The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-04-15
PROTECTION OF OUR CITIZENS
ABROAD,

The Irish National League in this
country seems to think that when an
American or alleged American Is ar
rested in England tho United States
can and ought at once to stop in and de-
mand his release and restoration to |
this government or In other words |
that Great Britain has no right to try |
foreigners upon criminal charges. |
Such a position is not only in opposi- |
ton to the plain statutes Of interna-
tional law, but absurd in tho extreme.
Americans who go upon English soil
and dickor With dynamiters, or any
foreigner who subjects himself TO sus-
picion or conducts himself in a manner
threatening breach OF tho peace, is as
ameusble to the law of the foreign gov
eminent as lie would 30 were the same
acts committed by him at home. Only
ambassadors are exempted frGm arrest
by e foreign power. No man, but an
ambassador, is above the criminal laws
of the COUNTRY where nc may at any
tine be domiciledt whether temporarily
or permanently. II a foreigner is err
rested he can claim tho interuosition of
his government only to the extent of
seeing that no hes a fair and impartial
trial. Ir he has such tcial and Is con-
ylcted no power On earth can save him.
F, To sos that its citizens are not Cause
lessly or unjustly oppressed or dealt
with by a foreign power is all that any
naticn can do legally, and no American
need fear that Democratic admins
tration will neglect to do all within its
power towards the assertion of tho com
mon rights of It's citizens abroad, whom
troubles or mistortnes overtako.
In this connection may DO cited SEC
RECARY BAyARD's letter in reply to the
Secretary of the Irish National League,
at New York, who asked for interior
enoo in behalf Of BURTON aud CUNNING
HAM, alleged dynamlters. All that this
government can lawfully do ispromised
and That will be TO SEQ to it that these
men have a just and iair trial. The
HERALD fails TO SEQ the necessity oil
special appropriations and specia
force OF agentsand attorneys at London
Paris or elsewhere, as suggested by Mr.
BAYARD, to watch such trials and re
port tho proceedings to Washington
What are our foreign ministers, witt
their secretaries and assistants, sent
abroad for, IL not to watch matters OF
this kind and use tho moral influence
and legal power OF their positions to Sc.
cure fair play toward American citizens
who have the right TO expect interior
enco on their part? The caro- and pro,
lection Of our citizens abroad Is their
first and highest duty. Arc they there
merely to attend swell leveos and make
aiter-dinner speeches and hobnob with
the uppor-ten of foreign society, or to 20
into the courts and political offices and
demand Justice and fair play for thu
humblest American citizen in trouble?
If Mr.. BAYARDis overlooking this plain
duty of his diplomates aud feeling ham
pered In the assertion of our rights
abroad, because special corps of well
paid agents IL not provided by law to be
on hand and report proceedings, reports
which would probably reach Washing
ton afterthe accused had been hanged, he
Is not the man to place In charge of our
foreign relations and diplomatic and
I consular sar,ico