Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-07-19

HIS Refusal TO Attend n Meeting TO
mcnt of lrfsh-American Suspects.
We publish below q letter from Bslti-
more touching Mr.. Blaine's attitude upon
Irish affairs, and his conduct in the cases
Of American citizens arbitrarily arrested
and held by the British Government. 1t
opens a question which may become one of
great gravity during the campaign.
Mr.. Blaine is the candidate Of the party
additionally illiberal in its dealings with
foreign-born citizens, and especially with
the Irish, who have almost uniformly at
tached themselves to the Democracy.
Jefferson fought their battles against the
Federslists, and the history OF Know
Nothingism is too recent TO require recital.
But for the Democratic party, Irish-Ameri-
cans would probably have no votes to cast
for DIR. Blaine or anybody else, and the
extraordinary claim which this remarkable
political trickster now makes to the sup
port Of Irish Catholics particularly, and
the loud boasts that he is to have it, are,
therefore, very astonishing. But it looks
as though he had overdone the business
already, and as though he would lose more
than be will make by this shallow and
hypocritical appeal to the prejudices Of
race and religion.
BALTIMORE, July, 12.-Mr. James G.
Blaine was invited to be present at the
great meeting held in Baltimore April Is,
1882, under the auspices Of the Irish Nat
ional Land League Of Maryland. He did
not come. Why? He was but an hour
distant. Other gentlemen-honest Demo-
Gratis, friends OF Ireland, who could not at
tend-sent letters OF regret and approba-
ton. Mr.. Blaine sent none; made no sign.
He had no official excuse. He was no
longer Secretary OF State. He had been
Secretary OF State, however, and he had
made o record in the cases Of the Irish
American prisoners, then imprisoned in
British jails, which was not understood
then, and Is little understood now. This
meeting demanded the effectual i%nterposi-
ton Of the United States in behalf OF those
American citizens arbitrarily seized and
held without trial ior the offence of SYM
pathy with the cause Of the Land League.
William Pinckney Whyte presided at
that meeting, and the late jeremiah Sui
livan Black was the principal speaker. His
speech was carefully reported, published
throughout the Union the next morning,
and has ever since been regarded as the
most powerful defence Of the Land League
ever uttered On this side Of the water.
Judge Black said: care we not required
to do something for the relief of Ireland ?
This is q question on which, l think, no
American citizen has . right to be silent"
But 1t was upon that question precisely
that Mr.. Blaine, with 9 prudent reference
to his then recent action in the State De-
partment, preferred TO remain silent. He
knew Judge Blacks views perfectly, and he
did not care to hear the answer which hat
sterling outspoken American would make
TO his W question.
Did Mr.. Blaine lift q finger to save the
suspects 2" Did he not coolly and heart
lessly concede the right OF a British Secreta-
ry Of State TO assert, and treat as that Gov
ernment saw At, any American citizen
whom they choose to consider obnoxious?
Frelinghuysen's line of conduct was but a
continuation Of Blaine's. Will Mr.. Blaine's
friends be good enough to publish his in
structions to the American Minister at
London? Until the Trish-Americsns who
imagine themselves enamored Of the alleged
virility Of Mr.. Blsine's foreign policy ZONE
to see this record, they had better go slow
in the way ofcommitals.