Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-09
The McSHeeney Case.
What Jim Blaine Did aud Did
Not DO for a British
Office Holder.
The cilIzen lJohn FInnertr,. pan.rl


facts:
Daniel McSweeny was at on- time
resident of California, and no doubt be-
came citizen of the United States. Ia
1876 he returned to his native place in
Ireland, near Cardonagh, Donegal He
took up % residence there. occupied a
farm, and TILED It, and aftera few years
was elected poor-law guardian for his
district of the Dunfanaghy ubien. In
1879, 1850, and 1881 he tooka very promi-
nent part in the land league movement
His American experiences made him tpe
most aggressive land Lacquer, perhaps. in
all Donegal He was suspected by
"Buckshot" Forster was arrested under
the codrcion act in July, 1881. and claim
ed American citizenship. This il will be
remembered, was after Garfield had been
shot, and while he was lying on a bed of
pain. About a month after hs was ar
restd Insolvency. wrote to MIR. Lowell
claiming American protection. Mr..
Lowell. who is slow going person. and
particularly slow when he case OF Irish
American citizens are concerned. com
municated with Mr.. Simms the Ameri-
can consul at Belfast and requested him
to Investigate the McSweeney case. Mr.
SimWs did as requested. and reported
that Mr. McSweeney, though at one
time an American citizen, had apparent
ly returned to his former ali, glance in
asmuch as he had accepted office in Ire
land, an Office created by the British
government c0ntla airy to the protest of
the Irish people, and had taken up his
domicile permanently under the British
crown, thereby FORGETTING his claims to
American citizenship. Mr. Simms adj
vised Ar Lowell thar Mr. MaSweeneys
case was not one for the Interference Of
the American government While this
correspondence was going ON Mr.. Nc
Sweeney became impatient and wrote
to Mir. Mr.. Blaine, then secretary of state.
Mrs McSweeney also wrote Mr.. Blaine
of course referred their letters 10 Mr.
Lowell, who communicated back to Mr..
Blaine the result of his investigations.
Mr.. Blaine advised q further scrutiny
because Of the appeal made by Mrs. Nc
Sweeney.
Before the reply to the American min
lister at London was received, Garfield
had died, and Frelinghuysen had taken
his place. The action of Mr.. Blaine,
however had been productive of good,
and in a few months after Mr.. McSwee-
ney was released. These are the facts as
far as his case is concerned.
NJ. McSweeney, to be sure, complains
that Mr. Blaine did not answer his or
his wifes letters. This is foolish. II
the secretary of state replied to every
complaint made, there would be no sur
plus III the treasury, that is certain.
Mr. Blaine did Whist was meet and prop
er under the circumstances He referred
the case to Mr. Lowell, the American
minister to Great Britain. MIR. Lowell
acted, though tardily, on Mr.. Blaiue's
instructions.
Now, il must be remembered iii this
connection, that Mr.. DIcSweemeE had
acted as a British subiectin ireland by
holding office. He has held the same
office ever since He is now po0r-law
guardian of the Dunfanaghy union, Dom
egal, Ireland and only a few months
ago be was q defendant in a British
court at Londonderry, lrels1d, at tho
suit Of an officer Of the union. He is
also a candidate tor parliament If
elected lie would have TO take an oath
of allegiance to Queen Victoria, though
when us became an American citizen
he foresWore allegiance to that person
age.
Ntot would American citizens thinll
ofamlu. ala irishman. or an Eugh5nmiu
or Sc,.casaAr, for Instance, who, after
fIt.4t.,f MI
guy. = ,..'.; ;l','.' sbonid
80, n s,.3.r American layv
, 49,, .l...,;..,-5 3I.. So
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'7 =.
0''7 ,,.,. ,,.,,.d os 20 7r. Rlai,a,s
,o,,ar * az. 49, @f s,oerican citizens
tl''.'' ai ' .e togi af,ra t,,,
-. ~. ,,.,5 -, 49, t;s $50.
~, - -, NJ III ~ -. Il
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,iti.,.,,,' -, *. Oh VI Inn. f,i
=, NJ ln.oil = l.fs,. from
,,.,ias, ,. .t.,ct ~, r,,lil,,in,, i,,strI,e-
taas Il, roeara,,co Il ti,a ,asa' n. .Tosa,b
y Wv yTaisb or Gsstlsear NJ.
Whatever the nece .sitv NAV be in the
estimation of her ma estv's government
for TIL existence and enforcement in
Irtsla of tbe exceptional Legislative
measure, recently enacted In that
count \. his country "a not view with
mcoucern the application OF the sum
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