit cum of the in the light of this and pre-
vious instructions such AS to call for interference on
the part Of this Government, you will make such tenn
peratc but representations n In your judgment
will conduce his speedy trial, in there is no
specific charge against him. his prompt release from m
Irlsonment
1t desired that you will report the result Of your
proceedings to the Department with IA little delay
| convenient. am etc. JAMES g. BLAINE
This letter is plain, positive and unequivocal
statement of Mr.. Blaine's policy. 1t was a de
mand that every American citizen arrested in
Ir,l land should be informed of the offence with
which he was charged and be granted an OPP
portunity for n speedy trial before an impartial
court and jury. No reasonable lrshman could
have asked rOr a stronger or Invre emphatic
definition of the rights of American citizenship.
BY that letter Mr.. Blaine is to be Judged, and
not by the mputations and suspicious of the
British Foreign Office
Mr. Blaine's dealings withthc Irish American
suspects were in line with his policy as defined
in this letter. Not one of these cases was
neglected. insolvency, for example, was
arrested on June 2, 1881, the very day Mr.
Blaine's letter was written. The vice consul at
Belfast receiving his appeal and naturalization
papers, wrote on June 8 to Mr.. Lowell, giving
an outline of the case. Mr.. Lowell answered
two days later, directing him to investigate
the case and to demand McSwccny's immcdi-
ate release, if he had been arrested without
cause. On the same day Mr. Lowell wrote to
Lord Granville, stating that McSwccny was an
American citizen and was asserting his
innocence. The entire correspondence shows
that McSwcony's case received immediate
attention. and if he was not released until
months aftcrward it was from no igcncc or
indifference on the part of Mr.. Blaine. Indeed,
he was treated with greater consideration than
he deserved for while he was nominally an
American citizen, he had practically resumed
all his privileges as a British citizen, had voted
at elections in Ireland aud was holding local
office there. This is the man who has been
hired by the Democratic managers to relate his
experience in English prisons and to insult Mr. !
Blaine.
DENING AGAIN.
Al.