The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-11-29
Blaine and the lion.


"p,ease. Mr.. Lion,' Mr.. Blaine has
been made to remark to tie British an
imal, s.Let me twist off your tai.
viii return it to YOU after election"
Mr.. William Henry Hurlbert thinks
Mr.. Blaine has had the kind OF reputa-
ton that comes from imaginary tail
twisting quite long enough. In letters
to the Heraid he shows that Mr.. aine
roared with exceeding gentleness. SO far
as the rights of Irish-Amercan C itizens
were concerned, throughout his admin
istration as Secretary of State. The
Irish Coercion bill became law few
DAYS before Mr. Blaine assumed his
portfolio. Under it Michael P. Boyton
was arrested on suspicion and lodged
In. Kilmainham jail without trial.
there to remain 'for as long as it might
please he Chief Secretary for Ire'aLd."
Boyton let Ireland with his parents
when thirteen years old. and the family
settled in Pittsburgh, the father being
naturalized. Boyton when eighteen
years old enlisted in the United States
navy and in time received an
| honorable discharge. In 1866 he went
to Europe with a passport signed by
| Secretary Seward. When arrested he
asked Mr.. Lowell to accept the Seward
passports as evidence of his citizenship,
and also claimed citizenship under the
statute of July II, 1852, natura ling
aliens who had served in the armies OF
the United States and had been honora-
| bly discharged Mr.. Lowell declined
to honor the passport as evidence OF CT.
izelship, and held that the statute OF
| 1852 did not apply to sailors, or even to
marines. This course was upheld by
MIR. Blaine as discreet and proper, }"
and thus the passport of Seward, the
law of '62, aud the fact that Boyton
had been allowed to vote went for moth
ing as evidence of citizenship against
the imprisonment of Bovton without
trial aud on light suspicion, and his re-
tention at the pleasure OF the Chief Sec
rotary for Ireland. In the correspond
/ ence between Lowell and Blaine the
former IS is well-known. spoke with
humorous contempt of Irishmen who
were citizens only as they found citizen
ship convenient, Blaine answered in q
similar vein, and it transpired three
months after his assumption of the Sec.
retaryship that he had not read the Co
ercion act at all.
The case of James B. Walsh was pre-
sented for Mr.. Blaine's consideration
by Samuel j. Randall. There was nc
4 doubt as to Walsh's naturalization. ane
no doubt THAT his arrest was an outrage
but Mr.. Lowell entered into it, aftel
long delay, evidently with the prcjudic'
against the prisoner and the fear O
Lord Granville which had been SO dam
aging in the case of Boyton. Mr.
| Blaine was, however, quito satisfied
and 80 express d himself to the gentle
| Lowell, though there were precedent
; enough to warrant different action
ID leaving the dignity of the United State
, | and the Justice due the man, arrestet
out of the question altogether. 1t wa
/, exceedingly important that the right
of the American citizen should be vim
, dicated Just at that time, for there wa
| very powerful opposition to the Coer
/ cion act which needed just that kind o
, encouragement; but Mr.. Blaine an
Mr.. Lowell treated the matter as of n
, Importance and the imprisoned Ameri
+ csn citizens remained in jail apparently
! without friend in any Government il
r the world.
/ The cases have some importance j
: connection with this campaign.
: anybody really knows why Irishme
+ should vote for Blaine he ought to pre-
/ duce his evidence. 1t is needed, f.
\ without it the cry for Blaine in connet
4 ton with the rights of American cit
A zens is the rankest humbug.-M
2 Graphic.a ss7,;-s