New-York tribune., 1884-10-15
reach OF the Republicans Of this State. 1t rests
with them 10 secure it.
TILE SWEENY CASE


| McSwceny has been engaged by the Demo-
cratic managers as campaign speaker Iic il
now freely advertised as an Irish patriot who
lay In British dungeon when Mr.. Blaine was
Secretary of State, and who was not released
until Mr.. Frclinghuysen interested himself ID
his behalf. lie will now take the platform to
give the proofs OF Mr. Blainc's insinccrity and
Republican cowardce.'
II il to be hoped that McSweeny will also
give tho proofs of his own sincerity and good
faith in prcsuming TO lay claim To American
citizenship after he had practically resumed cit
izcpship in Great Britain by accepting the Office
of Poor Law Guardian. This was the chief diff
Guilty which Mr.. Blaine encountered in ncgotiat-
ing for his release, namely the fact that Me-
Svceny had virtually abandoned his American
citizenship and taken an Office IN Ireland.
Nevertheless on the strength Of this amblgu-
ous claim 10 citizenship Mr.. Blaine succeeded
in securing for him from the British Govern
mcnt m offer of immediate release if he would
agree To leave Ireland and resume his residence
in the United States. Mr.. Alexander Sullivan
has discussed this case in detail before Irish
audiences and convinced them that Mr.. Blaine
did everything that was in his power In behalf
OI MCSNtcnN. anu ALSO ol DoNloh dlh w al>h'
I'm fact, no boldcr or more outspoken doctrine
in regard TO American citizenship could have
been enlncacd than WAS defined by Mr. Blaine
m his letters of May - and june 2. 1881. The
following extract from his letter in reference
30 Walsh ought to silence McSwccny and the
po'iticn trckstrrs who are using him lor hire
n American rltlsens white within nrtlah jurisdiction
oarnd aenlnat nritlah lava. tha Government will not
..n Al atI
aca hut II musi lnala uton Tho application to thet ct'ra
~ hnae common rtncirea ~ rrlnlina ihtiHrtnenrr
Witch ~ Tho tnicd Pthiea actntn to every man VII"
Attends asnlnai ls laws, whether he he nn American "t
teen ora nrrisn subject, ,hnso incidents tea criminal
prosecution which Afford tho host aaleguhM Ia ret'ona
lihern aud The slronee,t protection asanal oppoaton
undef Tho fonn ~ law which mighl otherwise be- rra
ttscd through excessive aeh That al nccnaed person
hall immediately pon arrest ho Informed ~ tho Hlmche
crime ur oicnco upon whoh ho ia held, and that he shall
he Afforded opportunity for speedy rhl before hh
impartial court and jury. essentials to every criminal
prosecutions necessary nko Ia tho protection ~ nno-
ccnce aud the ascertaumcnt Of guilt iou viii Lose no
time m making tho necessary ndulrcs INTO the cause at
M Washs arrest aud detention, In which It ' probable
Mr Rirruws, The consul at Dublin may nc able to aid
you Aud II you shalt nd that the circumstances o the
case the light NJ this and previous nHructons ars
such ~ call for Interference the pari OF THIS Gov,
eminent you will mako suco temperate hut earnest
representation, In your Judgment viii coadnco 10 lH
speedy trial. I'm thc IA no ep'cuo charge against
hn,. his prompt release from mp,itonm'ni " H. do
aired that you will report the result of your proceedings
10 the Departments withas little delay ~ convenient
Where is the lrshman who can reasonably
complain of the policy outlined IN that mastcry
dispatchi Mr.. Blaine was not unminIiul ot
the obligation of the State Department 10 pro-
toct American cltilnns in thoit rights wherever
they might be ON the face of the earth. His
public acts during his short term of O1icc
strengthened The popular conviction HAT he
was a representative American statesman. One
of the Finest paSsagc. Of his letter of acceptance
j. wholly in line with h- career in the State
Department: 'rhe American citizen, rich or
poor. native 0r naturalzrd, white or cOlorcd,
must everywhere walk secure in his personal
amp civil rights. The Republic shoald never
accept a lesser duty. it can never assume
"nohlcr one. than the protection OF the humJleSt
man Who owes il loyalty-protoction at home,
and protection which shall follow hlm abroad.
into whatever land he may 20 upon a lawful
Grand"